MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

• Resurrection / immortality of the soul
• Death, judgement, heaven or hell (Catholics = purgatory)

• Jesus = cross and resurrection / bible teaches about resurrection bodies
• Immortality of the soul = criminal told he would go straight to be with God

• Follow bible and church •Golden rule •Forgive others •Cope with suffering •Heaven •Prayer •Action – doing good work •Vocation

Death – angel of death takes soul to Barzakh •Angel Isra’fil will sound the trumpet – end of the world •All resurrected •Allah will judge all •Book of life – left hand = hell, right = heaven •Qur’an = teaches all judged / follow example of prophet Muhammad

• PARANORMAL
• REINCARNATION 
• NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES

•Near death experiences = Ian McCormack •Reincarnation = Pollock twins / boy who lived before •Paranormal activity = ghosts and mediums

•No evidence •Science •Religion is outdated •Humans are mortal

•24 weeks (was 28 until 1990) •2 Dr’s agree •Existing family suffer •Registered premises  

Roman Catholic church & Evangelical Protestants      

• sanctity of life
• murder
• God has a plan
• all are of value
• life starts at conception

Other Christians

• Compassion
• lesser of two evils
• sometimes most loving thing to do

Sanctity of life         Ensoulment = 120 days

• Different views:
• ok in cases of ****
• after 120 days allowed if the mother’s life is in danger
• not allowed if the result of adultery
• unplanned pregnancy not a reason for abortion

1 = wrong

2 = ok if mother’s life is at risk

3 = ok up to 120 days if handicapped/risk to mother

Assisted suicide / voluntary / non-voluntary

Illegal

Several attempts through parliament

Passive euthanasia allowed in UK

• Majority against
• Sanctity of life
• Murder – 10 commandments
• Used for evil purposes
• Life is valued

• Some argue = lesser of two evils, so allowed
• Hospice movement = help people and family prepare for death

• Wrong

•Sanctity of life •Allah decides the length of a life •Shirk •Allah has a plan •Comparison to suicide = that is banned •This life a test for next

• Turning off life support machines = ok

Forms of media = papers, TV docs, soaps, news, comedies, radio etc.

Life and death affects us all,

For the media being free to criticise = religious views out of date, important to debate as ideas change, no view should be exempt

Against = respect, based on Holy text, no criticism, God is beyond criticism