R.E Section 2 UNIT 4

Abortion The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive.

Barzakh The time of waiting between death and the Last Day

Akhirah Muslim beliefs about life after death

Al'Jannah Heaven or Paradise (literally garden)

Paranormal Unexplained things that are thought to have spirirtual causes, for example ghosts or mediums.

Quality of Life The idea that lie must have some benefits for it to be worth living

Euthanasia The painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease

Non voluntary euthanasia Ending some one's life painlessly when they are unable to ask but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so.

Voluntary Euthanasia Ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death.

Assisted suicide Providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide.

Resurrection The belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world, when it is raised.

Sanctity of life The belief that life is holy and belongs to Allah

The belief in life after death affects the way Muslims live their lives:

• Muslims live within the guidelines given in the Quran and Hadith because they believe they will be judged.
• The belief that life is a test which believers will be judged on makes them want to do good.
• Comforts those who have suffered loss.

Many non-religious people do not believe in life after death because:

Body decays

No evidence

Superstition

Non believers think that there cannot be life once the brain is dead. 

In the UK abortion is only allowed if two doctors agree that:

the mothers life/physical/mental health is a risk. 

the baby will be born severely handicapped.

There would be a serious effect on other children in the family.

No abortion is allowed later than 24 weeks into the pregnancy. 

Pro choice reasons:

It is the woman's right

Abortion is the best option is certain situations e.g illness/disability/risk

Child may be unwanted, leads to long term problems

Not financially able to bring up child or not emotionally stable to be a mother. 

Pro life reasons:

Life is special

Life begins at conception, embryo has potential of life

Unborn child should have same human rights

Loving parents can be found at the end of the pregnancy 

Disabled children should have equal rights as able bodied children. 

"Kill not your offspring for fear of poverty; it is we who provide for them and for you. Surely killing them is a great sin." 

Muslims believe that only Allah has the right to take life away. 

All Muslims: are against abortion because :

life begins at conception and is a gift from Allah

Only Allah can take life away

Allah has a plan for every life 

Some Muslims: generally oppose abortion but allow it ion some cases because:

When the mothers life is at risk. 

Other Muslims: Allow abortion because:

In cases of **** and modern technology ensures early detection

All Muslims are against euthanasia because:

Allah created human beings so only he can take away their life

The quran bans suicide and euthanasia is a form of suicide

Terminally Ill patients can still worship Allah

Euthanasia could be used for evil purposes.

Life is a test from Allah that determines the afterlife and euthanasia is cheating the test.

Some Muslims allow the turning off of a life support machine if there are no signs of life. 

Points against: Keeping people alive wastes resources, everyone has a right to choose how to end their lives.

Causes of world poverty:

Natural disasters - destroys homes, farmland etc.

Lack of health care and education - prevent the country from developing. 

War- Many LEDC's suffer from wars. They destroy homes, schools and hospitals. Creates refugees.

Debt - All LEDCs suffer from debt.  

Cash crops - Poor countries try to grow cash crops(cotton, tea, coffee etc) to sell to the more economically developed countries but this uses up land that could be used to grow food for their own people, leading to starvation.

How can they be removed:

Reducing debt charges     Help provide education so people can get jobs                Give training in health care so people can gain awareness     Help in emergency situations e.g natural disasters. 

It is important that matters of life and death are explored in the media because:

These issues affect everyone

people have very strong opinions about them

controversial issues need to be discussed

people have the right to know

people must  know how the law may change.