Download - Religion and society revision
Rights and responsibilities
Environmental and medical issues
Peace and Conflict
Crime and Punishment
Religion and Society!
All Christians agree that the Bible is the best way to find out what God wants them to do in their lives.
Contains God’s
teachings e.g. The
DecalogueContains the
teachings of Jesus
on life. (Parables)
Contains the
teachings of early
church leaders like
St. Paul.
Some: Absolute word of God: The only and final authority for ChristiansSome: Interpreted today for Christians by Church.Others: Only a guide written by humans - allowed to be interpreted to fit with today’s society.
Different beliefs about
the authority of the Bible.
CHRUCH: The community of Christians (small c = place of worship).
Church of England: Elect an assembly to
decide on moral issues.
Roman Catholic Church: Have leaders
that make moral decisions. (Pope and
Bishops)
Most: How Jesus, Son of God, works in the world, so it has authority of Jesus.Most: Believe that God speaks to the world today through the church.Guided by God so able to make decisions. Sure they are doing the right thing.
Why the Church
has authorit
y.
All humans have a conscience which makes them feel guilty if they do things which they regard as wrong, e.g.. If you do something your parents disapprove of, you may feel guilty afterwards.
This feelings of guilt is your conscience.
The role of
conscience.
Catholic Church teach:
Final part of moral decision making. They should go with
their conscience even if it goes against the
church.
WHEN. WHY.Christians follow their conscience?
Christians believe the voice of conscience seems to be the same as the voice of God so it should be followed. The Church says that Christians should follow their conscience.
People have been mistaken about the voice of God, e.g. The Yorkshire Ripper claimed that God had told him to kill prostitutes.
If Christians follow the teachings of the Bible and the Church they know they are doing the Christian thing, so don’t need to rely on conscience.
Why do some Christians think they shouldn’t always follow their conscience?
Many Christians who believe that conscience is more important than the Bible or Church
probably follow situation ethics.
This is a Christian idea from Joseph Fletcher.
Situation Ethics
Should a Christian attend a homosexual wedding?
IF WE USED IT?
Accepting the Bible or Church means things are either right or wrong whatever the situation. Fletcher felt this was wrong
and that Christians should base their moral decisions on Jesus’ commandment to love your neighbour as yourself and on
the situation.
Why some Christians follow situation ethics:
Jesus seemed to follow situation ethics because He over-ruled what the Old Testament said when he thought it was unloving; e.g. He healed on the Sabbath They think you should only do what will produce good results.
They believe that Jesus’ statement that the only laws are to love God and your neighbour means that Christians should always do what will have the most loving results.
Why some Christians won’t follow
situation ethics:
They think God wouldn’t have given laws in the Bible if they were not to be followed.
They think the Church knows best what Christians should do.
They claim you never know all the facts about a situation, so the most loving thing might not be if you knew more facts or all the consequences of your actions.
UN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1948! Rights and freedoms that every human is entitled to!
FREEDOM
FROM
SLAVERY
FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND RELIGION
RIGHT TO AN
EDUCATION!
RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT
THROUGH VOTING!
“From one human being He created all races on earth
and made them live throughout the whole earth”. (Acts 17:26)
THE GOOD SAMARITAN! Luke 10:25-37
FAIR TREATMENT!
Healing a Leper Helping/Teaching
prostitutes and Tax collectors
Helping the Roman Soldiers
DESMOND TUTU!CHRISTIAN “Christian worship can never
let us be indifferent to the needs of others…To speak of God, you must speak to your neighbour…He does not tolerate a relationship with himself that excludes your neighbour”.
Democratic Processes: The ways in which all citizens can take part in
government!Electoral Processes: The ways in which
voting is organised!A chance to say how things
are run!
You cannot complain if you
do not take part!
Voting – That is what living
in a democracy means.
You need to vote because the
choices governments make will
affect your life.
ONE VOTE WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
No matter who gets into power we end of with
the same policies.
“Rich people who see a brother and sister in need, yet close their hearts against them, cannot claim
that they love God”1 John 3:11-18
Whenever you helped “one of the least important members of my
family, you did it for me”Matthew 24:31-46
Someone who is sick, in prison, poor, homeless, upset etc
GENETIC ENGINEERING: Removal of DNA from a plant or animal, altering it and putting it back again.
