Euthanasia (easy death) click here for more notes

In the film Million Dollar Baby the lead character is paralysed and wants her close friend to end her life for her. He is a Roman Catholic and is not sure what the right thing to do is. The film is a great example of the euthanasia debate (and an easy way of revising this topic!!!)


Outline teachings used in discussions about euthanasia within one religion other than Christianity. (6)


In your answer you should :

• Define euthanasia
  Judaism teaches:
  


• Life is sacred (sanctity of life) and only God should take it.
  


• “You shall not kill” is the 6th commandment
  


• Euthanasia makes someone a killer.
  


• However, some Rabbis teach that it is also wrong to keep someone alive when they would die naturally.
  
  http://www.fitzwimarc.org.uk/GCSE/gjfiles/life/lifemenu.htm (for more questions on this topic)

Key Words:

• euthanasia an easy and gentle death
  
• assisted suicide providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide
  
• voluntary euthanasia the situation where someone dying in pain asks a doctor to end her/his life painlessly
• non-voluntary euthanasia ending someone's life painlessly when they are unable to ask,but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so eg switching off a life-support machine
  

An unequal world (click here for an interactive map)

Watch the video below "Minature Earth."

The video is based on the idea that if the world was made up of 100 people, it gives an idea of the inequalities in the world.

After watching the video add to the blog your thoughts / feelings. Especially discuss which figures you think were most shocking or disturbing.

Click on comments to add your message.
Mr Beech

Homework 5. 7th February. Abortion (click here for notes)

Explain why there are different views on abortion amongst Christians. (8)

This week I have written an answer but there are a number of mistakes. Find them and suggest corrections!

Some Christians believe in the sanctity of life (that life is special to God and should be protected). However, there are still different beliefs about abortion.

The Roman Catholic church teaches that life starts at conception (about 2 weeks after the sperm meets the egg) (1) and that abortion is OK in some situations . (2) They would say that the Bible teaches "You shall not kill" and because of this it is wrong.

Many Protestants would agree with the Roman Catholic view. The Bible also says "you knew me before I was born" so they think God plans all babies and they are special to him. However, some think abortion might be the right thing to do in some situations. The man who introduced the abortion bill was a Christian and he thought it was better for people to have abortions illegally in back street clinics than with a trained Dr. (3) About 40 women died each year from bad operations. Some Christians would also argue that it might be a loving thing to do to allow someone an abortion if they have been raped or could not cope with a baby.

Key words to learn:

abortion the removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive

sanctity of life the belief that life is holy and belongs to God

euthanasia an easy and gentle death

assisted suicide providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide

voluntary euthanasia the situation where someone dying in pain asks a doctor to end her/his life painlessly