Religious studies G.C.S.E Christian perspectives coursework.
Marie 22/10/02 Religious studies G.C.S.E Christian perspectives coursework. There are a variety of interpretations of the word abortion but the dictionary meaning is 'the premature expulsion of a foetus especially if induced.' Abortion has been around for 1000's of years and used to be illegally as it only became legal in this country in 1967. Abortion has been practiced around the world since the ancient times as a crude method of birth control and wasn't considered illegal in most counties until the 19th century. However, there were laws during this time that banned abortion after movement to make it illegal started. In 1803 England band all abortions and this policy soon spread to other countries. Then in the 20th century many nations began to relax their laws against abortion. Soon after The Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics legalized abortion in 1920 and many countries followed. Then in 1967 this country passed the abortion act, legalising abortion under certain clearly defined criteria. This meant that abortion could be carried out up until 28 weeks but as medical practice improved, the abortion act had to be updated and now stands that abortion can be carried out up until 24 weeks. The medical definition of abortion is, 'the termination of a pregnancy before the foetus is capable of independent life. Abortion may be spontaneous or
Transplant Surgery
Transplant Surgery Aiii Transplant surgery is the division of medicine that surgically replaces an organ that is no longer functioning, with an organ from a donor that does function. Organs such as bone marrow and single kidney are donated by a living person and other organs like heart, pancreas, lungs, eyes and liver can be donated by deceased donors in order to save the life of a recipient. However, theses organs should be compatible with the patient with the correct blood type. This new technology has been classed as very effective and successful and is a medium of life and hope to those who otherwise are hopeless. However, some people in need have to wait until the donor dies and they can be 'harvested'. There are varying religious views on these transplant surgeries but mostly religious people agree with it. For example Christians and Jews believe that it is a way of "loving your neighbour". Only some Muslims allow transplant surgery using organs from a living donor provided that the donor is a close relative. Some religious people have problems with transplant of organs from a dead person. They have this belief because of some moral grounds about deciding when a person is dead. For example hearts are removed from a person when they are still beating. Christian believes that transplants would usurp the role of God which is a great sin, when the organs are removed.
An embryo is a person and has a right to life. Discuss
An embryo is a person and has a right to life The abortion argument deals with the rights and wrongs of deliberately ending a pregnancy before normal childbirth, therefore killing the foetus in the process. Abortion covers several issues such as whether a foetus is a human being and when a foetus has the right to life. Many people want to ban abortion while others do not. When planning an abortion you are potential killing a human being who will have a life. Therefore is it right to kill a foetus? Also when should the abortion occur? The law states it should be before 24 weeks, but many believe it should be earlier or you that you should be able to choose when to abort. There are many different religious views on abortion. Roman Catholics and Conservative Protestants follow the 'pro-life movement', which means that they believe that abortion is always wrong, regardless of the consequences anyone may face. Roman Catholics are absolutists and they believe that life is sacred. The foetus is already a human being and it should not be taken away unless it is God's doing. Therefore Roman Catholics strongly agree with the statement. I would agree with that abortion is wrong and should not be allowed in most circumstances. However if there is a serious issue with the mother of the foetus then abortion should be allowed. Anglicans and Liberal Protestants believe that abortion
Faced with the issue of abortion explain the different ways Christians might respond.
Katie Travers Faced with the issue of abortion explain the different ways Christians might respond. Many Christians, from a range of denominations and followers of other religions believe that abortion is taking a life. Although Jesus never teached about abortion Roman Catholics believe that life begins at conception and by having the foetus removed it is murder. Pope Paul VI said " human life is sacred all men must recognise the fact". The second Vatican council declared, "Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception". Roman Catholics believe that abortion is a sin in all cases and that life is sacred and should be protected. Roman Catholics and other Christians believe that a child is a gift from God. By making love you should not exclude the possibility of conceiving. So if your do not want to conceive then you shouldn't have sex. The Church of England also opposes abortion in a report in 1984 that "the foetus is to be specially respected and protected" but it went on to say "nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother". The Church of England believes that "there can be strictly limited conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any alternative" (1983 statement by General Synod). One of the conditions is rape. The Church of Scotland's board of social responsibility
Abortion and Euthanasia: Explain how Christians would respond to these issues
Dean Leighton Abortion and Euthanasia: Explain how Christians would respond to these issues AO2 Abortion is a major issue to Christians each denomination has its own teachings on abortion. Abortion is to end a pregnancy deliberately because the child is not wanted for some reason. "Thou shall not kill." (Exodus 20:13). There are different views on abortion, some people believe that abortion is wrong because the foetus is still alive, but others believe that abortion is needed for instance if the mother's life was in danger, it would be better to kill the foetus and save the mother, this means to choose the 'lesser of two evils.' Abortion has been legal since 1967, because many women had been going to illegal 'back-street abortionists.' Abortion was only legal if two doctors agreed it was necessary and the foetus is not viable before 28 weeks. In the 1990 act abortion has been moved from 28 weeks to 24 weeks. This is because of newer technology that can keep the baby alive. Christians who are in favour of abortion think that the woman has the right to choose what is best for her and her family, if the women is raped and becomes pregnant, the women discovers the unborn baby is handicapped, if a women life is at risk during the pregnancy and that she should be saved because she may have children already. These are the main factors why abortion is legal, the bible teaches
Describe the teachings of either Islam or Christianity about the sanctity of life in relation to either abortion or euthanasia.
