Life and Death Issues Quotes

Origins

THE UNIVERSE 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis

"There was even there was morning the first day"  = literalists say means 

"A day is like a thousand years in the sight of the Lord" Pslams    In Gen Day / "Yom" = period of time   = day age theory / Big Bang / Old Earth

Hawking says: ‘Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.’ 

Christians on the Big Bang "Everything was created through him" John 1.3-4 

HUMANS

Christian response to evolution "God created humans in his own image" Genesis 1.27  humanist 

Richard Swinburne "the survival of the fittest presuppoeses the arvial of the fit" = evolution Liberal Christiasn / RC

"Let the land produce ... vegitataion ... animals" Genesis = process = evolution Liberal Christiasn / RC

Christian response to evolution "God created humans in his own image" Genesis 1.27 

St John Paul II wrote “ there is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation” 

The Design Argument

William Paley (1743-1805) compared the design of the universe to finding a watch. He argued that if you were walking on a moor (grassland area) and found a watch lying on the grass and saw how complicated it was you would have to assume someone made it. By looking at the watch you would see that all the coils, springs and movements all work together so that the watch is able to keep time. Anyone who found this watch, having never seen a watch before, would have to conclude that someone designed it for it to fulfil its purpose of keeping time. Paley compared this to the design of the world. He argued that just as someone who found the watch would conclude that it was made by someone because of its design, someone who looks at the universe must conclude that there is a designer because of how the universe has been designed.

"Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature" William paley (analogy of the watch) 

The scientist Isaac Newton (1642-1727) used the thumb print as evidence of the existence of God because each person has an individual and unique thumb print. He argued that this pointed to a designer rather than random chance.

In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence. — Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

"The ozone gas layer is a mighty proof of the creator's forethought." Arthur Brown

The universe might so naturally have been chaotic, but it is not - it is very orderly Richard Swinburne

Design is "random and blind" Richard davis

A series of successful mistakes Steve jones

"We are survival machines...blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes." Richard Dawkins (The Selfish Gene) 

"Natural selection is the 'sculptor of life' not some grand designer." Richard Dawkins (explanation for design) 

(the problem of evil) "If the gods are the cause of order in the universe, then they possess that degree of power, intelligence and benevolence which appears in their known effect and nothing more." David Hume 

"The true conclusion is, that the original source of all things is entirely indifferent...and has no more regard to good above ill than it does heat above cold."  David Hume (indifferent God)

G.K Chesterton said if we look at the world , we notice that “it seems to proceed by certain rules, in the growth of flowers a green architecture that builds itself without visible hand. There seems to be a design, a purpose, an intention to produce the flowers, plants, trees and other things in the world” 

Environment

Stewardship (RC / Liberal Christians)

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2: 15).

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, The world, and those who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

 “The earth and all life on it is a gift from God given us to share and develop, not to dominate and exploit.  ”  Pope John Paul II (1988)

The Old Testament (Deuteronomy) that Farmers should not go back to pick up any left-overs from a harvest.  Instead they should leave these for the poor, the strangers and the orphans.  So it is a duty of Christians to share resources and not let people go hungry.  (Love thy neighbour).

The New Testament teaches “the love of money is the root of evil” meaning that people should not make money at the expense of the environment or poor. 

Dominion 

"Have dominion over ... every living creature" Genesis 1:28 

" A wise man looks after his animal" Proverbs

"I will put you in charge of many things.' - Matthew 25:21 

Humans are "made in the image of God" not animals Genesis

Humanist Viewpoint

Peter Singer: There is no moral difference bewteen the foestus of an animal and that of a human

We should not be "speciesist" Sniger

"We've got to extend the circle of mroal worth to animals" Singer

Animals

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)  (So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them..)

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  (Genesis 1: 28). 

 Jesus taught: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them”. (Matthew 6:26)

·        And: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.” (Matthew 10:29)

·        Old Testament teaches to treat animals fairly “Do not muzzle an ox” when it is working (Deuteronomy 25:4).  

·        The 4th Commandment says animals as well as people should rest on the Sabbath.

·        God’s rules to Noah (Noachide Laws in Jewish teaching: the Talmud) said that people should not be cruel to animals

·        St. Francis of Assisi taught that animals were also children of God and so should be looked after.

"A righteous man cares about his animal's health" Proverbs 12:10 

"we should shut our laboratories of death" Pope John Paul

Sanctity of Life

"Do not murder" Exodus 20:13 (Utility quote)

Peter Singer 'We've got to get rid of the old Sanctity of life principle'

Imago Dei. Genesis 1:27 says: ‘God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.’ 

"Love your neighbour as you love yourself." Mark 12:31  - Implications of the value and sanctity of life e.g. for the / euthanasia issues of abortion .

