Matters of Life and Death Unit 1 Religion and Life

Christians believe in life after death because … The main Christian belief is that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jesus taught that everyone would be judged and those who had served Him would go to heaven. On a Sunday, Christians say a Creed that they believe ‘in the resurrection of the body’. Most Christians that we are made up of a body and a soul that continues after we die.

So how will a Christian live … Lead a good Christian life. Christians believe that what happens to them after they die will be determined by how they lived this life. Follow Jesus’s teaching. Christians will follow Jesus’ Greatest Commandment to ‘love God’ and ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’. Love God. Christians will show they are following Jesus’ teaching by going to Church Love of neighbour. Christians will serve others as described in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. Christians can be buried or cremated when they die. St Paul teaches that they will receive a new spiritual body.

Muslims believe in life after death because … The Qur’an teaches ‘fear the Day when you shall be brought back to God’ (Surah 2:281). Souls will be judged. Life is a test from God. There must be a judgement and a reward for those who pass. Life after death is is one of the six fundamental beliefs of a Muslim Muhammad taught on Judgement Day everyone will see God as easily as you can see the sun.

So how will a Muslim live … Lead a good Muslim life. Muslims believe that what happens to them after they die will be determined by how they lived this life. Observe the 5 Pillars. Muslims will pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, go on hajj, give Zakah and make the statement of faith. Follow Shari’ah. Muslims will follow Islamic laws, such as eating halal food and avoiding prohibitions, such as drinking alcohol. Keep their body intact. Muslims will avoid post-mortems and have concerns about transplant surgery. Muslims believe that nothing should be removed from the body after death. Funerals take place within 48 hours and the body is simply embalmed and buried.

Someone not religious might believe in life after death because … Near-death experiences shows that a part of us survives death and enters another world. Ghosts suggest something exists after bodily death that looks like a person who lived. Mediums seem to have specific information from people who are dead. Stories of reincarnation seem to give accurate information about a person’s past life.

So why might someone not believe … There is no God. If there is no God, then there is no Judgement Day, no heaven or hell. No evidence. The only account of the afterlife is based upon holy texts and religious experiences. We have no soul. We only have a body that is complex and give us the impression that we have a mind independent of our brain. Upbringing. Some people are brought up to not believe in life after death, because their parents are not religious.

Abortion – the Law Abortion Act 1967 states that an abortion can be carried out if two doctors agree: the mother’s life is at risk there is risk of injury to the mother’s physical or mental health it puts an existing child at risk there is a substantial risk that the baby might be born seriously handicapped. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology 1990 Act amended the 1967 stating: Abortions cannot take place after 24 weeks unless the mother’s life is gravely at risk or the foetus is likely to be born with severe mental or physical abnormalities

Abortion – a controversial issue Murder or Medical procedure? Some people believe that life begins at conception. It is therefore taking a life. Other people argue that it is not a life until much later into the pregnancy and it is just like removing an unwanted tumour. Pro-life or Pro-choice? Some people believe that the baby’s right to life is more important than a woman’s right to have control over her body and life. Others disagree. Viability? Increasing medical advances mean that the point of viability is falling, such that babies can live independently from the mother with substantial medical support as early as week 18. Life-saver or life-taker? Some argue that health professionals are there to save life, not take it by carrying out an abortion.

What do Christians believe? The Roman Catholic Church and Fundamental Protestants believe that abortion is wrong: It disregards the sanctity of life. Life beings at conception and the commandment is ‘Do not kill’ (Exodus 20:1-17). Babies can always be given up for adoption. If the woman has been raped that does not mean another sinful act is done by killing the baby. Liberal Protestants believe that abortion is wrong, but is allowed in certain circumstances: Jesus’ Greatest Commandment is ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’. It could be the most loving thing to do. Life does not begin at conception. Just war shows the sanctity of life can be broken. Medical science is using our God-given talents.

What do Muslims believe? Most Muslims believe abortion is permitted up to 120 days of pregnancy: It is believed that the baby receives it soul after 120 days and is therefore only then, a human being. The Shari’ah states the life of the mother takes precedence over the life of the child, cf. the’ lesser of the two evils’. The Shari’ah also permits abortion if the mother’s life is at risk. Some Muslims believe abortion should never be allowed: They believe the baby receives its soul at conception. The Qur’an is against murder – ‘do not kill a soul that God has made’ (Surah 6:151) - and abortion is a form of murder. The Qur’an is against abortion – ‘Kill not your children on a plea of want’ (Surah 6:151)

Euthanasia – the Law Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under English law. Depending on the circumstances, euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder and is punishable by law, with a maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment. Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. Attempting to kill yourself is not a criminal act in itself. While a crime has been committed and it will be investigated by the Police, a person helping another person to end their life will not necessarily go to court and face prosecution. The case may not be in the public interest to pursue.

Euthanasia – a controversial issue Killing or Kindness? Some people say there is always likely to be doubt as to whether it is what the person really wants. It could be done so family and friends can gain from their will. Terminal or treatable? A cure might be found for the disease or the patient may be into remission. Who? Who should have the authority to end someone’s life and to ensure that it is what the person really wants. Life-saver or life-taker? Some argue that health professionals are there to save life, not to take it.

What do Christians believe? Some Christians believe that any form of euthanasia (including withholding treatment, switching off a life-support machine and giving heavy doses of painkillers) is wrong because: It is effectively a form of suicide or murder and this is wrong. Humans are ending a life that only God should end. The Roman Catholic Church and some Liberal Protestants believe that euthanasia is wrong: It disregards the sanctity of life. It goes against the commandment ‘Do not kill’ (Exodus 20:1-17). However Switching off a life-support machine is not wrong if the person is brain dead. Giving painkillers to manage the pain, even though it will hasten a person’s life is not wrong. The doctrine of double effect. A few Christians accept a limited use of euthanasia. Jesus’ Greatest Commandment is ‘love your neighbour as you love yourself’. It may be the most loving thing to do.

What do Muslims believe? Most Muslims are against any form of euthanasia: The Qur’an says suicide is wrong – ‘Nor can a soul die except by God’s leave’ (Surah 3:145). Euthanasia is assisted suicide. Only God has the authority to give and take life, and therefore you are making yourself level with God, the greatest sin called shirk. It disregards the Sanctity of Life. Life is a test and euthanasia is cheating or giving up. Muhammad’s hadith said a Muslim would go to hell – ‘My slave hurried in the matter of his life, therefore he is deprived of the Garden’. Some Muslims would except that switching off life-support machine is not euthanasia: The machine can be switched off if the person is all ready dead, for example, the person is brain dead.

Can the media criticize religion? Criticism could stir up religious hatred, banned by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act, 2007. Criticism could cause serious offence to believers. It is close to blasphemy if the media criticise religious leaders. The media should not criticise what God says. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights states that there is a freedom of expression. Religious leaders use the media to criticise others and therefore should be open to criticism themselves. The media have a right to question all religions as a multi-faith society. Life and death are important issues for everyone to debate.