Peace and conflict Keywords: - Aggression: attacking without being provoked - Bullying: frightening people who are weaker than yourself - Conflict resolution: bringing a fight or struggle to a peaceful conclusion - Exploitation: taking advantage of a weaker person/group - Forgiveness: stopping blaming someone and/or pardoning them for what they have done wrong - Just war: a war which is fought for the right reasons in the right way - Pacifism: the belief that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means - Reconciliation: bringing together people who were opposed to each other - Respect: trusting a person or their beliefs/feelings with consideration and understanding - The United Nations: an international group of countries set up to promote world peace and.cooperation - Weapons of mass destruction: weapons that can destroy large areas of land and kill many.people - World peace: the ending of war throughout the world (the basic aim of the United Nations) Lesson One: The United Nations The three basic aims of the United Nations: To bring world peace and security To develop friendly relations amongst other countries To help countries develop economically and socially Two ways of working for peace: Trying to stop conflict using negotiation techniques and ensuing that peace is maintained Trying to prevent conflict in the first place using skilled negotiators Peace is Respect for life, for human dignity and for all human rights, the rejection of violence Commitment to the principles of freedom, justice, solidarity and understanding between people Examples of UN agencies: UNESCO WHO (World Health Organisation) UNHCHR (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) UNICEF (UN Children s Fund): - Child survival and development - Child protection - HIV/AIDS - Education - Gender equality - Based in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, China, areas of Africa, etc. 1
Lesson Two: Religious Organisations Promoting Peace Quakers: Christian denomination who support peace and many are pacifists 210,000 Quakers across the world Believe that there is something of God in everyone, and that everyone is of unique worth Value all people equally and oppose anything that may harm or threaten others The only Christian organisation totally committed to pacifism and non-violence Believe religious belief must influence a believer s actions Believe that force nearly always creates more problems than it solves How and where they campaign for peace: - Campaign for nuclear disarmament via the media and demonstrations - One way to achieve global peace and security is to rid the world of nuclear weapons Hold meetings with the UK government and UN to promote peaceful approaches to foreign policy - UNICEF (UN Children s Fund) EAPPI (Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel): Ecumenical: they believe that all Christians should work together to promote peace A charity made up of Christians from all traditions (e.g. Catholics, Quakers, Methodists, etc.) Their aim is to accomplish world peace How and where the campaign for peace: - Work in the troubled region of Israel and Palestine - They are made up of volunteers who spend three months living with people on each side of the disputed territory - As a result, they have gained international trust - As they are unarmed, neutral observers, they provide protection by their presence and can prevent innocent civilians suffering humans rights abuses as these would be reported to the governments and the UN by the observers 2
Lesson Three, part one: The Arab-Israeli Conflict (1948 present) Summary: The Israelis believe they are entitled to the land currently known as Israel The Palestinians believe they are entitled to the same land, that they call Palestine The Jewish Israelis and Muslim Palestinians both believe that God (Jehovah/Allah respectively) gave them the land They believe that giving the land away to someone else is an insult to God and a sin History: 1930s: The ancient Jews from the Biblical period called their land Israel Around 2000 years ago, the Roman Empire ruled the area and destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, killed large numbers of Jews and forced many others to leave their homes The land was later conquered by the Turks, who ruled it for 400 years as Palestine The Great Arab Revolt took place against the British, who ruled Palestine since 1918, and the growing Jewish population that had begun returning to Israel The British stopped the revolt, helped by Jewish militias, but the fighting and hostility never fully ended between the Jews and Arabs Independence: In 1948 and following World War II, the UN set up a new state of Israel as a homeland for the Jews A separate area of the country, named Palestine, was partitioned off and given to the Arabs (who had previously occupied the whole state) Some of the neighbouring Arab nations invaded Israel to help the Palestinian Arabs who were fighting to create their own independent nation The Arabs lost this war, and many fled what was now the new nation of Israel and moved to neighbouring nations as refugees, awaiting the day that they could return Remaining conflict areas: Two parts of the old Palestine did not become part of the new Israel the Gaza Strip and the West Bank After the end of the war in 1949, Egypt took over the Gaza Strip and Jordan took control of West Bank In the 1950s and 60s, Palestinians conducted raids into Israel, often with the help of Egypt, Jordan and Syria These attacks prompted Israeli military reactions, and the border continues to be the scene of violent warfare 3
Lesson Three, part two: Causes of war Religious reasons: Terrorist attacks Religious disagreements To convert others Economic reasons: Lust for land/resources Money Social reasons: Defending an ally/beliefs/lifestyle/freedom Moral reasons: To promote good and avoid evil To ensure the abidement of human rights To kill a dictator To stop genocide/racism, etc. To prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction The Iraq War: Began in 2003 America suspected that Iraq had nuclear weapons Saddam Hussein was a dictator in Iraq George Bush and Tony Blair led the US and UK to war No nuclear weapons were found in Iraq Was the war justified? 4
