Christians have different views about the existence of evil in the world. For many Christians evil is a mystery, which they struggle to explain.
Some Christians would argue that much that is evil in the world is a result of people being deliberately cruel and uncaring. This kind of evil is called moral evil. Some Christians believe that evil is a result of the Fall of Adam and Eve, who chose to disobey God and as a a result bring evil into the world. The other kind of evil is natural evil, which includes floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and disease. Natural evil is that which does not happen because of human action.
Other Christians believe that evil in the world comes from the Devil. The Devil is believed to be the enemy of God, who was created good, but grew jealous of God and decided to fight against him. The Devil, some Christians say, tries to turn humanity away from goodness and cause them to do evil. In the Bible the Devil is found tempting people, including Jesus, to turn against God.
Wednesday 28 March 2007
(a) describe Christian beliefs about why there is evil in the world
An example answer:
christian views on the use of animals in medical research
Animals were made for humans to control and rule (Genesis 1)
Animals deserve respect and value as part of God’s creation
It’s okay to use animals in medical research if it helps save lives
Animals are not human beings and do not have rights, but they should shown respect
The Roman Catholic Church emphasises we should be more concerned about human suffering than animal suffering
If we don’t respect animals, we don’t respect ourselves
Scientists should never test on animals whether it helps save lives or not
Treating animals with cruelty is a misuse of God's command to care for creation
Animals deserve respect and value as part of God’s creation
It’s okay to use animals in medical research if it helps save lives
Animals are not human beings and do not have rights, but they should shown respect
The Roman Catholic Church emphasises we should be more concerned about human suffering than animal suffering
If we don’t respect animals, we don’t respect ourselves
Scientists should never test on animals whether it helps save lives or not
Treating animals with cruelty is a misuse of God's command to care for creation
Monday 26 March 2007
(a) describe Christian views on abortion
This is an extract from an answer written in Mrs. T year 10 class today:
Because Christian interpret the Bible in different ways there is no uniformed Christian teaching on abortion (this applies the same to euthanasia / divorce / homosexuality / and war).
Christians quote sanctity of life arguments in all matters of life and death. They believe life is sacred, meaning it is God-given and deserves respect.
Some Christians believe in certain circumstances such as pregnancy as a result of rape that abortion is acceptable. This is known as relative morality. Other Christians, like Roman Catholics believe in absolute morality. This means that abortion is never acceptable under any circumstance.
Some of these sentence constructions can be used in writing other answers.
Because Christian interpret the Bible in different ways there is no uniformed Christian teaching on abortion (this applies the same to euthanasia / divorce / homosexuality / and war).
Christians quote sanctity of life arguments in all matters of life and death. They believe life is sacred, meaning it is God-given and deserves respect.
Some Christians believe in certain circumstances such as pregnancy as a result of rape that abortion is acceptable. This is known as relative morality. Other Christians, like Roman Catholics believe in absolute morality. This means that abortion is never acceptable under any circumstance.
Some of these sentence constructions can be used in writing other answers.
Wednesday 21 March 2007
christian beliefs about god
Christians believe in one God (they are monotheists)
They believe :-
God is eternal (no beginning and no end)
God is omnipresent (everywhere at all times)
God is the creator of the world
God is perfectly good and all-loving
God wants people to treat each other properly
God has given people moral guidelines to follow, which are recorded in the bible
God is omnipotent (all-powerful)
God is omniscient (all-knowing)
Jesus is the Son of God
God cares about people when they suffer
God knows what it is like to suffer because Jesus suffered and died
God listens when people pray
God loves all human beings unconditionally
All people are equally valuable to God, because they are made in the 'image of God'
God wants everyone to live in peace
Some Christians believe that your conscience is a way in which God speaks to you about what is right and wrong
They believe :-
God is eternal (no beginning and no end)
God is omnipresent (everywhere at all times)
God is the creator of the world
God is perfectly good and all-loving
God wants people to treat each other properly
God has given people moral guidelines to follow, which are recorded in the bible
God is omnipotent (all-powerful)
God is omniscient (all-knowing)
Jesus is the Son of God
God cares about people when they suffer
God knows what it is like to suffer because Jesus suffered and died
God listens when people pray
God loves all human beings unconditionally
All people are equally valuable to God, because they are made in the 'image of God'
God wants everyone to live in peace
Some Christians believe that your conscience is a way in which God speaks to you about what is right and wrong
Tuesday 20 March 2007
practice exam questions 1
Medical ethics questions. If you want to try answering any of them, post your answer in the comments.
(a) Describe Christian towards euthanasia (8)
(b) Explain how and why a Christian might support the work of an organisation which tries to prevent suicide (7)
(c) 'Human life should be preserved in all circumstances' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (5)
(a) Describe Christian towards euthanasia (8)
(b) Explain how and why a Christian might support the work of an organisation which tries to prevent suicide (7)
(c) 'Human life should be preserved in all circumstances' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (5)
Wednesday 14 March 2007
The Bible
The Bible is the holy book of Christianity.
It has two halves the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament is the same as the Jewish holy book. It contains 39 different books of stories, poems, laws and history, myths, prophecy and songs. You will find the 10 commandments in the Old Testament.
The New Testament contains 27 books. The first four are called the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). These are biographies of Jesus. You will find the Sermon on the Mount, and parables like the Good Samaritan, the Sheep and the Goats, etc in the gospels.