Section A Describe the teachings of either Islam or Christianity about the sanctity of life in relation to either abortion or euthanasia. Christians are taught about their religion through the teachings of the bible. Christians also follow what the Pope and other religious teachers tell them. These teachings help guide Christians through life. On the subject of having children, God told his people that they should multiply, He said "be fruitful and increase, fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28). When God said this, the world was not at all populated with as many people as there are today so He wanted to fill it with his people. He also said, "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the son's of one's youth. Happy is he who has his quiver full of them" (psalm 127:4-5). The arrows represent the children and the warrior represents the father, therefore this means the more children the father has, the happier he will be. It is also quite clear that wants people to have a lot of children. Christians believe that life begins at conception; this is what they have been taught. "you knit together in my mothers womb.......my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.....you eyes saw my unformed body" (psalm 139). This psalm refers to "you" meaning God. This quote is suggesting that God created humans the way he wanted them to be. Another quote to back this up is
Abortion is acceptable in some circumstances.
Religious Education Coursework ~ Abortion ~ Section A Abortion is the word given to the simple ending of pregnancy before birth. This can be naturally caused, and is called 'spontaneous' abortion or the more common word of 'miscarriage' or it can be deliberately induced. A spontaneous abortion, if it is going to happen, usually takes place within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. An induced abortion is the deliberate expellence of the foetus from the woman's uterus. This has been practiced for over 3,000 years. Most induced abortions in Britain take place outside marriages. Christian teachings refer to the bible and teaching from their church, although in the Bible there are very little direct teachings about the subject of abortion and so Christians have to interpret what there is and make a decision, and so because of this a lot of Christians come to different conclusions. Christians are generally against abortion although some take a more hard and stronger opinion than others. Christians share with the Jews the belief that human life is sacred. This idea of sacrosanct life is called the 'sanctity of life'. Christian belief in the sanctity of life is central to a Christian understanding of the issue of abortion. If life is sacred, a gift from God, then it cannot be acceptable to take life. The question, with which Christians are faced with then, is this:
Faced with the issues of contraception and abortion, explain the different ways in which Christians might respond.
Cardinal Newman Patrick Driscoll Coventry Candidate No: AO2: Faced with the issues of contraception and abortion, explain the different ways in which Christians might respond. (350-525 words) [14 marks] Abortion is the intentional and purposeful killing of an unborn child. Also, sometimes a miscarriage is referred to as a "natural abortion." Contraception is a way of preventing the conception of a foetus. People today make several choices about these issues. Examples of these are: how many children to have; whether to bring a handicapped child into the world; population control, and the issue of rape. All Christians do not look at these issues in the same way. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that abortion is wrong, and is murder. Mother Theresa has been quoted as saying that, "Abortion is the greatest evil." She was a very influential person among those of the Catholic faith. In official statements and letters, the Pope, Jean Paul ?, said, "Life must be protected, from the moment of conception." Another statement said, "Because it should be treated as a person from the moment of conception, the unborn child must be defended." This means that for Catholics, all life, from it's beginning to its eventual end, is very special. Catholics believe that
Explain the beliefs that Christians hold about their responsibility for those at the beginning and end of their lives.
A01 Religion Coursework Question: Explain the beliefs that Christians hold about their responsibility for those at the beginning and end of their lives. Answer: Christians strongly believe that baby's should be baptised at a young age. Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the church. In the sacraments we receive gifts and strength from god. We cannot see this grace and strength but ordinary things that are giving a special meaning represent it for us. These are called symbols; one of the symbolism baptisms is the water. The water is dangerous but also life giving. The symbolism in baptism is that sin is drowned out. The baby is therefore washed away from sin. Also we see the oil being used for two purposes in baptism. It is marked for a special task and also to give the baby strength to fight sin and be a good Christian. In baptism we also see the baby wearing a white garment. This is to symbolise a new creation and make the baby free of sin. The candle in baptism is supposed to symbolise the light of faith. When a baby is being baptised the parents have to make a declaration of faith. They also have to choose two godparents, who should be a role model to the child, the godparents should show the child how to be a real Christian and promise to always care for it if the parents ever pass away. Being a godparent is a very big job and should not be taken lightly, it is a
Out line and explain Christian Beliefs about the sanctity if life which are particularly relevant to the beginning of life. Explain the main differences between the Christian Churches on this issue.
GCSE Religious Studies Coursework Out line and explain Christian Beliefs about the sanctity if life which are particularly relevant to the beginning of life. Explain the main differences between the Christian Churches on this issue. The sanctity of life is a subject with many mixed viewpoints; there are lots of different opinions that can be adopted when looking at life from birth to death. In this essay I will explore these issues and outline the various Christians beliefs on the sanctity of life. The sanctity of life is an expression that reflects the sacred and holiness of life, from the moment of conception to death, but the question that confuses this sanctity tends to be "when does life start?" This question, understandable, brings up questions about abortion. At the point of conception, when the egg and the sperm combine, a potential human is created but some people would disagree with this. Many Christians believe that the start of life is birth, others would tend to say when the child is fully formed in the womb it is a person. Mainly churches are united in their condemnation of abortion but there are many Christians in the more liberal Churches, and indeed in some of the hard line Churches, that have taken a different view. Some Christians hold their views based on the 1983 general synod (Government of the Anglican Church). Usually Protestants believe that