CLONING: A form of genetic engineering that produces a duplicate of the parent
Adapting a
living organism
= PLAYING AT
BEING GOD!
May have
long term
health issues
Mixing plant
and animal
DNA is
unnatural and
totally wrong!
Could be used to
remove damaged
cells and make a
them healthy!
The possibilities
are to good to
miss! Mistakes
may happen but
the final result is
worth it!
GM SEEDS: Help
us produce food
for a hungry
growing world!
ONLY GOD CREATES LIFE!!!!!
EVERYTHING IS PLANNED! Including our genetic make-up! NO RIGHT TO ALTER GODS
CREATION!
ONLY GOD IS PERFECT!
ROMAN CATHOLIC
SEEDS, PLANTS and ANIMALS for the greater good of
humanity.
HUMANS CELLS???? NO WAY!!!
HUMANS ARE MADE IN GODS
IMAGE = SPECIAL!!!!
PROTESTANTS
MAY AGREE WITH ALL IF IT IS IN THE LONG TERM INTEREST OF
HUMANITY!
Medical Research must
be trying to improve the quality of a
persons life for it to be
acceptable!
Jesus healed people. GE is just a modern version of this!
Science comes from God, ergo, WE ARE MEANT TO USE IT!
Could be used for GOOD?
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIESYou must answer one question from this section.
EITHER1. (a) What is Situation Ethics? (2)
(b) Do you think pressure groups should be made illegal?Give two reasons for your point of view. (4)(c) Explain how the Bible is used by Christians in moral decision making. (8)(d) ‘No good can come from genetic engineering.’In your answer you should refer to Christianity. (i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion. (3)(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3)
Total for Question 1 = 20 marks
OR
2. (a) What are democratic processes? (2)(b) Do you think Christians should accept cloning? Give two reasons for your point of view. (4)(c) Explain why human rights matter to Christians. (8)(d) ‘Conscience is the best guide a Christian has when making a moral decision.’In your answer you should refer to Christianity.(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion. (3)(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3)
Total for Question 2 = 20 marks
Environmental and medical issuesGlobal Warming, Pollution and the problem this causes.
Infertility Treatment and religious attitudes towards it.
Transplant Surgery and religious attitudes towards it.
Global Warming
The increase in the
temperature of the
earth’s atmosphere
(thought to be caused
by the greenhouse
effect)
IMPACT?
Glaciers melt! Sea ice is
disappearing.
Sea levels are rising, seasons
changing.
Extreme weather is becoming more
EXTREME!
More flooding More droughts
More diseases More famine
More wars!
More refugees
Destruction of ecosystems
CLIMATE
CHANGE
SOLUTIONS?
“The good news is that we know exactly what needs to be done to stop climate change”
New technolog
y
Low-carbon carsReducing use of
fossil fuels
Use energy-saving light bulbs etc
CUT CARBON EMISSIONS
Pollution25 million tonnes of rubbish a year are
dumped on streets and along the side of the road.
Every person in the UK throws away four times their body weight in
rubbish a year.
Cars are the biggest cause of air pollution. They emit a variety of pollutants, including carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons.
Raw sewage and radioactive waste have been discharged into
the sea.
LAND
AIR
SEA
Natural Resources: Naturally occurring materials – oil and fertile land!
2000 trees, Coal, Oil, Not able to recover, UN, Exploitation ,
78%, 60 years
SOLUTION?“Do I really need to buy
this?!”
LESS DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Local
CONSERVATION
REPLACE
WHAT IS
USED SUSTAINABLE LIVES!
Christians, Islam and the EnvironmentStewardship: Looking after
something so it can be passed on to the next generation.
KHALIFAH: Responsibility that Allah has given Muslims to care for the world; the person who acts as
Allah’s steward on earth. “God looked at everything
he had made , and was very pleased”. (Genesis 1.31)
“But waste not by excess: for God loves not the
wasters”. (6:141)
QUR’AN: Allah created the world and everything in it for a purpose; it is part of Allah’s plan. Everything in existence is interlinked, we are all part of ’one’. Damage upsets a link in the chain and that harms the planet.