Abortion

RC / Conservative -

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you”  Jeremiah 1

"Do not destroy by abort the fruit of your womb" Didache  = RC 

“ the body is the temple of the holy Spirit if anyone destroys Gods temple God will destroy them” Paul

“Human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence , a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person” RC  CCC 2270 

I, your God, give life and I take it away. (Job)

"Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes." (Gaudium et Spes, 51)

"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception." (CCC 2270) - The Catholic Church teaches that life must be respected from conception until natural death.

Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter "Laudato Si'": "Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion. How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties? 'If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of the new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away'." (Laudato Si', 120)

Liberal / Humanist

"Love one another as I have loved you" (Utility quote)

"Love thy neighbour" (Utility quote)

The Golden Rule-"do to others what you would have them do to you" 

‘The Church of England combines strong opposition to abortion with a recognition that there can be – strictly limited – conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any available alternative.’

" If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever. Exodus 21:22-23  - the pregnant woman's life is more important than the foetus she is carrying

"No Foetus is without significiance but the significane grows in the pregnancy"=Methodist (Conference report on about 1998)=Liberal protestant

"oppressive social circumstances" as resaons for abortion Methodist (Conference report on about 1998)

Euthanasia

"There is a time to be born and a time to die"  (Euthanasia)

"Honour thy mother and father" Exodus 20:1-21 (Attitudes towards the elderly)

"the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit" 1 Corintheans 6:19 

"people are made in Imago Dei (the image of God)" Genesis 1:27

Doctors do not have an overriding obligation to prolong life by all means possible (CHurch of England). 

Soul

the soul leaves the earthly body 2 Corinthians 5

Matthew 12:32

immortality of the soul - whoever says something against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven

"I was not I was I am not I care not" Epicurius  (humanism= materialism

"the spiritual body" Paul = Eternal life will be more glorious than physical life

"It is the natural state of teh body to be united with teh soul" Thomas Aquinas RC

"For God so loved the world that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life" Jesus in John 3 :16 = Those who believe in him will have eternal life

"I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the Farther but by me" Jesus John 14:7

"Today you will be with me in "paradise" Jesus to theif on the cross

Afterlife

John 14:2

in my Father's house there are many mansions

"I believe in the life everlasting" CCC

"I am the ressurectiona and the life" Jesus

" I believe in teh resuurection fo the body" Apostles Creed

" Christ will judge the lving and the dead" Paul in "  1 Timothy

RC Purgatory is "the final purification of the elect" CCC

Parables 1 Rich man and Lazarus  2 Sheep and goats

Funeral Rites

'I am the ressurection and the life he who believes in me even though he dies yet shall he live" Jesus - John 11

"The Lord is close to those broken hearted and saves saves those who are crushed in spirit" King David in Psalm 34:18 

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’.  Paul - Romans 3 

‘For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.’  Paul 

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." Paul 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44 

'Ashes to Ashes dust to dust' (Said following the Commital Prayer)

In Roman Catholic 

1. Vigil: The funeral rite often begins with a vigil, which involves staying awake to keep watch over the deceased. During this time, prayers are offered for the departed soul.

   1. "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." CCC

2. Funeral Mass: The body is placed in a coffin and taken to the church. The funeral Mass is enacted, with prayers asking God to take care of the deceased person and prayers for the mourners. Holy Communion is often included in the liturgy.  The Prayer of the Faithful (also known as the General Intercessions) 

   1. “For [Name], who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that he/she now be admitted to the company of the saints. We pray to the Lord.”   (Catholic Funeral Liturgy- from Through Death to Life by Joseph M. Champlin )

3. Also prayers for the family - "Lord Jesus, you bless those who mourn and are in pain. Bless N’s family and friends who gather around him/her today: Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy."

4. The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is sung or recited, acknowledging Christ as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

   1. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, X 3 have mercy on us.   + grant us peace. 

5. The Communion Rite includes the distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful, symbolizing unity with Christ and the Church.

6. The Commital Prayer:  "Almighty God, into your hands we commend the soul of your servant [Name], as we commit their body to its resting place. Grant us grace to entrust them to your care, confident in your promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 

Example of Quotes in Use

(b) “Explain what Christians believe about the origins of the world and humanity”.  [5 marks]

“Christians believe that God created the world because in Genesis 1 (the Bible) it tells how God commanded the world into being from nothing “ex nihilo” by saying “let there be”.  The world is made in a specific order and on particular days: “on the first day God said let there be light”.  God creates man and woman in his “image” in order that they can have a personal relationship with him.  In Genesis 2 God is involved in the creation in a more person way because he plants things in the Garden of Eden and moulds Adam from dust giving him the breath of life which makes him a living being”.

(b) Describe Christian beliefs about the relationship between humans and animals” – 

“Christians believe that humans are more important than animals because humans can have a relationship with God – they are made in “his image”.  When Adam was made God told him to “rule over” the animals and when Adam was put into the Garden of Eden God brought the animals to him to be named.  These things show that humans are more important”.