Christians believe that one day God will raise all the people who have ever lived and judge them. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God and that he died for the sins of all people. They believe that if Jesus had not died then all people would go to Hell. The Christian beliefs about Hell are that Hell is traditionally viewed as a place of intense, eternal torment. The Church has taught that inmates of Hell are trapped there for eternity without any hope of release. The church teaches that many would be punished there for all eternity, for sins committed during their life on earth. Roman Catholic Christians believe that there is a third place called Purgatory. They believe that Purgatory is a dreadful place of painful, long-lasting punishment with fire. Christians believe that if you accept that Jesus died for your sins and that if you worship God then you will be able to go to Heaven when you die. Heaven is a place where there is only happiness, no sorrow or sadness. Jesus’ resurrection gives Christians the hope of the same.
The Christian belief is to treat those who are suffering with dignity, such as people with dementia, old age or a terminal illness. Some Christians work in homes for the aged, or hospices for the terminally ill. Help is offered to those who are about to die such as comfort, support and guidance from Christian hospices. The words of the scripture offer comfort about death not being the end. They are allowed their family present, so that they can be told that they are loved. They are offered relief from pain without overdose on morphine. The last sacrament that the sick person is offered is actually the Eucharist in the form of Viaticum, which Christians believe is food for the journey. Christians believe that the anointing of the sick proclaims both healing forgiveness for their sinfulness as well as healing for their body and spirit. It is always a time of forgiveness for their sins.
After the person has died, funeral arrangements are made taking the persons wishes in to account. Some Christians prefer their funeral to be a celebration of their life, rather than a sad occasion. It is important for the priest to oversee the person’s requiem, as it has to be decided whether the person is buried or cremated. When a person has dies, some families like to send a donation to charity for the disease the person died of. Christians remember a person who has died, by giving them a memorial plaque or a headstone at their grave.
A02
Faced with Abortion and Euthanasia, explain the different ways Christians might respond to these situations.
Most Christians believe abortion disobeys the sixth command, which prohibits murderous acts. However there is a keen debate concerning the moment a human embryo becomes fully human (when, according to Christian teaching, it has both body and soul).The argument is not whether abortion exists, but whether it should be legal, safe and dignified, or illegal, unsafe and furtive. The decision to have an abortion is never easy but no one is better suited than the woman concerned to make that decision. The Catholic Church teaches that when God gives the child a soul, this takes place at the moment of conception and this has been a key reason for their refusal to condone abortion. Christians believe that even in the womb, the unborn child still has a right not to be killed. People even with the most awful of handicaps have still gone on to leave happy, creative, rewarding and fulfilling lives. Abortion is very often referred to by many Christians as being discrimination against the weak.
The Protestant Church is reluctant to take such a hard line as Catholics do in the abortion debate. It accepts that there are certain situations when abortion is an unavoidable consequence of deciding between two evil situations. There are certain situations when it is considered by the protestant church to be acceptable such as if the woman is raped and becomes pregnant, then offering an abortion is a humane and practical way of helping her. Both the Catholic and the Protestant Churches accept abortion when the life of the mother is in danger as a result of her being pregnant.
There are some Christians who believe the Bible says nothing about abortions. In one sense this is true. There is no direct teaching that says 'You shall or you shall not allow a woman to have an abortion.' Christians against abortion believe the embryo is a human and should be give full human rights. Anyone taking away its life is committing a sin and an act of disobedience against God as they are committing murder and are putting themselves on a level with God who alone gives life and takes it away. Modern science still proves that the unborn child is a separate human being from conception and it is never just a part of his or her Mothers body.
Christians believe that by allowing abortion, that society is taking the easy way out and it should concentrate on improving the quality of life in society. They believe that abortion is not just a matter of Religion, but it is about murder, injustice, and denial of human rights. The UN declaration of human rights declares that children need protecting before, as well as after birth. It is a fact to them that every aborted foetus was a potential human being. Abortion, to Christians is considered a form of infanticide. What was aborted, was a unique and different child with a potential personality. Christians believe that if society did more in the way of contraception and education, and also helped single mothers by producing counselling and places where they could seek guidance, then abortion would not be necessary. All in all, killing is killing, whether done in back streets or openly, and no abortion is morally right.
Christians are divided on the issue of Euthanasia. Some believe that euthanasia can sometimes be right. Others believe it is always wrong. All Christians use the argument that Jesus taught us to love our neighbour. Christians who say that euthanasia is wrong base it primarily on the example of Jesus who helped sick people, though they also point out that God said murder is wrong.’ God made man in his own image.’ This is a factor that will influence Christians. They believe the fact that death is an event in life, not the end of life. Also, we as humans have a right to use Gods gift of life to the full. The main concern is that human life is a gift from God and only he has the right to take it away.
The gospels tell us Jesus spent much of his time helping people who were sick. Some were hoping against hope, as for instance the woman with a haemorrhage who spent twelve years searching in vain for a cure before she finally came to Jesus. And then there was the man who suffered from a dreadful skin disease and so was an outcast, yet despite this he came to Jesus and begged for his help. When Jesus met distressed people like these he helped them, never ever suggesting euthanasia was the answer to their illness. Christians say Jesus is the model of how we humans should act, because his behaviour mirrored what God is like. They believe that what he did as well as what he said is the basis for our behaviour. And since he always helped sick people to recover, not die, most Christians believe euthanasia is wrong.
Another argument against euthanasia is that one of the ten commandments God gave through Moses was: do not murder. Euthanasia is murder. So it is killing a person who has done nothing wrong.
There are certain aspects that are considered to be good points about Euthanasia, such as it can quickly end a persons suffering, and it allows the person to die with dignity, but for Christians, the bad point’s way out the good by far. If there were better facilities for caring for the sick, then there would be less need for euthanasia. Also, many people recover after being extremely ill.
It all comes down to the commandment in the end ‘thou shall not kill,’ which all Christians morally abide by.
A03
‘What Christians believe about life is up to them. They should not try to make others accept their position.’
Some people believe that what Christians believe about life is up to them and that their opinion should not be slighted, but should be respected by other Christians, because every human being is entitled to their own opinion, and it is important for them to be able to express what they believe in without their opinion being looked down upon and corrected by others. They should not be persuaded or forced in to any situations by anyone in which they are not content in doing so. They might say that a person has a right to make their own decisions in life and should not have to consult to Religion constantly and should follow their own reasoning because choices in life should be left up to nobody but themselves. They themselves have the right to believe what they want. They might argue that a woman has a right to choose what she does with her own body and that there is no person better to decide than the woman herself. They may also say that a suffering person has the right to end their own lives and that there should definitely not be a ban against Euthanasia.
Other people may disagree with this viewpoint and say that what a person decides and chooses to believe affects others, such as family, friends, child in womb or an ill person. Also, what a person decides affects everyone around them and beliefs should not be decided under selfish means. They might believe that no person has a right to end their own life and God should be the only person to decide when life should end because God is the creator and giver of life and life is a gift from him that we should be grateful for. They might argue that there should be laws to prevent abortion because the unborn baby is a separate human being and life and vulnerable lives should be protected within society. Also, the sick, weak, young and old should be protected by society. They may think that Christians should all hold one belief and that it should not be decided by any one separate person. They may expect a proper Christian not to make their own beliefs about life, but to only follow the commandments and teachings of the Christian society.
In conclusion I believe that what Christians believe about life should be left up unto them because every single person has the right to believe and express their own opinions. I would argue that people’s views should be respected and accepted by everybody.
