Issues of Life and Death

• Sources of authority for Atheists

  • The law
  • Scientists e.g. Dawking, Darwin and Hawking
  • Utalitarianism
• Utilitarianism


  The greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people
• Sources of authority for humanists

  • Law
  • Science
  • Utilitarianism
  • Philosophers e.g. Singer
• Evangelical Christians


  Literalists - Believe the world was made in 6 days 10,000 years ago
• Liberal Christians


  Believe the Bible should be read as myths and stories, not literal
• Big Bang Theory


  The world expanded from a singularity 15 billion years ago
• Proof of the Big Bang theory

  Red shift

  Backround radiation
• Evolution


  The process by which living creatures are believed to have developed from earlier, less complex forms
• Dawkins theories


  The eye - can see the different stages of development
• What happens in creation in Genesis 1


  • God creates from nothing
  • In 6 days, God separates the light form the dark, heaven from earth, land from sea, sea creatures, then land creatures and finally humans. He rests on the 7th day
  • God saw what he had made and said it was very good
  • God created man last and in his image. God said "Let us make mankind in our image.." and told Adam to rule over the earth
• What happens in creation in Genesis 2


  • God creates Adam first before the animals
  • Adam is formed from the dust of the ground
  • Eve is created from Adam's rib
  • Adam is commanded not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
• Differences between Genesis 1 and 2


  • In the first account God creates ex nihilo-from nothing but this is not stated in the second account
  • In the first account God looks at what he creates and God saw that it was good. Not mentioned in the second account
  • Adam was created last in Genesis 1 as the pinnacle of creation and given dominion but in Genesis 2 he was created first
  • In the first account Adam is given dominion over creation as he is told to rule the earth but in the second account he names everything and is commanded to till the earth
• Evangelical Christian (young earth creationist) beliefs about origins


  • The earth was created by God in 6 days
  • The universe was created 10,ooooyears ago
  • Humans were created separately from apes in Genesis 1
• Evidence for Evangelical Christian beliefs


  • Genesis 1 account that God created from nothing –so creator
  • The Hebrew word Yom means 24 hours so God created in 6 days as Genesis 1 states this
  • Old Testament genealogies which when dated back add up to 10, oooo years ago
  • Fossil evidence from Noah's flood
• Liberal Christian beliefs about origins


  • The Biblical creation stories were written as myth
  • The Bible was written at a some time by certain people who did not know about evolution and the Big Bang and so they would not have mentioned them
  • The word Yom means era and so God created the world in 6 eras and this fits with science
  • God is behind the process of the Big Bang and evolution
• Reasons why scientists disagree with Evangelical Christian view


  • The universe began not 10,ooo years ago but billions of years ago supported by the Big Bang evidence shows it took place 13.8 billion years ago
  • There is no God for atheists. The Big Bang happened as the result of natural processes
  • Darwin and Dawkins have fossil evidence to support the process of evolution from apes to humans and so the Genesis 1 is wrong not to link these together
  • Natural selection and survival of the fittest can explain why living organisms are so well adapted to their environments
• Environmental responsibility


  Being good stewards and ensuring environmental sustainability
• Stewardship


  Humans have been given a very special responsibility to look after the environment to control it, cultivate it and guard it on behalf of God. Not to exploit it.
• Genesis 1 verse 28- "let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air"


  Implies to have power and do as we wish with the environment
• Psalm 8 "you made him rule over the work of your hands; you put everything under his feet"


  The word rule could imply that humans can have power over the environment and do as they please with it
• Genesis 2 states that God told Adam to till the earth and take care of it


  Implies humans should be responsible stewards of the environment
• Genesis 1 "so God created them in his image" and God said to "rule over the fish of the sea…."


  Humans were created in the image of God so that they could care for living beings and the world
• Book of Revelations in the New Testament


  Suggests to some that they can treat the environment as they please as this earth will be destroyed in the last days
• Jesus- Love thy Neighbour


  Environmental damage can cause problems for our neighbours such as climate change can lead to flooding and loss of housing so we should take care of environment and be loving
• Psalm 8: '"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers what is man that you are mindful of him…you made him rule over the work of your hands; you put everything under his feet"'
• Rule


  Implies that humans can have power over the environment and do as they please with it
• Genesis 2: 'God told Adam to till the earth and take care of it'
• Stewardship

  Humans have been given a very special responsibility to look after the environment (environmental responsibility) to control it, cultivate it and guard it on behalf of God. Not to exploit it.
• Non religious beliefs about evolution


  Darwin and Dawkins
• Five key words to sum up the theory of evolution


  • Survival of the fittest
  • Lucky mutations of genes
  • Simple to complex
  • Fossil evidence
  • Millions of years
• Abortion


  Liberal Christians tolerate it because...
• Reasons why liberal Christians tolerate abortion


  • Situation ethics-most loving thing to do
  • Update bible-society and the law has accepted it up to 24 weeks for social reasons
  • To withhold compassion is a greater evil than abortion. Jesus never withheld compassion
• Abortion


  Catholic Christians do not allow it because...
• Reasons why Catholic Christians do not allow abortion


  • Humans created in God's image
  • I knit you in your mother's womb
  • If we die, we die to the lord
  • Life starts at conception
  • You shall not kill
• Abortion


  Buddhists against it because...
• Reasons why Buddhists are against abortion


  • Unskilful-from ignorance
  • Bad karma for the baby
  • Goes against first precept "Do not wish harm upon another"
• Abortion


  Buddhists support it because...
• Reasons why Buddhists support abortion


  • Karuna and metta
  • First precept
  • Mindfulness-be aware of the mother and her situation
• Abortion


  Humanists support it because...
• Reasons why Humanists support abortion


  • Mother's rights are more important-her body
  • Quality of life matters
  • Life begins after conception-the law has decided it begins at 24 weeks-when the baby can survive outside of the womb-backed up by science
  • Must show love and compassion-it stops back street abortions
  • Utilitarianism-must decide on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people-this should lead to allowing abortion