OLD TESTAMENT RULES!Working animals must rest one day a week. Fruit trees must not be destroyed when attacking a city. Land must be rested on the seventh year. Jesus taught through the Sermon on the Mount that it is every Christians duty to
share the worlds resources fairly and with care!
Sperm Donor
IVF
Sperm is taken from the husband and placed in the woman’s uterus. This can help couples who have difficulty conceiving for no obvious reason.
Artificial insemination by
husband known as AIH
Artificial insemination by donor known as
AID
A fertilized egg is created in the laboratory using an egg donated by another woman but using the partner’s sperm. This is of help when a woman does not ovulate.
Egg donation
In-vitro fertilization
known as IVF
Egg and sperm are taken from a couple, fertilized in a laboratory and then placed in the womb. This helps women with medical problems, such as blocked fallopian tubes, to conceive.
Sperm donated to a clinic is placed in the woman’s uterus. This can help couples where the male is infertile – unable to have children.
Christianity and IVFAttitude For or
Against? It is an act of great kindness to help a women to conceive a longed for child and to remove her suffering.
The IVF process involves the creation of several fertilized eggs. Not all eggs will be implanted in the women the rest will be destroyed. They believe it is wrong to destroy life.
Medical research must refrain from operations on live embryos. This is considered a grave sin.
The emotional needs of couples who are eager to have children have forced us to re-examine traditional beliefs.
Understand that a child is God’s gift to a couple conceived as a result of a loving sexual relationship anything else is unnatural and not what God intended.
If God gives us the ability to help infertile couples we should use it. The Bible contains a story of God bringing happiness to a infertile woman by giving her a child.
Islam and IVFDecision’s about fertility treatment in Islam consider whether
adultery is involved.
Sperm Donor
IVF: Acceptable as long as the egg and sperm belong to the husband. Extra embryos can
be destroyed but only BEFORE 120 DAYS!
AIH ACCEPTABLE!
AID: Not acceptable – Like adultery as man is not
married to the woman. The Qur’an teaches that everyone
has the right to Lineage. Surrogacy and Egg Donation
= SAME
Adoption!!! CHILD HAS THE RIGHT TO IDENTITY!
Transplant SurgeryIt would be fantastic if something amazing came out of my death.
Knowing that my death is going to help others live a good life makes me
happy!I think giving life is far better
than wasting organs that would otherwise be buried or
cremated.
Operations like transplant surgery cost a fortune. The money should be
spent on curing the disease or changing the way people live. Lots
more people would benefit from this!
I want to be buried with all my own body parts. I don’t think it is right for people to take parts of me when I am dead.
Transplant Surgery: Organ Donation
DEAD!
ALIVE!
donor
Lungs, Heart, Liver, Eyes, Skin etc
One dead donor saves 9 lives and helps many others.
Kidney, Blood, Bone Marrow etc.
This often has little impact on the donor and is often donated to sick family members.
Christianity and Transplant Surgery
The Bible states that humans are created by God in his images. People have NO RIGHT to interfere with God’s creation.
Some Christians believe that God will resurrect people into their bodies at the end of the world and DO NOT agree with transplanting organs. Some Christians say: When we have two organs, giving one is okay
because it is following Jesus' teachings of loving your neighbour.
Most Christians believe that the gift of life is precious and it
is right to make every effort to preserve life.
The Golden Rule teaches Christians to treat others as they would like to be treated themselves. For some, this teaching makes organ donations acceptable.
Islam and Transplant SurgeryThe Qur’an teaches that on the Last Day, Allah will resurrect everybody bodily. It is understood that nothing should be removed from a person’s body after death.
Allah is the creator of life and he has a plan for everyone.
Humans have no right to alter Allah’s plan about life and death.
Islam teaches that it is every Muslim’s duty to alleviate suffering and save life. Organ donation and transplant can do this. In Islam, Organ donation on a living donor may be permitted, so long
as it does not risk the donor’s life. In fact it is considered
an act of charity. Some (very few) Muslims believe that all forms of transplant surgery is acceptable because Shariah Laws it can save lives
and is a God given technology.
Peace and Conflict
The United NationsReligion and world peace
Just WarReligious attitude towards war.Religious attitude towards bullying.
Conflict in the family. Religious teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation.