The other books are letters to different churches. Most of them are written by St. Paul. These letters give lots of advice to new Christians on how to live and what Christians believe.
Christians believe the Bible is inspired by God and they and put its teachings into practice in their daily lives. Christians will read the Bible to help them when making moral decisions about what is the right thing to do.
Christians will read the Bible regularly at home and at church. The Bible will also be read at weddings, funerals and other important occasions.
It has two halves the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament is the same as the Jewish holy book. It contains 39 different books of stories, poems, laws and history, myths, prophecy and songs. You will find the 10 commandments in the Old Testament.
The New Testament contains 27 books. The first four are called the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). These are biographies of Jesus. You will find the Sermon on the Mount, and parables like the Good Samaritan, the Sheep and the Goats, etc in the gospels.
The other books are letters to different churches. Most of them are written by St. Paul. These letters give lots of advice to new Christians on how to live and what Christians believe.
Christians believe the Bible is inspired by God and they and put its teachings into practice in their daily lives. Christians will read the Bible to help them when making moral decisions about what is the right thing to do.
Christians will read the Bible regularly at home and at church. The Bible will also be read at weddings, funerals and other important occasions.
How to answer part (c) questions
Part (c) questions always have a statement and then ask
Some example answers:
A
Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and how that you have thought about more than one point of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (5 marks)How to structure your answer to achieve 4 or 5 marks:
Some people will agree that ... because ...In either the 'some people' or 'other people' you need to think whether a Christian would agree or disagree.
Other people will agree that ... because ...
In my opinion I think that ... because ...
Some example answers:
A
Some Christians, like Quakers, would agree that it is never right to fight in a war because they believe violence is never acceptable. They believe that Jesus taught Christians to be peacemakers and to love their enemies. Other Christians would disagree and say that there are times when the only option is to fight in a war. For example to overcome evil or to protect the weak. In my opinion I think that war is sometimes a necessary evil, which we should always try and avoid, but sometimes we are left with no other choice. For example in World War II, Britain and other allies had little other choice but to resist the evil of Hitler and Nazi Germany.B
Most Christians would disagree with this statement because they would argue that God made us in his image. Christians believe God is good and if we are made in his image, we should also be good. Some Christians might believe that if they are good in this life, they will be rewarded after death in heaven. Other people might agree with this statement because they would argue that life is all about being happy and its impossible to be good all the time. They would say that we should do whatever makes us happy and as long as it doesn't make other people unhappy. In my opinion I think that we should try be both happy and good. The good thing to do is try and make other people happy and by doing this I think we will be happy ourselves.
Useful key words for GCSE RE
Church of England – led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, generally not as strict as Roman Catholics
Roman Catholic Christians – led by the Pope, against abortion, euthanasia, contraception, divorce, homosexuality
Quakers – pacifists, liberal Christians
Evangelical Christians – take the Bible very seriously, against homosexuality
Sermon on the Mount – a famous sermon by Jesus. It includes the Beatitudes and other instructions for Christians on the right way to live.
Parables – stories Jesus told with a moral or religious message
Sacrament – a ritual which is a sign of something holy and special done by God which cannot be undone, e.g. marriage
Annulment – means the marriage never existed. This is different from divorce
Irenaeus – a Christian thinker from the 2nd century who argued that we would be robots if we never suffered or had to choose between right and wrong
Thomas Aquinas – a monk from 13th century who created the Just War Theory
Elizabeth Fry – a Quaker from the 18th century, who campaigned for better conditions for prisoners
Ensoulment – the time or point at which a person is believed to receive a soul from God.
‘double effect’ – this is the principle that euthanasia can be allowed if it is the side effect of a good action such as pain relief
Liberation theology – the belief that God is on the side of the poor and the oppressed and so Christians should fight against injustice
Oppressed - people who a treated harshly or unjustly (unfairly) by a government or another group
Palliative Care – this is medical care which involves pain control
Hospice – a place where terminally ill people can go for nursing and respite care
Respite care – giving people who are carers for a family member a break
Roman Catholic Christians – led by the Pope, against abortion, euthanasia, contraception, divorce, homosexuality
Quakers – pacifists, liberal Christians
Evangelical Christians – take the Bible very seriously, against homosexuality
Sermon on the Mount – a famous sermon by Jesus. It includes the Beatitudes and other instructions for Christians on the right way to live.
Parables – stories Jesus told with a moral or religious message
Sacrament – a ritual which is a sign of something holy and special done by God which cannot be undone, e.g. marriage
Annulment – means the marriage never existed. This is different from divorce
Irenaeus – a Christian thinker from the 2nd century who argued that we would be robots if we never suffered or had to choose between right and wrong
Thomas Aquinas – a monk from 13th century who created the Just War Theory
Elizabeth Fry – a Quaker from the 18th century, who campaigned for better conditions for prisoners
Ensoulment – the time or point at which a person is believed to receive a soul from God.
‘double effect’ – this is the principle that euthanasia can be allowed if it is the side effect of a good action such as pain relief
Liberation theology – the belief that God is on the side of the poor and the oppressed and so Christians should fight against injustice
Oppressed - people who a treated harshly or unjustly (unfairly) by a government or another group
Palliative Care – this is medical care which involves pain control
Hospice – a place where terminally ill people can go for nursing and respite care
Respite care – giving people who are carers for a family member a break
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