Christian values for human life.
R.E COURSEWORK : OPTION 2B ANDY ROBERTS 4SHT
Introduction
All Christians value human life highly, "and now we will make human beings, they will be like us and resemble us" (Genesis 1: v26), because they value the sacraments of Baptism and Sacrament of Sick. They believe that they are associated with the beginning and end of life. They inform them about different issues like abortion and euthanasia.
I will now explore these issues to a further extent.
Coursework- AO1
"Explain the beliefs of Roman Catholic Christians hold about their responsibility to those at the beginning and end of their lives"
Christians believe that Baptism is a sacrament because Jesus said,
"Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe shall be condemned". (Mark 16: v15-16) and,
"I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then to all my peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit".
(Matthew 28: v18-20)
Christians also believe that when they are baptised, it washes away their sins symbolised by the water on the head, or better total immersion.
During baptism, Christians believe that all actions are symbolic. The oil is a symbol of finding new life in Jesus, the oil is Chrism and is the symbol of healing to confirm the child will grow strong in Christ, and the water is symbolic of the fact that the child has died to a life of sin and been given new life and has re-born.
Christian churches also state that you must be baptised to become a full member of the Church.
However, there are some groups of Christians who don't think it's appropriate to baptise babies
The parents and godparents of a baptised baby have many responsibilities.
They must take vows to reject all evil and proclaim their belief in the Christian teaching. By proclaiming their faith, it shows they possess the correct values to guide the baby. The parents and godparents have the responsibility of three vital tasks. These are to educate it, look after it, and encouraging it to consider confirmation. There are many ways to educate the child. Some decide to do it themselves, whilst others seek help from Church, through Sunday school. With the help of Church organisations such as guides or scouts, the child can also be educated.
For Catholics, however, this will ultimately lead to first communion. Their most important role is to encourage. They need to encourage the child to join the Church of their own choice at confirmation. The parents and godparents can help encourage, by explaining the benefits of being confirmed.
Protestant Christians do not see the Sacrament of the sick as a sacrament because there is no correct statement about it from Jesus.
Protestants do heal people, though in the letter of St.James it states, "he should send for the church elders, who will pray for him and rub olive - oil on him, in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health". (James:14-15).
These are instructions given about sick members of any Christian community.
Illness will bring crisis into ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Protestant Christians do not see the Sacrament of the sick as a sacrament because there is no correct statement about it from Jesus.
Protestants do heal people, though in the letter of St.James it states, "he should send for the church elders, who will pray for him and rub olive - oil on him, in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health". (James:14-15).
These are instructions given about sick members of any Christian community.
Illness will bring crisis into a person's life but for Christians this sacrament gives them spiritual comfort and recovery to health. They feel this way because of the life of Christ, who had special care for the sick and would tell his followers to have concern.
After Jesus` resurrection he told his disciples, "believers will be given power to perform miracles, they will place their hands on sick people, who will get well". (Mark 16: v15-18)
The effects of the Sacrament of the sick can be summarized as spiritual comfort, forgiveness of sins and strength.
The reason why friends and relatives must organise the sacrament of the sick is because the sick person is not able to. This may be due to mental or physical illness.
The sacrament of the sick should be requested when a person is dangerously ill. If the illness becomes greater, the sacrament can be given a second time.
If an operation is a serious one the sick person should be anointed before surgery takes place. Sick children can be anointed if they are comforted by the sacrament.
This quote from Vatican II shows how people can ask for help, "The faithful should be taught in public and in private to ask for anointing... All who have the care of the sick should be taught the meaning and purpose of anointing".
The sick person hopes to receive the love and power of God. They want to be given strength and courage to accept illness. They also want forgiveness of sin. The most important effect is the prayer of faith. In James` words, "The prayer made in faith, will heal the sick". Healing is understood as a spiritual victory over sickness.
AO2
"Faced with the issues of abortion and euthanasia, explain the different ways Roman Catholic Christians might respond"
Abortion is explained as being the premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb.
The Catholic Church`s view is that all of "human life is sacred" (Pope Paul VI). Roman Catholic`s believe that their teaching is correct in all areas. They believe that, "human life must be respected from the moment of conception" (Catechism of the Catholic Church). The Catholic Church has always been against any form of contraception, but they feel strongly towards abortion. They take the view that all "human life is sacred" due to a few reasons. In genesis 1:27, it tells us "God made man in his image", which is telling us that we must not take away a life.
The Catholic teaching is expressed in the Declaration on Procured Abortion. "From the time that the ovum is fertilised, a new life is begun. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already".
Abortion is wrong even if a woman is raped or her life is to be endangered by pregnancy. This view will never change. In Vatican II, the view is backed up, "Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infantide are abominable crimes".