Lesson Four: A Just War Just War: a way fought for the right reasons in the right way The principles of a Just War (created by Sir Thomas Aquinas): There must be a just cause (e.g. country has weapons of mass destruction) The war must be started and controlled by an official authority (e.g. UN) The war must promote good and/or be against evil (e.g. against terrorism) The war must be a last resort (i.e. you must try negotiation first) There must be a reasonable chance of success Only necessary force must be used to achieve the aim (i.e. don t use nuclear weapons, which could harm civilians) Only legitimate targets should be attacked (e.g. government/military bases) Lesson Five: The Christian attitude to war Christians believe in conflict resolution: stopping conflict by resolving an issue peacefully beforehand Most Christians believe war can be a necessary evil, even though they would prefer the world to live in peace Some Christians are pacifists (e.g. Quakers), who do not believe in hurting other living things and prefer to try for peaceful resolutions instead Christian evidence in favour of war: Pope Benedict XVI: Christians shouldn t ignore an evil aggressor Jesus didn t condemn soldiers and even praised a Roman solider for his courage War can be a necessary evil St Paul: obey the state authorities Any war must follow Thomas Aquinas Just War criteria Christian evidence against war: Matthew 5: Do not take revenge but turn the other cheek Matthew 5: Blessed are the peacemakers Jesus is called the Prince of Peace Christians should work peacefully for conflict resolution Love your enemies War and conflict directly impacts the economic development of countries You should not do evil in order for something good to happen 5
Lesson Six: The Muslim attitude to war Islam means peace or surrender The purpose of a Muslim is to please Allah, which involves getting rid of evil and establishing peace on Earth (this struggle is called Jihad) Greater Jihad: a belief inside you to do the right thing Lesser Jihad (Holy war): a military struggle to fight for your religion and maintain justice The conditions of a Holy war: Must be a last resort Must have a just cause Must bring about good Must be started and controlled by a religious leader Killing must not be indiscriminate (everybody) Once the aim is achieved, fighting must stop and mercy must be shown to the survivors to restore peace Wounded enemies should be treated in the same way as wounded Muslims Women and children should not be harmed If this criteria is filled, it is the duty of a Muslim to go to war Any Muslim killed will go directly to paradise Lesson Seven: Christians and bullying Christians fight against all injustice and suffering like bullying, because: They follow the Golden Rule (treat others how you would wish to be treated They are against all forms of discrimination In the Bible, Jesus treated everyone equally and preached a message of love Treating someone badly would be abusing God s creation Christians can help oppose bullying in many practical ways: The Children s Society: - Set up by Christians in Victorian times - Help children who face danger - Trail adults to help prevent bullying The Samaritans: - A free-call organisation, run by volunteer Christians Kidscape: - Teaches children about general safety and bullying Childline: - Developed to provide advice and support for children through a free-call service 6
Lesson Eight: Muslims and bullying Islam condemns bullies: The Qur an teaches that Allah created every human equally Ummah the brotherhood of all Muslims, whether they are male or female Islam means peace Bullying is a form of injustice, and all injustice is wrong Muslims show compassion to the weak If you are unkind to others, Allah will judge you after your death Allah will not show mercy to the one who does not show mercy to others Lesson Nine: Reasons for religious conflicts in families Authority Sex Different/Opposing beliefs Food/diet Inappropriate media (e.g. violent games, porn) Belief on Heaven and Hell Traditional roles Religious dress code/fashion Ethical issues (e.g. abortion) Choosing religions Arranged marriage Attending religious gatherings (e.g. Church) Gay relationships Strict laws Young relationships with religious people 7
Lesson Ten: Christian teaching on forgiveness and reconciliation Jesus taught his followers to forgive their enemies: The Lord s Prayer: forgive us the wrongs we have done as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us Matthew: Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Jesus said to forgive people 70 x 7 times (a limitless number of times) Jesus also set a good example when dying on the cross: Father, forgive them, they don t know what they re doing The Parable of the Lost Son: A father forgives his son who spends all his money This teaches Christians that God will forgive you, no matter what you do Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa is a Christian who practises forgiveness and reconciliation: Was originally a teacher but noticed that there were racial disadvantages Helped to stop racial segregation in Africa (ended in 1994) Was against all types of segregation There is no future for South Africa without forgiveness 8
