Rights and responsibilities Environmental and medical issues Peace and Conflict Crime and Punishment Religion and Society!

Rights and responsibilities

Key Words Bible: T he Holy Book of Christianity made up of the 66 books of the Old and the New Testament Church: T he community of Christian believers (small ‘c’ refers to the building). Conscience: A n inner feeling of what is right or wrong. Situation Ethics: T he idea that Christians should base moral decisions on what is the most loving thing to do. Electoral Processes: T he ways in which voting is organised. Democratic Processes: T he ways in which local citizens can take part in government. Political Party: A group which tries to be elected into power based on its policies. Pressure Group: G roups formed to influence government policies on particular issues. Social Change: T he way in which society has changed and is changing. Human Rights: T he rights and freedoms to which everyone is entitled. Decalogue: T he Ten Commandments. Golden Rule: J esus’ teaching to treat others as we would like to be treated.

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 Decalogue Contains 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 Christians  Some: 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. 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 authority.

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 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!

CAN GO TO COURT IF BROKEN EVERYONE ENTITLED TO THEM MADE A PART OF UK LAW IN 1998

“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  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”.

FATHERS 4 JUSTICE! A GROUP FORMED TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE!

UNITE against racism! DRAWS ATTENTION! Puts the squeeze on the Government!

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.

“DO FOR OTHERS WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO FOR YOU”! Matthew 7:12

“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!!!! 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! 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 RESPONSIBILITIES You must answer one question from this section. EITHER 1. (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