UN
UN basic aims: 1: To maintain international peace and security2: To develop friendly relations between countries. 3: To help countries develop economically and socially. Peace = RESPECT for life, human dignity, human rights and the
rejection of violence along with a commitment to freedom, justice and friendship.
RESOLVE CONFLICTS:
Peace negotiations
Providing a neutral force
to support peace PREVENT CONFLICTS:
Negotiators
Tackle the causes of war.
E.g. economic poverty.
UNICEF: Children’s Fun
UNESCO: Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation
World Peace
THE QUAKERS
PACIFISM AND NON-VIOLENCEWork with the UN to reconcile warring states.
Campaign against nuclear weapons
Work to tackle the causes of conflict – poverty etc
Try to influence foreign policy
“War may be necessary. Refusing to fight would allow
evil to win!”
Just War
A Just War is one which has to be fought but is conducted according to certain conditions. These were developed by Thomas Aquinas (c1225-74) and Francisco de Vitoria (c1483-1546) and are still referred to by Christians today.
The theory is not intended to justify all wars but to
prevent them by showing that going to war - except in certain limited circumstances - is wrong. The intention
was to motivate states to find other ways of resolving conflicts, prevent war and to limit its effects.
Some conditions of a Just War are:
it must be fought by a legal recognised authority, eg, a governmentthe war must be fought with the intention to establish good or correct evilthe war must be the last resort (after all diplomatic negotiations have been tried and failed)civilians must not be involved or targeted
Christianity and war
Jesus is often described as a pacifist. He taught:
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the
children of God”.Matthew 5.9
Most Christians believe that war and fighting are wrong except in the most
severe cases and they base their views on Jesus’ teaching about love:“A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”.
John 13:34
Necessary EvilMost Christian believe we had a duty
stop the atrocities being committed by Nazi Regime during WWII.
Jesus taught about non-violence but never condemned Roman Soldiers.
POPE BENEDICT XVI – Duty bound to defend Christian values – even if that means using proportional violence.
Harb al-Muqadis (Holy War)
One aim of Holy War may be to create a democracy where people are free to live their lives without beliefs and
politics being imposed on them. There must be no hatred or vengeance in the fighting. As soon as peace is offered,
fighting must stop. Once peace has been restored the differences between people must be resolved.
Muslims may fight in self-defence but are forbidden to begin a fight. The aim of fighting is to create a
situation where Muslims are free to worship Allah and live in peace.
“Hate your enemy mildly; he may become your friend one day”. Hadith
Christianity and Bullying “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” If you love someone, you will never do them wrong: to love, the, is to obey the whole law. (Romans 13:9-10)
Made in the image of God!
WE ARE ALL EQUAL!Set up by Christians to help children who lived on the streets during Victorian times. Now it helps children facing discrimination or disadvantage in their daily lives. Aniti- bullying is one area they work on.
Islam and bullyingUMMAH=
The brotherhood of all Muslims, whether male of female. It would be wrong to bully a fellow Muslim.
QUR’ANAllah created every human being and everyone is equal in the eyes of Allah. Show respect to ALL of Allah’s creation.
SHOW COMPASSION TO THE WEAK AND FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE!
THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT
“Allah will not show mercy to the one who does not show mercy to others”. (Hadith)
Beatbullying: CyberMentors who help people who are victims of cyber bullying.
Christianity and forgiveness
PARABLES!
The Lost Son
THE BIBLE
“Do not take revenge on
someone who wrongs
you...love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute
you”
TRCTruth and
Reconciliation Commission
Desmond Tutu promoted forgiveness in South
Africa – Good Example
Islam and forgiveness
Teachings of the Qur’an
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
DAY OF JUDGEMENT
“Show forgiveness, speak of justice, and avoid the ignorant”.
(Qur;an 7:199)
“Control your anger, then forgive your
brother. Do you not wish to be forgiven?”.
(Prophet Muhammad PBUH)
If a Muslim wrongs someone they are taught to:Ask forgiveness from AllahAsk forgiveness from the person themselves.
Crime and PunishmentLaw and Justice
The point of PunishmentReligious teachings about justice
Capital PunishmentReligious attitudes towards capital punishment
Drugs and alcohol Drugs and alcohol – The problem for societyReligious attitudes towards drugs and alcohol
Law and Justice
Laws tell people how they should and should not behave.