Lesson Eleven: Muslim teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation Islam teaches that Allah is merciful and will forgive his followers This means that Muslims need to forgive others who do wrong The teachings of the Qur an: He that forgives and seeks reconcilement shall be rewarded by God Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant Muslims forgive other people because Allah will forgive them for their own sins Muslims should both forgive people and ask for forgiveness One of Allah s 99 names is the ever-forgiving Allah: He that repents and believes in Me, does good works and follows the right path shall be forgiven The example of Muhammad: Preached forgiveness and reconciliation After Muhammad captured the city of Mecca, many people were brought before him to be executed. Instead of killing them, he told them that they were free and they became his friends Control your anger and then forgive your brother. Do you not wish to be forgiven? Teachings about the Day of Judgement: Muslims believe that Allah will judge them after their deaths This judgement is based on how they have lived their lives and followed the instructions in the Qur an Those who repent their sins will be forgiven and will go to Heaven As Muslims don t know when they will die, they have to: - Recognise and admit they have done wrong - Ask forgiveness from Allah - Ask forgiveness from the person they have wronged - Try to make up for the wrong they have done However: If someone is being unjust or threatening Islam, Muslims believe it is their duty not to forgive or tolerate them Hadith: If we tolerate wrong when we can prevent it, we fail in our duty to Allah 9
Rights and responsibilities Keywords: - Bible: the holy book of Christians - Church: the community of Christians - church: a Christian place of worship - Conscience: an inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action - The Decalogue: the Ten Commandments, in the Old Testament of the Bible - Democratic processes: the ways in which all citizens can take part in government (usually..through elections) - Electoral processes: the way in which voting is organised - The Golden Rule: the teaching of Jesus that you should treat others as yourself - Human rights: the rights and freedoms to which everyone is entitled - Political party: a group which tries to be elected into power on the basis of its policies (e.g. Labour) - Pressure group: a group formed to influence government policy on a particular issue - Situation ethics: the idea that Christians should base moral decisions on what is the most loving thing to do - Social change: the way in which society has changed and is changing (and the possibilities for future change) 10
Lesson One: Answers in the Bible How Christians use the Bible: The word of God: - This is authority over them - Christians consider it as God s direct guidance to humans on how they should lead their life The teachings of Jesus: - Love God - Love your neighbour - Golden Rule (treat others how you would wish to be treated) - Parable of the Good Samaritan teaches to love your enemies The Decalogue: - Contains God s teachings (the 10 Commandments) Do not convert (be jealous) Do not steal Do not murder Do not commit adultery Do not lie Respect your parents Rest on a Sunday Do not believe in any other Gods Do not make idols Do not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain The life of Jesus: - What would Jesus do? - Christians try to follow his example, for example by treating everyone equally Different ways of viewing the Bible: The literal word of God (Literal/Evangelical Christians): - Everything in the Bible is absolutely true because it is the word of God The interpreted word of God (Liberal Christians): - Take the morals of the stories and apply them to the modern day - The Bible was written for specific people in a specific period, so it s pointless to take the teachings as completely applicable to today s world How the Church studies and teaches: Catholic Christians would traditionally go to Church and priests would interpret and explain the Bible for them This still happens today, but is less common Priests originally translated the Bible from Latin to English 11
Lesson Two: The authority of the Church - Church: the community of Christian believers - church: the Christian place of worship - Clergy: the trained priests - Magisterium: Catholic teaching (from the Pope) - Infallible guidance: unchangeable rules given by the Pope to the Roman Catholic Church - Laity: the common people/worshippers The Church of England: Church leaders have training and experience Members are elected to make/discuss moral decisions (e.g. about women becoming bishops in 2008) They provide advice and sermons (talks) on the Bible and everyday issues The Roman Catholic Church: Magisterium comes from the Pope (who is elected by God, and thus has authority) The Pope provides infallible guidance The Pope and his council believe their decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit They provide advice and sermons (talks) on the Bible and everyday issues during Sunday services Where the Church gets its authority: The Church is considered as the body of Christ (it represents his presence on Earth), meaning it has the same authority as Jesus Church leaders spend years being trained on the Bible Church leaders also study moral issues so they re experienced 12
Lesson Three: The conscience - Conscience: An inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action - St Paul: the most important Christian after Jesus, said to have written most of the books in the New Testament Examples of using the conscience: Dietrich Bonhoeffer - A Christian minister who knew that the Bible condemned murder - Joined a plot to assassinate Hitler - His conscience told him that this was the lesser of two evils (killing Hitler would save more lives in the long-term) Anders Behring Breivik - Believed God and his conscience had told him to kill 76 people as a war against Islam and migration Christian beliefs about the conscience: Christians have a responsibility to do the right thing They will be judged by God on how they have lived their lives Believe that God speaks to them a person s conscience is the same as the voice of God St Paul and St Thomas Aquinas taught Christians to use their conscience as part of moral decision making The teachings of the Bible and Church do not come directly from God: the conscience helps us to interpret these translations 13
