RE paper 2 Applied catholic theology

• Catholic Christianity


  Life & Death
• This course information booklet covers all areas of GCSE Paper 2 Section 1
• Areas of study


  • Catholic beliefs about dying well (Palliative Care)
  • Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide
  • Catholic, Religious and Non-Religious beliefs about life after death
  • Eschatology: Roman Catholic beliefs
  • The Magisterium & The 2nd Vatican Council
  • Artefacts: Scenes of the Passion Sarcophagi & Paschal Candle
  • The Funeral Rite & Catholic Music (Faure's Requiem)
  • The importance of prayer and Prayers/Masses for the dead
• Assisted suicide


  Deliberately ending one's own life with the help of another person
• Euthanasia


  The act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve them of suffering
• Catholics believe that death is not the end of our existence
• Jesus taught that those who believe in him would have Eternal Life; they would go on to live with God after death
• This belief should affect how Catholics live their lives - it gives purpose and meaning to their existence
• Death should not be seen as the end of life, just a way into a new form of life
• The Catholic Church rejects Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia as ways of ending a life
• Sanctity of Life


  The belief that all human life is sacred and belongs to God
• Life is a gift from God and so should be respected from conception to natural death
• Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide are seen as going against the Sanctity of Life and against the instruction in the Ten Commandments - 'Do not murder'
• The Catholic Church argues that we have the right to die with dignity but this does not mean they agree with Euthanasia or Assisted Suicide
• Any deliberate action that brings life to an end is wrong
• Pope John Paul II: 'I confirm that euthanasia is wrong as it breaks the law of God'
• Palliative Care


  Care provided to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening illness
• Catholics promote the work of hospices and other organisations that provide palliative care when treatment to cure a medical condition is no longer possible
• Hospices, and those organisations that offer similar care, are guided by doctors to provide pain relieving medication, nursing care, supervision and practical help until natural death occurs
• The Catholic Church, along with many other Christians, support those who provide palliative care because it respects the value of every person until their natural death
• Medication is provided to reduce pain and to enable the individual to retain as much dignity and quality of life as possible
• Baroness Jane Campbell


  A leading campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities and a member of the British House of Lords who is strongly opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide
• Humanists


  Reject belief in God and have long supported people in their right to die
• Humanists argue that people who suffer from incurable diseases might choose to end their life before their illness reaches the final stages
• Humanists wish to end their life before their quality of life is diminished
• Peter Singer: 'We should end the suffering of patients who know they are dying and want to do so peacefully'
• Quality of Life


  The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living
• If a person is free from pain and lives with dignity, they can be said to have a good quality of life
• If they are in constant pain and are unable to enjoy activities they once may have enjoyed they can be said to have a poor quality of life
• Some would argue that if a person has a poor quality of life they have a right to die
• Arguments against Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide


  • The Decalogue (commandments) clearly state "Do not kill"
  • The Golden Rule – Jesus taught that you should "Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself."
  • Non-voluntary euthanasia can lead to discrimination of disabled people
  • Sanctity of life - Life is sacred and belongs to God
  • The Catholic Church believe there is a clear alternative to euthanasia
  • Euthanasia and Assisted suicide can lead to 14 years in prison for a doctor a family member that may be responsible
  • Slippery slope argument - If we legalise euthanasia for terminal illness where do we draw the line?
• Arguments for Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

  • The Golden Rule – Jesus taught that you should "Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself."
  • In 1947 we were given the Declaration of Human Rights. Many people argue that we should have the human right to die how and when we wish.
  • Many illnesses have no cure and the prospect for the person suffering is that they will be in more pain in the future.
  • Jesus taught his followers that they should love their neighbour as they love themselves. Euthanasia can be seen as the most loving action.
  • Quality of life - Life must have some benefits for it to be worth living. If this is not the case then a person should be allowed to die.
  • Euthanasia literally means 'an easy and gentle death'. It is a loving action as it combats pain and suffering of patients and their families.
• The Nicene Creed is a statement of Catholic beliefs that was formulated in 325AD at the Council of Nicaea
• The Nicene Creed teaches that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. Three days later Jesus was resurrected from the dead and later he ascended into heaven where he will judge the living and the dead
• St. Paul: 'If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.'
• St. Paul: 'Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day… he appeared to Peter, then to the Twelve'
• St. Paul: 'The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. The mortal will become immortal.'
• Resurrection


  The raising of the body to life following death. Catholics believe Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
• Soul


  The spiritual part of a human that can never die. The part created by God that lives on after the death of the physical body.
• Most Christians believe in the immortality of the soul. They believe that when the body dies, the soul leaves the body to live with God.