Zusammenfassung der Ressource
AQA GCSE RS: Religion and Early Life
- Miracle of Life
- The idea that life is special,
wonderful and amazing
- Life is unique; fertility
shouldn't be taken for granted.
- Sanctity of Life
- All religion teach that life
is special and precious
- Western Religions
- Life is sacred and holy because if
comes from God; should be valued
and cherished, NOT destroyed.
- God gave life, only
he has the right to
take it away
- Eastern Religions
- Life should be valued, every
person deserves a chance to
build up good karma
- Respecting life = good karma,
Destroying life = bad karma
- Blessing
- Idea that God has favoured
a couple with a child
- See a child as a blessing/
gift from God; they are
thankful.
- When does life begin?
- Conception - DNA is fixed w/
information to make a new being
- Important: Baby has rights (right
to live) when it is 'alive'. Therefore
abortion would be illegal.
- Development of backbone
which houses nervous system
- When foetus is viable after 22 weeks
- At the first heart beat
- Religious Views
- Buddhists - Life begins before
conception, everything in cycle of samsara
- Hindus, Sikhs and Roman Catholics
believe life starts at conception
- Many Jews - foetus has potential but only legal baby at birth
- Soul only reaches baby after it exits womb
- Muslims believe that
the life starts after
ensoulment at 120 days
- Quality of Life
- A measure of fulfilment
- Severe Disability - babies born with severe mental/
physical handicap, may live life full of pain and suffering.
May also need full time care; extra responsibility on family.
- Many disabled children live
happy and productive lives; how
serious does a disability need to
be to justify an abortion?
- Unwanted child - lots of unplanned children are loved and cared for
dearly. However, in some cases the mother may feel resentment if
she is not in a suitable position for motherhood
- The mother could be very young
or could have been raped.
- This may be inconvenient,
but surely this isn't a
sufficient reason to end a
pregnancy
- Poverty - some families simply can't afford
children. If may also affect the QoL of the
mother, e.g. a single mother may have to give
up her job to look after children.
- Many women in LEDC's have
children. Also government will
give state benefits to poor
mothers.