Lesson Four: Situation ethics Situation ethics: the idea that Christians should base moral decisions on what is the most loving thing to do Summary: When Jesus was asked What is the greatest commandment?, he replied To love God and love your neighbour as yourself This means that, in a situation, you should do the most loving thing for anyone that is in need Jesus and the woman caught in adultery: Jesus stopped people from stoning a woman who had committed adultery You who is without sin cast the first stone This teaches Christians that punishing someone can be as bad as the sin itself Lesson Five: Various methods of deciding what to do Method Advantages Disadvantages Bible - Does not and will not change - Uses Jesus examples and the word of God (authority) - Contains good morals through parables, which can positively influence what someone thinks/does Church Conscience Situation ethics - Able to interpret messages/morals from the Bible, which can help others to think about different situations and try to do the right thing - Everyone is welcome - A priest can tell you directly whether something is right or wrong - The voice of God for Christians (authority) - Always confrontable - Allows beliefs to be adapted to particular situations to do the best thing possible - Allows people to change their views depending on the situation, so the most loving thing can be done - For Christians, it s based on what Jesus said: he was a perfect human - Simple and flexible - Taking the Bible literally can lead to extremism acts - Meanings can be lost in translation - Can be difficult to understand - Advice may differ from the bible - Society could influence its opinions - Not always easily accessible - Can be negatively influenced by others around you (e.g. parents, friends, media) - Could be illegal - Could have bad consequences - Could go against your beliefs - People have different opinions: others may disagree with your views 14
Lesson Six: Human rights in the UK Some human rights and how they were broken: The right to equality: - A gay couple was turned away from a B&B because of their sexual orientation The right to privacy regarding family, home and mail: - News of the World was convicted of hacking into mobile phones of people and reading their messages The right to move freely in and out of the country: - Not being allowed into a particular country because you weren t born there The right to have beliefs and belong to a religion: - A child is forced into following the same religion as their parents An example of change: After heavy criticism from the UN, the UK government changed the law to allow migrant children the same rights as children born in the UK 15
Lesson Seven: Christians and human rights The Parable of the Good Samaritan: Teaches Christians to love your neighbour (no matter who they are) as yourself Teaches that you shouldn t follow the law if it means not helping someone Evidence from the Bible: God created everyone equally, thus everyone deserves equal treatment The Old Testament is based around Justice Hate evil, love good, maintain justice in the courts Jesus treated everyone equally and taught the Golden Rule The Parable of the Good Samaritan The Parable of the Sheep and Goats shows that you will be judged by how you lead your life and look after other humans (provide food, water, shelter, visit those in prison, care for the sick) Evidence from modern Christians: The Pope (Francis) wants to be treated equally (no expensive clothes, etc.) Martin Luther King campaigned for equality in America Desmond Tutu campaigned for equality and reconciled others Mother Theresa took care of abandoned babies in India ACAT, a Christian charity, was formed in 1984 to fight against torture How modern Christians can help in a practical way: Fundraising for charities Campaigning/protesting Working to help those in need Raising awareness (e.g. via social media) Writing songs to raise awareness (e.g. Band Aid) Adoption Buying Fairtrade food 16
Lesson Eight: Why should we vote? To improve the community (for the better) To reinforce that everyone is equal So the best people are in power To introduce new ideas/policies So we can influence government decision So that people are treated better (through new laws, etc.) Reasons people may not vote: People may not know the politicians People may think that one vote has no influence Some parties do not stick to their policies why bother? Some may not have time to read the manifestos or even vote Some politicians are untrustworthy As a democracy, every citizen over 18 can vote for: MPs Local councillors MEPs (Members of European Parliament) Every UK citizen over 21 can be a candidate in any of these elections. Anyone has the right to: Join/form a political party Join/form a pressure group Have a meeting with their MP or councillor Examples of pressure groups: Amnesty International Make Poverty History Doritos Are A Human Right Association (well, hopefully) 17
Lesson Nine: Moral Duties and Responsibilities Christians have a strong moral duty to help others and promote human rights, because: Jesus did The Bible teaches that you should Modern Christians have set a good example By getting involved in political decisions they can influence how the country is run Am I my brother s keeper? The meaning: - Cain kills his brother Abel. God asks Cain where Abel is. Cain says Am I my brother s keeper? God punishes Cain by making him become a homeless wanderer - This shows that God wants all humans to take responsibility for each other The Golden Rule The meaning: - Treat others as you would wish to be treated - This shows that God wishes for all Christians to be good to one another as a priority (e.g. by donating to charities) Love one another (The Parable of the Good Samaritan) The meaning: - Love everyone, no matter what their background is - Agape: Christian love - This shows Christians that they should be kind to one another because this is the most loving thing, and everyone is sacred The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats: The meaning: - At the end of your life, there will be a Day of Judgement, where God will separate humans depending on whether they have been good or bad during their life - In order to be good, you have to: Help the sick Visit those in prison Ensure that everyone has food, water, shelter and clothing - This acts as a basic guideline for Christians on how they should live their life - This is reinforced by the fact that how God judges you determines whether you go to Heaven or Hell 18
