Edexcel R.E Rights and Responsibilities

Some Christians use the Bible when making moral decisions

• The Bible is the word of God and so had absolute authority and would ensure approval on judgement day

'God is the author of sacred scripture'

• The Bible gives clear guidance on how to behave 

the decalogue - ' thou shall not commit murder'

• The Bible contains teachings of Jesus, Jesus is the Son of God and so should be followed 

' love your neighbour'

• the Bible contains letters from leading disciples who knew Jesus and were guided by the Holy Spirit 

Some Christians Don't use the Bible 

• The Bible is only inspired by God

• The Bible reflects socail situations at the time 

St pauls attitude to women - ' let the women be silent in the churches'

• The Bible needs to be interpreted by the Church 

• Some Christians use their conscience if it is a personal problem 

' we must obey the judgement of our conscience'

Some Christians use the Church when maknig moral decisions 

• The Church is the body of Christ and so has the same authority 

'in christ we who are many form one body'

• God speaks through the Church and the Church is guided by God 

• The Church ensures no differences in opinion so Chrisitans are sure they are doing the right thing 

• The Church is an important part of Christian life and so give appropriate guidance 

Some Christians Don't use the Church 

• The Church doesn't come directly from God

• St Paul said you should follow you conscience even is it says the Church is wrong 

• Jesus used situation ethics instead of following some of the rules of the Church 

Jesus healed on the sabbath 

• The Bible has clear teachings on behaviour 

the decalogue 

Some Christians use their conscience when making moral decisions 

• The conscience is the voice of God 

• The Church says you should follow your conscience as the voice of God 

' we must be sure we have a clear conscience'

• St Paul said it should be the final stage in decision making and be followed even if its against the church 

'we must obey the judgement of our conscience'

• The Church and Bible don't come directly from God

Some Chrisitans don't use their conscience 

• People mistake it 

e.g. the yorkshire ripper thought God was telling him to kill prostitiutes

• decisions are too private leading to a difference in opinion

• The Bible and Church are followed by other ans so Christians agree on what is the best thing to do

• If people followed their conscience no-one would know what sort of behaviour to expect from eachc other and society would be chaotic 

Some Chirstians use situation ethics when making moral decisions

• Jesus used situation ethics

jesus healed on the sabbath instead of following the old testament

• Christians think it is wwrong to ignore the consequences of actions 

• Jesus said the most important commandments were love God and love your neighbour and so you should do whats the most loving thing to do

• Christianity is a religion of love and so you should base decisions on love

Some Christians don't use situation ethics

• God would have given laws e.g. the decalogue for them not to be followed 

• It is better to follow the decalogue and the dermon on the mount than to use purely your own ideas 

• The Church knows what Chrisitans should do better that individual Chrisitans 

• Situation ethics is based on finding the best consequences and you can never know all the consequences 

Protestants 

• Usually use the Bible as it is Straightforward however with complicated issues like contraception they use their conscience and the Church 

Catholics 

• usually use the Church as it applies bible teachings however for contraception they use situation ethics and conscience 

Some Chirsitans 

• usually follow conscience however if conscience went against clear teaching they use the Church 

Some chirsitans 

• usually use situation ethics however is they don't know all the consequences they will use the Bible or the Church

In 1998 the Uk human rights act gave

• the right to life
• the right to freedom from torture
• the right to a fair trial
• the right to freedom of expression and religion
• the right to marry anyone 
• the right to an education
• the right to vote in a free election 

if any of these rights are abused you can go to court 

• Without the right to a fair trial innocent people would be locked up and we would live in a dictatorship because all opposition leaders would be imprisoned 

• Without freedom of thought and expression minority politcal parties and religious groups could be banned

• Without the right to vote there would be no democracy 

• People abuse human rights 

e.g. prisoners claim their punishment is against human rights 

• in a democracy you vote for laws and rights and so some specialist rights are not needed

• some people think you should torture terrorists to find out their plans and save innocent lives 

• The right to life is a basic Christian belief as life is holy and belongs to God

sancity of life

• everyone is made in the image of God and so everyone should be treaed fairly and equally

• freedom of expression if vital to Christian life as they need to meet to worhship and for festivals e.g. christmas and easter

• rights ensure Chrisitans are not discriminated against for example in the work place 

• some Chrisitans are against civil partnerships as it is against Gods will

' you should not lie with another man as you lie with a woman'

• some Christains believe you must only marry christians to bring your children up christian 

• some Christians are against gay adoption as they think a child should be raised by a mother and father

• The Catholic Church is against womans rights as they do not allow women to be priests

• It gives you control over issues e.g. tax, education, healthcare

• your ancestors fought for the right to vote and the only was to respect this is to vote

• small amounts of people voting could lead to minority extreamist groups getting into power

• democracy means government of the people so it must be improtant to vote to sustain democracy 

• one vote makes no difference on the outcome as there are 60 million people in the UK

• it doesn't matter who is voted in as they have to follow the rules of the EU

• mostly no changes can be made as the government has to work within economic restrictions

• politians may lie and be corrupt and so are not worth voting for

• the Golden rule - Christians put themselves in the position of those who will be affected by the law as think of what they would want

• the Parable of the sheap and goats - Christians should help the sick , hungry and homeless as if they were Jesus and so Chrisitans think of the effects a policy will have on the sick and homeless

• teachings on being your brothers keeper shows that christians have a duty to look after everyone in need

• Chrisitanity is a religion of love and so christians should vote to ensure the most loving consequences are produced

• Jesus said the most important commandment is to love God andthis is more important than electoral processes

• Going to mass every sunday is more important than electoral processess

• loving God and politics shouldn't mix 

• It offers cures for incurable diseases 

• It is done in other countries so is avalible for those who pay for it

• cloning using animal cells doesn't involve loss of human life

• Genetic research is closely monitored by law 

• There is little information about long term consequences

• If anything was to go wrong it would be permenant 

• It gives too much power to scientists 

• It treats the human body no different to plants 

Liberal Chrisitans - agree

• Jesus showed Christians should do all they can to cure disease (heal the sick)
• Genetic cures are just like drug cures
• There is a big difference between creating cells and creating people
• Embryos are not feotuses until they are 14 days old 

Roman catholics - Not with embryos

• life begins at conception and killing is wrong
• against sancity of life
• unatural and produced by masturbation

Some Christians - against all

• we have no right to interfere with Gods plan
• it is playing God which is a great sin
• it is wrong to make earth perfect as only heaven can be perfect