matters of life and death

• what is big bang theory?


  a scientific theory about the origin of the universe which suggests the universe is expanding away from a single point which started around 13.7 billion years ago
• what is commodity?

  a useful or valuable thing which satisfies particular wants or needs
• what is sanctity of life?


  the belief that life is created by god and made holy by him
• what is evolution?


  the process by which different species have developed from earlier forms
• what is general synod?

  the national group within the church of england that debates issues relating to christian belief and practice
• what is survival of the fittest?

  the idea that members of a species that are best suited to an environment survive
• what is abortion?


  ending a pregnancy by deliberately removing a foetus by surgical or medical means
• what is conception?


  the moment when a sperm fertilises an egg, creating an embryo that can develop into a baby
• what is pro-choice?


  holding the belief that the mother should be able to choose whether to have an abortion
• what is pro-life?


  holding the belief that the foetus has a right to life
• what is situation ethics?

  ethical decisions made according to the specific context of the decision
• what is paranormal?

  experiences which suggest that there may be a non-visible spirit world, such as ghosts and communications through mediums
• what is resurrection?

  rising from the dead; also the view that after death god recreates a new body in a heavenly place
• what is spiritualist?

  someone who believes that spirits of dead people can communicate with living people
• what is quality of life?

  the value given to life depending on how far a person can find enjoyment and pleasure from it
• what is euthanasia?


  the deliberate administering of life-ending medication by a third party
• what is hospice?


  a place which provides care for people with a serious, terminal or incurable illness
• what is natural law?


  a set of moral principles based on the idea that people should choose good actions which comply with god’s wishes
• what is environment?


  the surroundings in which plants and animals live and on which they depend for life
• what is stewardship?


  looking after something so it can be passed on to the next generation
• what is utilitarianism?


  the belief that the right course of action is the one that will produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people