RS Notes
Religion and Life
Origins of the World
● Christians believe in the creation story
● They believe that the world was designed and made by God ex nihilo - out of nothing
● They believe that it took 6 days and God rested on the 7th day
● In Islam, they believe it took 6 phases for God to create the world
● Some Christians believe that the Big bang could have been God’s way of creating
the world
● Muslims say that what is said in the Quran is similar to what science is discovering
Value of the World
● Stewardship (Khalifah) - the idea that believers have a duty to look after the
environment on behalf of God
● Dominion - Dominance or power over something.
● Both Christians and Muslims believe that God has given them the responsibility to
look after the world
● There are three types of pollution - air, water, land
Animals and animal rights
● Christians support limited animal testing, only if there is no other safe way
● Muslims believe that testing for non-essential luxuries is not allowed
● They also believe that animal testing should only happen if there is a good reason for
it
Origins of Human Life
● Evolution - The process by which living organisms are thought to have developed
from earlier forms of life
● Adaption - A process of change where an organism becomes better suited to its
environment
● Muslims and Christians reject the idea of evolution
● They believe that God created Adam and Eve, and we are all descendants of them
Abortion
● Abortion is the removal of a foetus from the womb to end a pregnancy before a child
is born
● Ensoulment is the period when Muslims believe the foetus is given a soul
● Abortion can be okay if it is to save the woman’s life, or if it is the result of crime
● Abortion is not allowed, as many people believe in the Sanctity of Life
Euthanasia
● Euthanasia is the deliberate ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering
● Can be active or passive
● It can be voluntary, involuntary or non-voluntary
● Reasons for allowing euthanasia:
○ End life with dignity and no pain
○ Loving thing to do
○ God is merciful
○ Quality of Life
● Reasons against euthanasia:
Religion and Life
Origins of the World
● Christians believe in the creation story
● They believe that the world was designed and made by God ex nihilo - out of nothing
● They believe that it took 6 days and God rested on the 7th day
● In Islam, they believe it took 6 phases for God to create the world
● Some Christians believe that the Big bang could have been God’s way of creating
the world
● Muslims say that what is said in the Quran is similar to what science is discovering
Value of the World
● Stewardship (Khalifah) - the idea that believers have a duty to look after the
environment on behalf of God
● Dominion - Dominance or power over something.
● Both Christians and Muslims believe that God has given them the responsibility to
look after the world
● There are three types of pollution - air, water, land
Animals and animal rights
● Christians support limited animal testing, only if there is no other safe way
● Muslims believe that testing for non-essential luxuries is not allowed
● They also believe that animal testing should only happen if there is a good reason for
it
Origins of Human Life
● Evolution - The process by which living organisms are thought to have developed
from earlier forms of life
● Adaption - A process of change where an organism becomes better suited to its
environment
● Muslims and Christians reject the idea of evolution
● They believe that God created Adam and Eve, and we are all descendants of them
Abortion
● Abortion is the removal of a foetus from the womb to end a pregnancy before a child
is born
● Ensoulment is the period when Muslims believe the foetus is given a soul
● Abortion can be okay if it is to save the woman’s life, or if it is the result of crime
● Abortion is not allowed, as many people believe in the Sanctity of Life
Euthanasia
● Euthanasia is the deliberate ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering
● Can be active or passive
● It can be voluntary, involuntary or non-voluntary
● Reasons for allowing euthanasia:
○ End life with dignity and no pain
○ Loving thing to do
○ God is merciful
○ Quality of Life
● Reasons against euthanasia:
