Life and death RE

• Afterlife


  Belief that a part of you (soul) lives on after death
• Afterlife


  • Heaven or hell
• Atheist opinions on afterlife


  • There is no afterlife
  • There is no more consciousness when we die
  • We are animals - we are not special creatures
  • There is no God
• Buddhist opinions on afterlife

  • Belief in reincarnation
  • You continue around on the cycle of Samsara
  • The only way to break Samsara is to achieve enlightenment
  • If you reach enlightenment you will break Samsara and go to Nirvana when you die
  • Nirvana means blowing out - meaning that you are at one with the universe
• Christian opinions on afterlife

  • Heaven - being with God for eternity
  • Hell - being without God for eternity
  • Hell - medieval idea of being in fire pit with demons punishing you
  • Humans have a soul because God set them apart from other animals
• Environmental Sustainability


  Making sure that what we use can be used again now and in the future
• Environmental Sustainability


  • Green Christians & the bible reference to humans being good stewards of the earth
• Atheist opinions on environmental sustainability


  • 'Humanists for a Better World'
  • We have a responsibility to work for a more sustainable world
  • Because it makes sense for the next generation
• Buddhist opinions on environmental sustainability

  • No ideas about stewardship or dominion debate - we are here and we need to apply metta and karuna to all points in order to reach nirvana
  • Humans need to take responsibility for protecting the environment & caring for all living things
  • Dependent arising Pratitya Samutpada teaches that everything depends on everything else - we need a healthy planet to survive
  • 2nd noble truth - suffering is caused by greed - which is what destroys the environment
  • 1st moral precept - do not harm - including the earth
  • Caring for the planet will help a person reach enlightenment
  • Holy Isle Project - Centre for World Peace & Health
• Christian opinions on environmental sustainability

  • Dominion - to rule over nature
  • Stewardship - to live in harmony with nature
  • Green Christians - movement focused on stewardship and sustainability
  • Love your neighbour also means love your planet!
• Euthanasia


  Mercy killing
• Euthanasia


  • Giving someone who has a terminal illness an overdose so they die
• Atheist opinions on euthanasia

  • Terminally ill people only
  • Life should not be prolonged in the face of useless suffering
  • People should be able to die with dignity
  • Fundamental human right
• Buddhist opinions on euthanasia

  • Breaks 1st moral precept: avoid harm
  • Person being reborn might suffer as consequence of the forced ending of their previous life
  • Dalai Lama said it was best to avoid euthanasia unless exception circumstances
  • It's the personal choice of the ill person
  • Must be compassionate in our actions
  • Could be beneficial to next life if person dying is in a positive and calm mind at death
• Christian opinions on euthanasia

  • Life is sacred/gift from God
  • It's murder
  • Suffering can have a purpose
  • Hospices offer alternative
  • Passive Euthanasia acceptable
  • Do the most loving thing
• Evolution


  The idea that life has developed over time
• Evolution


  • Humans have developed from the monkey. The theory of evolution was given by Charles Darwin.
• Atheist opinions on evolution

  • Richard Dawkins gives lectures for evolution
  • World only appears to be designed because human have to explain
  • Who designed the designer?
• Buddhist opinions on evolution

  • No God therefore OK with the Big Bang & Evolution
  • Buddha was not interested in the how we got here - just how to reach enlightenment e.g. poison arrow story
  • Earth is not a fixed thing - It is changing over time as well
• Christian opinions on evolution

  • Life is not chance - its it God's intention
  • Darwin undermines the bible and risks undermining other teachings such as morals leading to crime & disorder
  • If humans are developed from animals then where is our soul?
  • Genesis says each species was made "according to its kind" - they did not evolve; God did not get it wrong and change his mind!
  • Liberal Christians accept the idea that science can teach us things - how far do we as humans know God went in designing the world?
• Abortion


  Terminating a pregnancy
• Abortion


  • Catholics are against this.
• Atheist opinions on abortion

  • Vary as well - But tends to be liberal, pro-choice
  • Situation Ethics - depends upon the situation of the mother to be
  • Personal to the mother to make
  • Does not hinge on when life begins
  • Do not focus on saving life at all costs
• Buddhist opinions on abortion

  • It might be unskilful to add to the burdens of a 'full' family
  • Quality of life of baby might be minimal - causing suffering
  • "Avoid harm"
  • "Right Action"
  • 'Consciousness' begins at conception
  • Unskilful behaviour does not lead to enlightenment
  • Whatever action causes the least amount of suffering
• Christian opinions on abortion

  • Church of England: Not for social reasons but in terrible cases e.g. risk to mother, quality of life of baby etc.
  • "love thy neighbour"
  • "Take the log out of your eye before you take the splinter out of your friends"
  • Catholics: Under no circumstances
  • Life is a miracle - blessed by God
  • Life begins at conception
  • "I knew you in your mothers womb"
  • "Do not Murder"
• Quality of life


  How meaningful or pleasurable life is.
• Quality of life


  • For example how your mental capabilities work or how able bodied you are. 9/10 pregnancies with Downs Syndrome end in abortion.
• Atheist opinions on quality of life

  • Vary as well
  • Situation Ethics - depends upon the situation of the affected person
  • Does not hinge on when life begins
  • Do not focus on saving life at all costs
• Buddhist opinions on quality of life

  • Quality of life might be minimal - causing suffering
  • "Avoid harm"
  • "Right Action"
  • 'Unskilful behaviour does not lead to enlightenment'
  • Whatever action causes the least amount of suffering
• Christian opinions on quality of life

  • God's choice about your quality of life - there maybe something he wants to teach you or the people around you.
  • "You shall not murder"
  • "Love your neighbour as yourself" - if you would not want that quality of life you should not force it onto other people
  • God loves us all whatever we are, whatever we do
• Sanctity of life


  Human life holds special status in God's eyes.
• Sanctity of life


  • Christians believe we have a soul and other animals do not.
• Atheist opinions on sanctity of life


  • Life is important - because it's all we have
  • We end when we die
  • Worthy of the highest respect
• Buddhist opinions on sanctity of life

  • No God therefore no special status for humans - all animals are in Samsara (cycle of reincarnation)
  • Buddha was not interested in the how we got here - just how to reach enlightenment
  • Life is not a fixed thing - It is changing over time
• Christian opinions on sanctity of life

  • Made in God's image
  • Our bodies are 'a temple of the holy spirit'
  • A blessing/gift from God
  • Quakers will not kill
  • Links to abortion & euthanasia debate
  • "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you"
• Soul


  The special part of you that lives on after death
• Soul


  • The part of you that goes to heaven or hell
• Atheist opinions on soul

  • There is no soul
  • When we die there is no more consciousness
  • We are animals - we are not special creatures
  • There is no God
• Buddhist opinions on soul

  • Buddhists believe in reincarnation
  • Buddhists believe that all sentient beings have a soul
  • You continues round on the cycle of Samsara
  • The only way to break Samsara is to achieve enlightenment.
  • If you reach enlightenment you will break Samsara and go to Nirvana when you die
  • Nirvana means blowing out - meaning that you are at one with the universe
• Christian opinions on soul

  • Dualism: 2 separate parts; the soul will live on after death - body just a vessel for the soul
  • Materialism: nothing else exists apart from matter - no soul or spirit
  • Humans have a soul because God set them apart from other animals
  • "God breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath of life"