religion + life

• origins of universe (fundamentalist christian)


  creation story is accurate - designed and made by god out of nothing, in six days, genesis 1
• origins of universe (liberalist christian)


  creation story is symbolic - god created the universe, may look to science
• origins of universe (buddhists)

  no creator, more important to find way out of suffering (buddha's parable - find cure instead of where arrow came from)
• origins of universe (big bang theory)


  scientific - liberal christians, buddhists (does not state there was nothing before)
• origins of universe (buddhists)

  cyclical vision - each event is followed by another, no start or end
• value of world (buddhist)

  provides/sustains life, everyone's responsibility to care for it, provides conditions to reach enlightenment
• value of world (buddhist)

  "very gentle and non-violent attitude to the natural environment" - Dalai Lama (misuse - suffering FIRST MORAL PRECEPT)
• value of world (christian)

  priceless gift from god, beauty, god's power of creation
• value of world (christian)

  stewardship - duty to look after environment on behalf of god, "work it and take care of it"
• value of world (christian)

  dominion - god gave power and authority over the world to humans
• pollution as wrong (christian)

  stewardship, not loving, parable of talents (god judges care of earth, our duty)
• pollution as wrong (buddhist)

  causes harm to all creatures (first moral precept), 'Holy Isle Project' to protect environment and reduce waste
• meat (christian)

  no rules, sensitive to beliefs, god gave animals for food

  'everything that lives and moves will be food for you'
• meat (buddhist)

  reduces harm, no compassion, Mahayana scriptures (Buddha insist no meat or fish)
• treatment of animals (buddhist)

  causing suffering is unskillful, show kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna), should not make a living cause harm
• animal testing (buddhist)

  against - should not be harmed (first moral precept), acceptable if only way to save human lives
• treatment of animals (christian)

  created to use and care for, not created in the image of god, should be treated kindly
• animal testing (christian)

  if proved necessary, to save/help humans, welfare of animals is considered
• origins of human life (christian)

  god created all life, first man (Adam) from soil, first woman (Eve) from his rib
• origins of human life (fundamentalist)

  do not believe in evolution, god created each species seperately
• origins of human life (theory of evolution)

  scientific - most christians, ideas do not conflict in buddhism, atheist view
• origins of human life (buddhist)

  anything can come into existence with necessary conditions, no creator, not possible to identify beginning or end (continuous cycle)
• euthanasia

  someone helps another die deliberately (medicine)
• types of euthanasia

  • voluntary - ill person asks
  • involuntary - capable of expressing choice but not allowed to
  • non-voluntary - too ill to ask (choice made in best interests)

  
  

  • active - deliberate steps to end life (illegal in UK)
  • passive - non treatment decision
• euthanasia (buddist)

  goes against first moral precept, respect right of person, compassionate (karuna) to help others, natural death better for karma,

  Dalai Lama - avoid except in certain circumstances
• euthanasia (christian)

  murder (ten commandments), interferes with god's plan, against sanctity of life, do most loving thing, god gave people free will, suffering brings people closer
• abortion (for)

  mother's life is more important, right to choose, life does not start until birth, cruel to allow severely disabled child to be born
• abortion (against)

  life begins at contraception, possible for disabled child to have a good quality of life, adoption, depression and guilt
• abortion (buddhists)

  • form of killing (unskillful/goes against first moral precept)
  • sometimes accepted (low quality of life/serious disability/reduces suffering)
  • question of personal choice
  • social norms vs tradition (view differ)
• abortion (christian)

  • sanctity of life (valued)
  • wrong to take away life given by god (begins at contraception)
  • sometimes accepted (lesser of two evils - rape, poor quality of life)
• death and the afterlife (christian)

  • judged by god (heaven or hell - physical bodies) - desire to be close with god motivates to follow teachings and have faith
  • purgatory (catholics) - souls purified for heaven
  • 'day of judgement' or happens immediately

  'whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life'
• death and the afterlife (buddhism)

  • process - consciousness passes on from physical body
  • reborn after death, enters another life
  • quality of rebirth - ethical qualities of actions and state of mind when dying
  • enlightened - free from rebirth