RE Unit 2 - Matters of Life and Death

• Jesus rose from the dead
• St Paul teaches that people will have a resurrection like Jesus
• Christian Churches teach that there is LAD
• They believe that the soul is immortal
• There is evidence of thw paranormal

• Christians beleive they will judged when they die.
• Love God and love thy neighbour - affected by praying to God and helping others.
• Christians help to do charity work.
• Sin can prevent people from going to heaven, so they live life trying not to commit sins.

Evidence of spirit world:

• clearest evidence comes from mediums - if mediums can contact the dead then there must be LAD.

Evidence of reincarnation

• De ja vu

• Different religions contradict each other
• If LAD were true then all religions would say the same thing.
• LAD is based on Holy Books but they contradict eachother
• Evidence of paranormal has been challenged by scientists.
• Science shows that the mind cannot live without the brain, so when they body dies, the mind must too.

• Legal up to 24 weeks/6 months
• The law says that abortion is only allowed if: the mothers life is at risk, mothers mental or physical health is at risk, the child is likely to be severely handicapped.

Christian Attitudes:

• Life belongs to God
• Life begins at conception = taking a life = banned in 10 commandments
• Love your nieghbour = abortion can be the most loving thing
• Duty of Christians to remove suffering
• Abortion destroys its right to life
• Adoption is better than abortion as it brings life and joy to a family

Main Causes:

• Debt - Most LEDCs borrow money from MEDCs, but the interest they have to pay on the loans make countries poorer
• Wars - Wars in LEDCs destroy: crops, homes, schools, hospitals, causing more poverty. Also causes refugees.
• HIV/AIDS - The disease kills lots of people and the number of orphans are growing = poorer.
• Natural Disasters - Many LEDCs are situated in areas where there are lots of natural disasters, which destroy thousands of homes and farmland.

How they are working to remove poverty:

• Has a fund to deal with natural disasters and refugees
• Emergency Aid includes sending food, water and medical care.
• Campaining to cancel the debt owed by the worlds poorest countries
• Promotes fairtrade products to bring better prices, decent woring conditions, local sustainability for workers in developing countries.

Why they are working to end poverty:

• The New Tastament teaches riches must be used for the help of others
• All humans are equal in the eyes of God
• Jesus told many stories about helping and loving others
• Parable of the sheep and goat
• Golden Rule

Non religious

Agree:

• If they are being kept alive in agony then they should have the right to die
• People have the right to commit suicide
• Doctors have the right to switch off a life support machine
• Doctors can stop treatment

Disagree:

• Doubt to what the person really wants
• A cure may be found
• Doctors job is to save lives, not end them
• People may change their mind but it could be too late

Agree:

• Loving your neighbour can justify suicide
• Basic human rights is to be in control of your own body.
• If painkillers kill a dying person it is not murder as their intention was to remove pain, not kill.
• If doctors say that someone is brain dead then they have already died.

Disagree:

• Bible teachings bans suicide
• Sancity of life -  God chooses when we live and die
• Life is being ended by humans, not God, which is wrong
• Life is sacred and should only be taken by taken God
• Life and death belong to God alone.