Lesson Ten: Genetic engineering Genetic engineering: a scientific process involving the removal or alteration of DNA from an organism This could enhance height, eye colour, intelligence, etc. This could be used to remove diseases from people (e.g. cystic fibrosis) Uses of genetic engineering: To screen and reject an embryo for diseases/abnormalities Savoir siblings selecting an embryo as a genetic match for a sibling To select the gender/characteristics of an embryo To grow body parts in the lab for transplants To genetically modify crops to withstand disease Stem cell research Arguments for genetic engineering: The long-term consequences of using it are unknown It s an irreversible process Genetic screening could unfairly dismiss people for jobs (e.g. if someone had an illness that would affect their work) It could lead to designer babies Cloning: A form of genetic engineering in which a duplicate of the parent organism is formed Doctors uses IVF to harvest and fertilise eggs, and transfer the nucleus of one egg into another Arguments for cloning: Cloned cells could be used to develop a cure for caner Cloned cells could remove the use of animals in experiments Cloned organs could be used for transplants Allowing the cloning of cells does not have to permit the cloning of people Arguments against cloning: Cloning could go wrong and produce deformed, suffering offspring Cloned people could be discriminated against, or used to fight wars Cloning makes us less weak and more replaceable less valued as an individual Clones could be cleverer and stronger than us, and then take over Cloning goes against the Christian belief that God created everyone in his own image 19 In the UK, an embryo can be experimented on for up to 14 days. It s illegal to clone humans.
Lesson 11: Christians and genetic engineering Some (mainly liberal Protestants) believe genetic engineering is okay if it cures disease, but not if to create a perfect human : Jesus was a healer who encouraged his followers to heal the sick GE could be a modern form of healing Being responsible stewards and loving your neighbour includes improving the lives of others if we have the ability to do so God has given us the knowledge and scientific capabilities we should use them for good GM seeds can be used to produce plants that survive in difficult conditions this could prevent starvation for millions Some (mainly Catholics) only allow GE if it s to cure diseases, and don t permit the use of human embryos: Life begins at conception killing an embryo is killing a human life: this is banned by the Bible and the Church Some Christians are opposed to all GE: CARE: GE is manipulating DNA humans do not have the right to alter what God has created Only God is perfect we should not use GE to try to create a perfect world with perfect humans God created all humans in his own image, so humans can t create life You create my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made A Christian charity that gives advice and experience to public policy In 2008, they put forward the Christian view of Human Fertilization and Embryology bill: We are made in God s image. If we create new entities that are part human and part animal, we will distort that image and change what it means to be human The Methodist Church: Where genetic manipulation is the means of healing diseases in animals or in humans it is to be welcomed. But the dangers of it falling into the wrong hands and being used for evil ends are obvious. 20
Environmental and medical Keywords: - Artificial insemination: injecting semen into the uterus by artificial means - Conservation: protecting and preserving natural resources and the environment - Creation: the act of creating the universe or the universe which has been created - Embryo: a fertilised egg in the first eight weeks after conception - Environment: the surroundings in which plants and animals live and depend on - Global warming: the increase in temperature of the Earth s atmosphere (believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect) - Infertility: being unable to have children - In-vitro fertilisation: the method of fertilising a human egg in a test tube - Natural resources: naturally occurring materials such as oil and fertile land which can be used by humans - Organ donation: giving organs to be used in transplant surgery - Stewardship: looking after something so it can be passed onto the next generation - Surrogacy: an arrangement whereby a woman bears a child on behalf of another woman 21
Lesson One: Global warming Why is global warming a problem? A rising average global temperature can disrupt ecosystems that provide for thousands of species This could lead to wars, famines, etc. Possible causes: Gasses emitted through burning fossil fuels blanket the Earth and cause its temperature to rise Transportation is responsible for 22% of the UK s carbon emissions 2/3 of the energy produced in UK power stations is lost as heat Possible solutions: Investment in renewable technology (e.g. wind or hydroelectric power) to replace technology that produces carbon emissions Development of low-carbon/fully-electricity cars Greater promotion of energy-efficient products (e.g. lightbulbs) A more positive global attitude towards energy saving: - Turning off electricals - Walking instead of driving Natural climate change: The natural heating and cooling periods of the Earth Solar activity: Scientists have speculated that radiation from the Sun contributes to global warming Solar flares cause there to be less clouds, meaning the Earth is less protected from the Sun s rays of light They also doubt that humans are causing global warming: after WW2, the temperature decreased whilst CO 2 levels rose rapidly 22
Lesson Two: Pollution - Pollution: the presence in land, water or air of a substance that can have an unpleasant or harmful effect Types of pollution: Land - 900,000 tonnes of electrical waste produced each year; 90% of this goes to landfill sites - Landfill sites can contaminate water supplies and the surrounding land, as well as the atmosphere due to the release of dioxins Sea - Chemical pollution commonly enters the sea - This can disrupt the food chains of millions of organisms - Raw sewage and radioactive waste is often discharged into the sea - 8 million pieces of litter enter the ocean every day Air Possible solutions: - Incinerators release dioxins, which can cause lung problems and cancers - Transport releases CO and CO 2 into the atmosphere - Poor air quality is said to cause 32,000 premature UK deaths every year Government - Make recycling symbols on packaging much clearer - Set target emissions for companies - Signing the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions Individuals - Consider what you will do with packaging before you buy it - Less use of cars - Less use of plastic bags - Eat/grow organic foods - Support Fairtrade products Alternative energy and manufacturing - Use biodegradable materials in packaging - Add more solar panels to houses - Increase the use of electric cars or additional forms of energy to reduce carbon emissions - Use chemicals from plants instead of oil to produce plastics Green-peace: a non-political, non-religious pressure group/charity that campaigns to help the environment 23
Lesson Three: Conservation Renewable resources: Resources that can be used repeatedly because they renew themselves naturally Usually product little or no pollution Often expensive as they produce less energy For example: wind, hydroelectricity, solar, tidal, geothermal Non-renewable resources: Resources that can only be used once Often cause pollution Disappear once they re gone YOLO Natural resources under threat: Overfishing - Fishing often leads to catching small fish, which are discarded - Overfishing affects the balance of the marine ecosystem, and many species are now in danger Rainforests - 2000 trees are cut down every minute - It takes 60 years for a tree to grow back large enough for timber - Less trees -> More CO 2 -> Global warming Fossil fuels - Coal, oil and gas are used for electricity and fuel - Burning these produces CO 2, which contributes to climate change What can we do? Conservation: - The government can enforce laws, restricting or preventing the use of endangered species or restricting fuel use (e.g. restricting the use of cars) - Individuals can only choose sustainable products (e.g. those with recyclable packaging), join pressure groups, walk instead of driving, etc. Sustainable living: - Living in order to have a small carbon footprint: Replacing the resources you use Using less electricity Recycling Using renewable energy 24
Lesson Four: Christians and the environment Christians believe God created the world and was pleased with his creation therefore Christians need to take care of it The Bible also says that God created humans to take care of his creation Global warming harms our global neighbours and damages God s creation Quotes for protecting the environment: A good man leaves an inheritance for his children s children God looked at everything he had made and he was very pleased Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it The Earth is the Lord s, and everything in it Quotes against protecting the environment: God said let us make man in our own image to have authority over all living things and God told man to rule over all the Earth What effect do these beliefs have? Because humans were given authority, they have a responsibility to look after the world this is known as stewardship Christians may act as stewards by: - Campaigning/promoting conservation - Recycling - Producing less waste - Saving energy (e.g. walking, not driving) Tearfund: A Christian charity that helps people in the developing world make a sustainable way of living for themselves Encourages people to use Ecotricity a company that invests profits into sustainable power and donates back to Tearfund They help communities to adapt their methods of cultivation (e.g. improving irrigation methods in Peru) 300,000 people die each year as a result of climate change 25
Lesson Five: Muslims and the environment Khalifah: Allah s stewards, who have the responsibility to take care of the world Adam was the first Khalifah I am placing on the Earth one who shall rule as my deputy The world is green and beautiful and Allah has appointed you his steward over it - Muhammad Muslims believe that everything in the world was created for a purpose by Allah Because the world was created by one God, everything is interlinked we are all part of one Therefore, if one lifeform is harmed, it harms the whole planet The Shariah Law teaches that Muslims should respect all of Allah s creations, including animals Muslims also believe that life is a test, and Allah will judge Muslims on their faith and actions this includes how well they looked after the world Ordinary Muslims can be Khalifas by: LINE: Campaigning/promoting conservation Recycling Producing less waste and saving energy (e.g. walking, not cars) A Muslim environmental organisation Campaign for solutions to environmental problems Publishes a newsletter containing helpful tips: - Walk to the Mosque, don t drive - Buy local, organic food - Think about whether you need to buy something 26
