Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Unit 2 - Matters of Life and Death
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Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Unit 2 - Matters of Life and Death
Key Words Sanctity of Life: the belief that life is holy and comes from God. Abortion: the removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive. Quality of Life: the idea that life must feel like it is worth living. Euthanasia: bringing about a premature but painless and gentle death. Voluntary Euthanasia: ending life painlessly when someone in great pain requests death. Non-Voluntary Euthanasia: ending someone’s life painlessly in their best interest when they are incapable of requesting death themselves . Assisted Suicide: helping a seriously ill person to commit suicide. Near-Death Experience: when someone about to die has an out of body experience. Paranormal: unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes e.g. ghosts, mediums. Reincarnation: when souls, after death, are reborn in a new body. Resurrection: when after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raised. Immortality of the Soul: the idea that the soul lives on after death.
‘The SancTiTy of life’
Sanctity of Life (SoL): ‘Life is precious because God gave
it, therefore only God has the right to take it.’
The Bible says, The Bible also says,
‘God created ‘The Lord
Humans in His God formed man
own image.’ and breathed
life into him.’
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 2:7
Revision tip: including Bible verses as evidence helps secure HIGHER grades.
‘The SancTiTy of life’
‘Humans are made like ‘Do not commit
God, so whoever sheds murder.’
the blood of a man, by Exodus 20:13
man will his blood be
shed.’ ‘Don’t you know that
Genesis 9:6 your body is the temple
‘You created every part
of the Holy Spirit, who
of me, you knit me lives in you. You do not
together in my belong to yourselves but
mother’s womb.’ to God.’
Psalm 139:13 1 Corinthians 6:19
(also Jeremiah 1:5)
Top Tip: Quotes from the Bible are often seen as
the best kind of evidence to show Christian belief.
The Sanctity of Life has implications in many areas.
Life: When Does It Begin?
Heart Beat: When the
Conception: When the heart starts to beat
sperm meets the egg around week 9 of the
resulting in pregnancy.
pregnancy
Viable. When the baby is able
Birth: When the baby
to survive outside of the
is born. Usually 40
womb. Around week 24 of
weeks into
the pregnancy.
pregnancy.
The Law and Abortion
The 1967 ‘Abortion Act’ states
TWO doctors must agree that ONE of the
following is true:
The mother’s life is at The mother’s physical
risk. or mental health may be
at risk.
The wellbeing of an
existing child may be at There is a substantial
risk with the arrival of an risk the child may be
additional child. born seriously
handicapped.
The 1990 Act states
abortions cannot take place after 24 weeks
unless the mother’s life is at risk.
Abortion: Whose Rights?
Pro-Choice (pro-
abortion) • A woman should not be
The belief that forced to go through with
the woman an unwanted pregnancy.
should be the • Stopping abortions would
person to
decide as it is
make women turn to illegal
her body. ‘back street’ clinics.
Pro-Life (anti-
abortion) • The foetus is a living
growing thing. To destroy it
In favour of is the same as killing it.
protecting the
life of the foetus. • True ‘choice’ would
The belief that consider the choice the
life begins at baby and father might make.
conception.
For Against
(under certain
(under any
circumstances)
circumstances)
E.g. Methodist & Quakers E.g. Catholics & Evangelicals
Euthanasia
The word ‘Euthanasia’ comes from two Greek words:
‘Eu’ ‘Thanatos’
‘A Good
(meaning (meaning
Death’
‘good’) ‘death’)
Or ‘The act of bringing about an easy and painless death.’
It is mainly seen as a release for those suffering with an
incurable and/or
degenerative disease, or
for those who are in a
‘Permanent Vegetative
State’ (PVS).Within the UK
there is currently
no law that
directly deals
with euthanasia.
However, the
act of taking a
life is dealt with
under murder
laws, and the
1961 Suicide Act
states ‘A person
who aids, abets,
counsels or
procures the
suicide of
another is liable
to imprisonment
for up to 14
years.’Some doctors may give painkillers
to ease suffering knowing that the
Active Euthanasia: dosage needed would eventually
Active euthanasia is a direct act lead to death. This is known
of a doctor or other to end the as ‘Double Effect’ and is the
life of an individual. e.g. giving a only form of euthanasia
patient an overdose of pain the Catholic Church
killers such as morphine. will agree to.
Under certain conditions
Passive Euthanasia: euthanasia is legal in The
Passive euthanasia is where Netherlands, Switzerland
treatment that would help a and
person live longer is stopped parts
with the idea of ending the life. of
e.g. not using life support.
Australia.Precedent: Legalising
Right to Life: Diane
euthanasia in some
Pretty argued that with
circumstances sets what
the ‘right to life’ came a
is called a ‘precedent’ Moral Arguments right to reject life. The
for the future. In other
High Court in London
words; to allow one Surrounding Euthanasia said that the right to life
now makes it hard to
was not the same as the
disallow others in the
right to die.
future.
Medical Society: All Quality of Life: People
Medical Implications:
doctors agree to argue that having no
Allowing euthanasia
attempt to save life at quality of life is an
now for current
all costs, this is called argument for
medical conditions
the ‘Hippocratic Oath’. euthanasia. However,
could create problems
The British Medical this argument relies on
in the future after
Association (BMA) a personal idea on
advances in medical
opposes the legalisation what ‘quality of life’
science.
of euthanasia. actually means.The Hospice Movement
Hospices offer
Patients can go to a palliative care; that is
hospice for short-term treatment of the
breaks as well as symptoms of an illness
long-term care. e.g. pain, not the
illness itself.
