Matters of life and death

• Sanctity of Life

  The belief that all life is sacred and can only be given and taken by God
• Abortion

  Ending a pregnancy by deliberately removing a foetus by surgical or medical means
• Pro-life


  Holding the belief that the foetus has the right to life
• Pro-choice


  Holding the belief that the mother should be able to choose whether to have an abortion
• Situation ethics


  Ethical decisions made according to the specific context of the decision
• God is the giver and taker of life
• Human life is a gift from God and should not be destroyed
• Every life is planned by God and has a purpose
• Abortion laws

  • Up to 24 weeks
  • If the mother's life is at risk OR the child is likely to be severely disabled and abortion can take place after 24 weeks
  • Consent of two doctors
• Christian views for abortion

  • It is acceptable if it is the lesser of two evils (e.g. if the baby would be born severely disabled and lack quality of life)
  • Jesus acted with compassion & forgiveness
  • We do not know whether life begins at conception
  • The sanctity of life is broken in other circumstances e.g. War, so abortion may be another case where this happens
  • Jesus taught 'love thy neighbour', so if the mother's life is at risk it may the more loving thing to do
• Christian views against abortion

  • Every life is sacred and belongs to God. Only He can decide when to take a life
  • The foetus is made in God's image and therefore sacred
  • Abortion is seen as murder as life begins at conception
  • It is not our place to interfere with God's plan for that human
  • All life has value even if a baby were to be born disabled
• Non-religious views for abortion


  • It is the women's right to have a decision over her body
  • It is the UK law for women to be allowed an abortion
  • The rights of the mother outweigh that of the child as it is not considered a person until born
  • Humanists follow situation ethics/golden rule and so believe an abortion is the right thing in certain situations (e.g. sexual assault or mother's life in danger)
• Euthanasia


  The act of ending a terminally ill person's life to relieve them of their suffering
• Assisted Suicide


  Providing someone with the means to end their own life
• Types of Euthanasia


  • Voluntary euthanasia - The patient asks a doctor to end their life
  • Non-voluntary euthanasia - The person is too ill to ask to die, but they are helped to die because it is believed that is what they would have wanted
• Christian views for euthanasia

  • It is the most loving thing to do when someone is suffering. Love thy neighbour was taught by Jesus
  • Jesus taught the Golden Rule 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you'
  • Situation ethics can be applied in these situations. If the person is in absolute pain
• Christian views against euthanasia

  • It is seen as murder - 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20) Ten Commandments/Decalogue
  • God created human beings in his own image so only he has the power to take away their lives
  • It goes against the sanctity of life argument
  • The book of Job tells Christians to accept suffering as God's will, suffering is a test of faith from God
• Non-religious views for euthanasia

  • A person has free will in life and this should include at the point of death
  • The patient dies with dignity and does not suffer a slow & painful breakdown of their mind/body
  • Euthanasia saves medical costs
  • If in hospital, staff can spend more time with patients they can save
  • It can relieve the family of emotional and financial burdens
• Non-religious views against euthanasia

  • If legalised it is hard to monitor, People may not want to die but cannot express
  • Some people may feel pressured into euthanasia by their family, or they may feel like they have no other choice
  • There may be cures for a person's disease in the future or they may go on to lead fulfilling life
  • Some people may feel pressured into helping someone take their life and then they have to live with the guilt
• Quality of life


  The standard of life a person has. Whether it is pain free and enjoyable.
• Christian views on euthanasia

  • Many Christians believe that using the Hospice is a better alternative than euthanasia
  • Provide good-quality pain relief
  • Support the dying and those close to death
  • Help the dying and their families prepare for death
  • "euthanasia as advocated is wrong...... It should be unnecessary and is an admission of defeat" (Christian Hospice movement)
• Why Christians believe in life after death

  • The main source of authority for Christians is the Bible
  • Jesus promised his followers that if they believed in him that they would have eternal life
  • The Church teaches that there will be life after death for Christians. It is part of the creed, or statement of beliefs.
• Non-religious arguments for life after death


  • Remembered lives
  • The Paranormal
  • Logic
• Remembered lives


  Some people claim to have remembered a past life. This supports the idea of reincarnation
• Christians believe life after death is in heaven or hell


  So memories of previous lives are mistaken
• The Paranormal


  Some people believe it is possible to communicate with the dead, who live in a spirit world. For example, ghosts and mediums.
• Christians do not accept ideas of souls coming back to earth after death


  As nothing in the Bible supports this
• Logic


  Some may think it is logical there is an after life to give life meaning. Near death experiences can act as proof.
• Christians do not accept near death experiences as logical evidence of proof


  However, they do argue that life after death is logical
• Reward

  • Comfort
  • Meeting loved ones
• Some people believe there is life after death so that good deeds will be rewarded in heaven
• The idea of life after death gives people hope and makes them less afraid of death. It also comforts those who are mourning the loss of loved ones
• Some people believe that when they die, they will be able to meet their loved ones again through having faith in Jesus that we are reconciled with God
• Christians agree and take comfort in this in hard times. They also believe they will be reunited with God in heaven
• Many Christians believe that they will be reunited with loved ones in heaven. They base this believe on Bible passages
• Being judged by God


  Christians will follow the guidelines set out by the Bible and are rewarded in heaven
• The promise of heaven


  Helps with suffering in this life
• The promise of heaven


  Offers comfort to those who have lost a loved one
• Evidence of the resurrection


  Gives people hope that they too will rise again
• Belief in the afterlife

  There is hope for a better future and knowing you will be forgiven if you repent