Lesson Six: Infertility treatment Why infertility is an important issue: 1.5 million men in the UK experience infertility problems In 2007, 12% of all UK births were as a result of infertility treatment Part of human nature is wanting a child More women want careers, meaning they have children later in life and as a result have more problems with fertility Many suffer from depression and other mental health issues as a result of infertility Did you know? The first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978 Around 6000 babies are born each year in the UK from IVF treatment IVF only has a 30-40% success rate IVF can cost around 2,500 for every attempt Any child born using donor insemination has the legal right, once 18, to discover who their genetic parents are (this began in 2005) Types of infertility treatment: AID (Artificial insemination by donor) - Sperm from a donor other than the husband is mechanically inserted into the woman AIH (Artificial insemination by husband) - Sperm from the husband/male partner is mechanically inserted into his wife Embryo donation - Both an egg and sperm from donors are fertilised using IVF and are inserted into the woman s womb IVF (In-vitro fertilisation) - The egg from the woman is fertilised outside of the body using sperm either from the male partner or a donor, and is then placed into the womb Surrogacy - Egg and sperm from a couple are fertilised by IVF and are placed into another mother s womb - Or, the sperm of a husband is added to a woman and the baby is handed over at birth Egg donation - Eggs are donated by another woman and are fertilised using IVF with sperm from the partner 27
Arguments for fertility treatment: Medical science has progressed those who can t naturally have children can now conceive One of the most important aspects of Christian marriage is having children God has given humans the intelligence to develop the technology to help people conceive Children are a blessing from God, so parents should be helped to have children It s not fair that some cannot naturally conceive Fertilised eggs could be experimented on to help medical science progress Same-sex couples will be encouraged to have children Every woman has the right to have a child, and everyone has the right to be a parent Arguments against fertility treatment: Fertility treatment is not natural The wrong people could become parents (e.g. those too old or unmarried) God gives life if someone cannot have children, they should accept that God has made them this way Many eggs are discarded during IVF if life begins at conception, this is murder The child might be upset to know that they cannot see their genetic parents With AI (artificial insemination), sperm is wasted and thus potential life is destroyed Inserting sperm from another donor could be considered adultery, which is breaking the 10 Commandments Fertility treatment is expensive it could be better spent on treating ill people 28
Lesson Seven: Christians and infertility treatment Most Christians, other than Roman Catholics, are in favour of infertility treatment: God has given humans the technology and intelligence to provide married couples with a child and create a family this is one of the purposes of marriage In the Bible, God blessed infertile couples with children If the egg and sperm are both from the couple, the baby will be the biological child of the parents It s a way of loving your neighbour and following the Golden Rule by considering those who are less fortunate The Bible: And God blessed them, saying to the man and the woman; be fruitful and increase in number Most Roman Catholic Christians are against infertility treatment: God has given humans a natural way for a couple to conceive God alone should decide whether a couple can have children or not IVF uses several eggs, many of which are destroyed or experimented on this is like murder or abortion God intended procreation (having children) through sexual intercourse fertility treatment bypasses this Catechism: Techniques which separate sex from the making of the baby are unacceptable All Christians would encourage childless couples to adopt 29
Lesson Eight: Muslims and infertility treatment Children are central in Islam Islam teaches that children are gifts from Allah Some Muslims believe you should not interfere with childbirth, because Allah has a plan for every life Others think that every woman has the right to be a mother and infertility can be treated like an illness with modern technology One of Allah s 99 names is The Compassionate Most Liberal Muslims will accept IVF and AIH for couples with fertility problems: This is simply using medical technology to bring about family life, which is encouraged in Islam The discarded embryos are not yet human they become lives during ensoulment (Allah breathes his soul into the baby) at 120 days and their destruction is justified as the intention is to give children to childless couples The egg and sperm are both from the couple, so the baby is their biological child One of Allah s 99 names is The Compassionate Some traditional Muslims are against some forms of infertility treatment: Every child has a right to an identity IVF can cause problems with this AID can deny the child the right to know its natural parents this is essential within Islamic religion and culture Surrogacy is not permitted as a man s sperm enters a woman whom he is not married to, and the person giving birth is seen as the mother Any form of egg/sperm donation is classed as adultery a sin within Islam The importance of adoption in Islam: Muslims are encouraged to look after orphans Muhammad was an orphan and he looked after an orphan called Zayd The child keeps the name of its biological parents because Muslims believe it s wrong for a child to take the name of the adoptive family 30
Lesson Nine: Transplant surgery and organ donation - Organ donation: using healthy organs from a donor to replace a dying or defective organ in a patient to extend their life and/or improve their quality of life - Live donation: living people donate parts of their body they can live without (e.g. bone marrow, a kidney) - Dead donation: people who have died (who have either previously given permission or their relatives have given permission for their organs to be used) have their organs removed and donated Arguments for transplant surgery/organ donation: One donor could save up to 9 lives and improve 50 more through tissue donation Transplant surgery is a proven method of both saving and improving lives Transplant surgery can help a family to cope with the loss of a loved one, if they know that the death has helped someone else People should be able to control what happens to their own body Benefits not just the receiver, but the people that know that person Arguments against transplant surgery/organ donation: Facts: Costs huge amount of money God decides when people should live or die Can be a dangerous procedure People who need organs could turn to black markets and criminal activity to survive In a survey, 90% of the UK was in favour of organ transplants, yet less than 50% have signed the organ donors register You must be registered for your organs to be used 31