The teaching of other Christian churches on abortion is that they feel it is a serious matter. Different viewpoints from the Church of England, Methodist and Quakers show how important abortion must be taken.
The Anglican view on abortion is, "although the foetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother". They teach that abortion is always to be viewed seriously. It takes a compassionate line and accepts that it may be necessary to avoid a greater evil. Abortion is acceptable if the mother`s life is in danger because of her physical or mental state, the woman is a victim of rape and that if the foetus is severely abnormal.
The Church of Scotland view on abortion is that , "abortion has no moral justification and represents the unwarranted destruction of human life that is made in the image of God" (Church of Scotland statement).
I feel that the Anglican view is an easier teaching than the Roman Catholic view, because although they are against it, they do accept abortion if a woman`s life is in danger. If I was coming from a woman`s point of view who was facing abortion, I would feel that it would be easier to talk to the priest about the situation. However, I believe that there should be far more information on options when having a baby rather than abortion.
Euthanasia means "an easy death". In my opinion Euthanasia is a very controversial issue and many have strong issues.
The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to Euthanasia. "Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person" (Papal Encyclical Evangelium Vitae).
There are two types. Compulsory (when others decide) and Voluntary (when the person decides).
The Catholic Church opposes Euthanasia in all cases, however, it allows double effect.
Church teaching about Euthanasia is based on the belief in the sanctity of human life as God`s creation. "God made man in his image" seems a valuable bible quote, as it is related to God`s creation (Genesis 1:27).
The Roman Catholic teaching is that, "whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists of putting an end to the lives of the handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable".
So Christians oppose Euthanasia because God creates humanity in his image and all life is sacred.
An alternative that a Christian would offer to Euthanasia would be hospice care and alleviation of pain.
Euthanasia can be best explained by something that I read in the paper, "Annie Lindsell suffered from a degenerative muscle wasting disease and applied to the courts to be allowed to die when she became incapable of moving" (She died before this became necessary).
Most Christian Churches are opposed to Euthanasia, but some are more flexible about turning of life support machines or accepting suicide. Some believe that life is a gift from God, so is wrong to end it, whereas others will just oppose it.
The Anglican teaching is that a "positive choice has to be made by society in favour of protecting the interests of its vulnerable members, even if this means limiting the freedom of others to determine their end".
The Methodist Church follows that but believes "the argument for euthanasia will be answered, if better methods of caring for the dying are developed".
So the main argument in support for Euthanasia is that people should have the right to decide and should choose when and how to die with dignity.
The Roman Catholic teaching teaches quite clearly that Euthanasia is unlawful killing and goes against Christian life, other Christian Churches will follow that view, so I feel that Euthanasia is agreed by most, only there is a few exceptions on the basis of views of what to do.
AO3
"What Roman Catholic Christians believe about life is up to them. They should not try to make others accept their position"
Roman Catholic Christians believe that they do have the peaceful right to try and persuade others that abortion and euthanasia are wrong, because of what God and the Church have said. We can agree with this, because of what the bible says. Then God said, "And now we will make human beings: they will be like us and resemble us. They will have the power over the fish, birds and all animals" (Genesis 1:v26-27).
Roman Catholic`s believe that God speaks through them and that God can never be wrong. This is a statement from Jesus explaining that his disciples must preach God`s word, Jesus drew near and said to them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go then to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples" (Matthew 28: v18).
Christianity has always been a "go out and teach religion", so the point is, why should that stop now? It is also legal to peacefully protest in circumstances such as this, but there cannot be violent behaviour.
Roman Catholicism teaches that it is wrong to take extraordinary measures to preserve life. A Christian spouse would endeavour to preserve life and preserve dignity by ensuring the spouse had the best possible medical care to control pain, and to ensure good quality of life until the very end.
Many older people today live very active lives into their seventies and eighties, so old age and illness refers more to the capabilities of someone than of their chronological age. Old age awaits every person, "There is a season for everything, a time for giving birth and a time for dying" (Ecc. 3:1-2).
Christians teach that death is not the end of life, and so all those who have died in faith have gone before them and are part of the "communion of saints". Christian churches teach the importance of valuing every individual as a unique person created by God in his image.
Non Roman Catholic`s and complete non-believers in God, make another side to the argument. The non-believers feel that people must have the right to decide what they want. They say that the Roman Catholic Church cannot force faith onto others. They believe that people should not have to suffer and feel that relatives should not see them in pain. They feel that it is their choice, as we will all die at some point.
My view is that Roman Catholics have the peaceful right to persuade the suffering and that the non-believers' feel that the suffering has the right to decide what they personally want. I feel that Roman Catholicism teaches the correct view towards abortion and euthanasia because, life is a gift that should be used properly and mustn't be thrown away. "Human life is sacred, and all must respect this" (Pope Paul VI).