Laws set out certain punishments to be enforced if the law is broken.
Without rules normal society would break down and there
will be ANARCHY.
Laws create a civilised society.
Ensures that people are treated fairly.
Punishment has to be
appropriate for the crime committed.
Law must be based on justice for society to believe they are fair and follow them.
If laws are unjust people may decide
to act without the law or ‘take the law into their own hands’.
Pu
nis
hm
en
tProtection
Deterrent
Retribution
Placing an offender in prison, or taking their life in order to protect society from the
criminal.
Having a harsh punishment that discourages others from breaking the law, or discourage
a criminal from re-offending.
Punishing a person to make them pay for what they have done.
Reparation
ReformA punishment that aims to stop a criminal
from re-offending, through a programme or re-education and training in prison.
Punishment that makes the criminal pay for their crime by doing something to help
society of the victim.
Justice and Christianity BIBLE: Treating people unjustly is a sin, and those who do it can expect to pay the
price on the Day of Judgement.
Old Testament RETRIBUTION
Exodus 21:23-25Vendettas and long-running disputes
were unjust.
Jesus’ teachings about justice were revolutionary for the time that he lived.
Jesus linked justice with non-violence and forgiveness. RETRIBUTION IS NOT THE BEST WAY!
Use , and forgive people who hurt you. He said that this was better than exacting punishment.
Jesus said that God wants a just society. Jesus taught people to
share their wealth and
give to charity.
Modern Christians believe there is an unjust division
of wealth in the world.
Many Christians campaign against poverty and make a
deliberate effort to buy Fairtrade goods.
“Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you the same way as you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others”. (Matthew 7:1-2)
Justice and Islam One of them is that Allah
is Just!!
Life of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh)
ZAKAH
UNJUST!!!
Shari’ah Law
Capital Punishment
The Death Penalty in Britain In 1908 the death penalty was abolished for people under 16. In 1931 the death penalty was abolished for pregnant women. The last hangings were in 1964. The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in the UK in 1998.
It is an excellent deterrent.
Removes dangerous people.
Cheaper than keeping a person in prison for a very long time.
Life for a life – fair retribution.
Innocent people get convicted by mistake.
Life is sacred – even that of a criminal
Prison is a good deterrent – Many try to commit suicide
It barbaric
Christianity and Capital PunishmentHERESY
A belief that is not acceptable to the
Church.“If anyone takes human life, he will be
punished...Human beings were made like God, so whoever murders one of them will be
killed by someone else”. (Genesis 9:5-6)
Old Testament
The NEW TESTAMENT teaches that a Christian should follow a countries legal code. Christians must obey state authorities and if Capital Punishment is okay then it is acceptable.
Jesus taught about love and forgiveness for sinners.
Only God can give and take life.
Sixth Commandment “Do not kill” means as a punishment as well.
Islam and Capital Punishment
Just punishment
Shari’ah Law
APOSTASY!“You shall not kill – for that is
forbidden by God – except for a just cause”DELIBERATE MURDER
THREATENING TO UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY
Alcohol and Drugs
Illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 18
16-17
Under 5
CHANGES?Ban on advertisement. Increase the taxStop happy hourNo drink drive limit for under 21s.
Alcohol and Drugs CLASS A = Morphine, Heroine
CLASS B = Speed, Cannabis
CLASS C = Ketamine, Some prescribed drugs
Police have the power to
stop and search any one
they think may be using or
carrying drugs.
Very serious offense to
supply drugs.
Growing cannabis is
illegal.
Importing drugs carries a
long prison sentence.
EFFECT ON PERSON AND SOCIETY
Causes health problems: Liver damage, lung cancer, high blood pressure etc
Relationships fail – Addicts often lie to them.
Work/Education suffers: Addicts are often to worried about their next fix.
Crime occurs: People under the influence commit crime – 50% street crime related to drinks.
Costs a fortune: Person spends large amount of money on their addiction. This often leads to debt.
Christians and Drugs/alcohol
“Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
RESPONSIBLE!
Jesus’ first miracle = WATER
INTO WINE!
HELP THE ADDICT!