A place where
Counselling and
terminally ill people
support is available for
can live out the
remainder of their life patients and their
and be looked after in A Christian families. Family
doctor, Dame support often
comfort and with
Cicely Saunders, continues afterwards.
dignity.
started the first
modern hospice,
St Christopher’s,
in 1967.Case Study 1: Robert & Jennifer Stokes
In 2003 Robert Stokes, 59, and his wife
Jennifer Stokes, 53, flew to Zurich in
Switzerland. They stayed in an apartment
owned by a Swiss voluntary euthanasia
organisation called Dignitas. At the request of Mr and Mrs
Stokes, Dignitas supplied them with a lethal amount of a poison
called Pentobarbital Sodium. On April 1st 2003 Mr and Mrs
Stokes took the poison and as a result they both died. This kind
of euthanasia is usually reserved for those with terminal illnesses,
however, neither Mr or Mrs Stokes were suffering a terminal
illness. Mr Stokes suffered from epilepsy and depression; Mrs
Stokes suffered from a bad back and had bouts of depression.
Mr and Mrs Stokes had their solicitor inform their family of their
decision to die only after they were confirmed dead. Mr and Mrs
Stokes believed that neither of them had a decent quality of life
and neither wished to live without the other.Case Study 2: Diane Pretty
In 1999 Diane Pretty was diagnosed with
the illness Motor Neurone Disease (MND),
an incurable disorder causing progressive
weakening of the muscles. Death occurs
through suffocation when the muscles that
help breathing are paralysed. Diane Pretty lost almost all use of
her limbs and was confined to a wheelchair. Due to weakening
facial muscles, her speech was no longer understandable except
by her immediate friends and family who became interpreters.
Diane Pretty, 43, had been married to her husband, Brian, for 23
years. Mrs Pretty wanted to be able to end her life before the
disease did. As she was physically unable to commit suicide, Mrs
Pretty wanted her husband to assist her suicide. Mrs Pretty asked
the courts to promise that her husband would not face criminal
charges if he helped her commit suicide. Mrs Pretty lost her fight
with the courts and died of MND on May 11th 2002.Immortality of the Soul & Life After Death
Christians
believe in life Jesus rose from the dead and The Bible talks about life after
after death he taught his followers that death, and the early Christian
for many they would have ‘everlasting leaders including St Paul
life.’ John 3:16 taught about life after death.
reasons. The
belief in the
immortality
of the soul The church has always
leads them to accepted and taught the belief Life after death gives a
in life after death even if meaning and a purpose to the
ask ‘In what opinions differ as to what life we live now.
form will that form it takes.
be?’ It is the
form that divides opinion.
A new heavenly body for the soul
New
resurrection Has physical qualities
body but suggests limits
Lives forever, but has
no physical qualitiesChristian opinion
is divided at this
point. A Person Dies
The person’s body/Soul remains in Or The person’s spirit goes
the grave until the ‘Last Day’ directly to face God
God’s Judgement Most Christians
Catholics Believe believe
If the person is not a
If the person is a If the person is a Christian
Christian but is imperfect Christian who has
due to unconfessed sin confessed their sins and
not yet forgiven so been forgiven for them Benevolent God
Some Liberal Christians Believe
saves all people
Heaven: To be in
Purgatory: A place where Just God saves
the presence of
sins of Christians can all good people
God for eternity
eventually be forgiven
before heaven Pluralist God
Hell: Eternal
separation saves all
from God religious peopleSecular Views on Life After Death
Many people have non-religious reasons for believing in life after death.
Near-Death Experiences
• People claim to have near-death experiences when they are
classed as clinically dead for a short period then revived. They
often describe feelings of peace; out of body experiences; seeing a
bright light; and even meeting deceased relatives.
Paranormal Activities
• Beliefs in ghosts and Ouija boards give some people reasons to
believe that the spirits, or souls, of the dead live on. Mediums
claim evidence for life after death by contacting people’s dead
relatives and telling them things only their relatives could know.
Reincarnation
• Many people believe that after death the soul is re-born into a
new body. The idea is found in many ancient mythological and
pagan beliefs. People believe the memories of past lives can pass
into a person’s current life offering evidence for life after death.The issue of Euthanasia was tackled in the BBC film ‘A Short Stay in Switzerland’.
Julie Walters plays Dr Anne Turner, GCSE questions in this section will
a retired doctor suffering from focus on how an issue is dealt with and
Supranuclear Palsy, a degenerative if religious people and their beliefs
and debilitating illness. Dr Turner were treated fairly.
believed her quality of life was
The film deals with the issue of
deteriorating to such a level she
assisted suicide and shows the
no longer wished to live with her
moral dilemma faced by friends and
condition. With the help of her
family of Dr Turner. Although the
three grown-up
viewer may feel sympathy for
children she
Dr Turner and her family the film is
travelled to the
not biased one way or the other.
Dignitas clinic in
The film makers clearly show
Zurich, Switzerland,
assisted suicide is illegal in the UK
where doctors
but present the debate on legalising
gave her drugs
it fairly, with thoughts and opinions
to end her life.
aired on both sides.One particular scene in the film Clare: I ask you this with some trepidation,
involves a religious friend of Dr may I pray for you.
Turner expressing her concern Anne: Of course; yes. If it helps you.
over suicide. Whilst her opinions Clare: I want it to help you.
Anne: You do I’m sure, and if it does, I’ll be
are expressed passionately, she is
the first to let you know. But, we each have
not portrayed by the film makers our own way of doing things - we will, as
unfairly as a fundamentalist, and ever, beg to differ and respect that.
both the woman and her religious
views are treated respectfully. Dr Turner’s friend, Clare, also offers to
pray for Anne in order to offer her
some spiritual comfort. Anne Turner is
not religious and whilst she is happy
for her friend to pray for her, she is
clear it will not have the same
meaning for her as it does for Clare.
In showing this the film makers have
again tackled a religious topic whilst
respecting the spiritual beliefs of a
religious character within the film.You can also read
