EARLY LIFE

Lo: To review the topic on Early life

Remember to choose 4 out of 6 units

1. Religion and Animal Rights

2. Religion and Planet Earth

3. Religion War and Peace

4. Religion and Prejudice

5. Religion and Early life

Sanctity of life- Life is sacred (special) and God given

Value of life- How much is a person worth? (Are they worth spending money on?)

Quality of life- How good is your life

Key terms

Sanctity of life Value of life Quality of life

Special as God has given life

Living a financial stable life

Experience of God

Do not harm or destroy your body

Comfortable living ie houseEducation/ health care

Freedom

Be healthy More worthy than animals

Dignity

Can you think of any more?

Quality / value of lifeDo doctors have the moral obligation to

save life at all costs and every situation? A person may be ‘brain dead’ and yet have their body kept alive by human artificial means – is that person dead or alive?

I think...

How would you define a good quality of life?

I think what makes a good quality of life is....

Because....

We should also.....

And finally....

China- One child policy

In China you are only allowed to have one Child

People are forced to have abortions, are fined or are forced into being sterilised if they have any more

What does this say about the value of life?

Quality of Life• John has been in a wheel chair for 15 years.

His health is getting worse and he is in a lot of pain.

• He wants to end his life because he feels that he is in the way and doesn’t want his children to have to care for him anymore.

Write the advice you think each person below would give him:

•Doctor

•Priest

•Family

•You

Religious viewsSome Christians believe life begins at conception

others will say before 8 weeks life begins

Muslims say there is potential life at conception, but a foetus receives it soul after 120 days so that is really when life begins

Key term: Abortion

The deliberate end of a ………….by …………. of the ……..

Foetus/Removal/ Pregnancy/

Conception – when the sperm and egg meet and the cells begin to grow and divide? When the foetus looks human? When the foetus can feel? When the brain has developed? When the foetus is viable (could survive if it was born prematurely)? When the child is born? At another time?

When do you think life begins?

Write a few sentences to say when you think life begins and why.

Colour code: For / Against abortion

Life doesn’t start till after

birth

God gives life. Only he can decide

when to take it away.

The quality of life for a severely disabled child might be so low that it is kinder for

that child not to be born

If abortion were illegal they would still

happen in back street clinics,

putting women’s lives & health at

risk

A teenage mother would have to ruin

her education & career

Doctors promise to save life, not end it.

The baby is a result of

rape

Women have a right to decide what happens to

their body

Sometimes contraception

fails

The unborn child has a

right not to be killed

Children are a blessing from

God

Abortions can go wrong

Handicapped people can still live happy and fulfilled lives

Unwanted babies could be

adopted

For a legal abortion to take place two doctors need to agree that:

• The mother’s physical or mental health is at risk

• The mother’s life is at risk• Her existing family will suffer• The child will be born with a severe

disability

• Abortion is legal in Britain up to 24 weeks in the pregnancy. If woman’s life is at risk or the child has a severe disability, abortion can take place at any time

Christianity and Abortion • Roman Catholic – abortion is wrong under all

circumstances• ‘You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb.’• The Pope said, ‘Life must be protected with the utmost

care from the moment of conception; abortion & infanticide are abominable crimes’

• Protestants – accept abortion if the foetus has a serious disability, if the mother’s life is in danger or if pregnancy was a result of rape.

• Many believe it is up to the individual’s conscience to decide based on the Christian concept of love. The rights of the unborn child have to be balanced against the mother’s rights depending on the circumstances.

• Every human life is unique and should be respected & protected but its life is not absolutely paramount. Sometimes abortion is the lesser of two evils

Images Passage:

God has a plan for every human life

Life is God given

Human life is precious

Life should not be destroyed

All life deserves respect

Islam and Abortion

• Muslims oppose abortion in all cases except where the mother’s life is in danger.

• Everything is the will of Allah - ‘Insha Allah’. Abortion for economic reasons is forbidden.

• ‘No severer of womb ties will ever enter paradise’ means if you have a abortion through personal choice you can not go to heaven when you die

• Some Muslims believe that the foetus is ensouled at 120 days so abortions before that time are not killing a living person.

Colour code / match up teachings

Part of God’s plan

‘I chose you before I gave you life and

before you were born’

Ten Commandments

‘Do not commit murder’

Sanctity of life

‘So God created human beings, making

them to be like himself’

Qur’an

‘Do not kill your children in fear of poverty. We

shall provide for them and you.

Killing them is a big sin’

Hadith

‘No severer of womb ties will

ever enter paradise’

Pressure Group: People who want to change or

influence An issue or political decision

Society for the protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) - Life of baby is important and has rights

(PRO-LIFE Against abortion)

Abortion Rights groupThe woman has a choiceIt is her body to do what she wants With ( PRO-CHOICE For abortion)

Colour code: PRO LIFE / PRO CHOICE

• Life begins at conception – no one has the right to take life.

• It is kinder to abort the foetus if it will be severely disabled.

• Just because a child is disabled doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a chance of life.

• A woman has a right to choose what happens to her body.

• There are always people who want to adopt babies and children.

• It is kinder to abort the foetus if the pregnancy is the result of rape.

• An embryo has rights – it is a life, just like any other human being.

• All children have the right to be loved and cared for.

Exam questions

(a) What is adoption? (1 mark)

(b) Give two situations in which abortion is legal in Britain. (2 marks)

• (c) ‘Children are a gift.’ What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks)

I agree/disagree because....

Also.....

Finally my point is...

(d) Explain why some religious believers are against abortion. Refer to religious teaching in your answer. (6 marks)

Some Christians believe....

Some Muslims believe...

(e) ‘A woman should have an abortion if she knows that her baby will have a poor quality of life.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6 marks)

I agree/ disagree because...

Christians would agree because..

A quote to support this view is...

Other people would not agree because....

To conclude..