Lesson 10 Christians and transplant surgery Most Christians would accept transplant surgery (apart from the selling of organs, which could lead to people exploiting others) Most would be against selling organs, as this means medical treatment would be limited to the rich Arguments for transplant surgery: Christians believe in immortality of the soul the body is not needed after death so its organs can be used to help the living The Bible teaches that you will receive a new body in Heaven This is a way of following the Golden Rule and loving your neighbour A few Christians accept live transplants but not those from deceased donors: The vital organs, particularly the heart, are part of God s creation of the individual person and so shouldn t be used Humans do not have the right to act like God and alter life Using organs from living people does not affect the belief in the Sanctity of Life (all life is sacred and belongs to God) and thus is acceptable as it shows love and care for others Arguments against transplant surgery: It raises the issue of when organs should be harvested (removed); for example a heart must still be beating when it is removes Using new organs to keep someone alive could be against the will of God God may see that person s time as up Bible: The life of a being is in the blood : some groups such as Jehovah s Witnesses will not accept blood or organ transplants as it s considered mixing life, or passing life from one body to another Jody and Mary: Conjoined twins, born in 2000, who were sharing vital organs and could not remain in their state The doctors at the hospital wanted to separate the twins, whilst the Roman Catholic Church tried to gain a High Court ruling to stop this, believing the separation would be killing one child to save another with its organs The family did not want the separation, either, despite that both girls were due to die in around 6 months The court agreed to the separation Mary died, but Jody lived and is expected to lead a full life 32
Lesson Eleven: Muslims and transplant surgery Muslims also believe in the Sanctity of Life, and that only God has the right to decide how and when a person should live or die Arguments for transplants (liberal Muslims): Live donation should be allowed because it s every Muslim s duty to stop suffering and save life In 1995, the Muslim council of Britain permitted Muslims to carry a donor card as it s considered an act of charity which can save lives Transplant surgery is necessary as a last resort (e.g. to save a relative), just as eating pork is permitted if to avoid starvation Arguments against transplants (traditional Muslims): Allah is the creator of life; he has a plan for everyone and transplants would alter this plan The Sanctity of Life means that God has created everyone and we should not harm or change that creation The Qur an teaches of a bodily resurrection on the Day of Judgement, therefore nothing should be removed from the body 33
Crime and punishment Keywords: - Addiction: a recurring compulsion to engage in an activity, regardless of its negative effects - Capital punishment: the death penalty for a crime or offence - Crime: an act against the law - Deterrence: the idea that punishments should be of such a nature that they would put people off committing crimes - Judgement: the act of judging people and their actions - Justice: the due allocation of reward or punishment the maintenance of what is right - Law: rules made by Parliament and enforceable by the courts - Reform: the idea that punishments should try to change the criminals so that they do not commit crimes again - Rehabilitation: restoration to normal life - Responsibility: being responsible for one s actions - Retribution: the idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong - Sin: an act against God - World Peace: the ending of war throughout the world (the basic aim of the United Nations) Lesson One: Why do we need laws and justice? Why do we need laws? Humans live in communities which need rules that outline acceptable behaviour Otherwise, there would be anarchy - They show people what sort of behaviour is acceptable in their society - They set punishments to be enforced if the law is broken - They lead to a civilised society that can progress and prevent people from having to constantly protect themselves and their possessions - Laws protect the weak from the strong St Augustine: What are kingdoms without justice? They re just gangs and bandits. An unjust law is no law at all 34
Lesson Two: What s the point of punishments? Type Example Good/bad, because Protection: Punishing a criminal by locking them in prison or taking their life in order to protect society from them - Death penalty - Prison Good: - Keeps society safe by keeping dangerous people away Bad: - Death penalty is considered morally wrong by many Deterrent: Having a sufficiently harsh punishment that discourages others from breaking the law, and discourages the criminal from reoffending Retribution (revenge): The idea that punishments should make criminals pay for what they have done (an eye for an eye) - Fines - Prison - Prison - Fines - Death penalty for murder Good: - Doesn t harm the criminal - Stops/reduces future crime Bad: - Can often be considered as bad as the crime itself Reform: The idea that punishments should try to change criminals so that they will not commit crimes again Reparation: Through punishment a criminal is made to pay for their crime by doing something to help society and/or the victim. Once they have settled their debt they are rehabilitated into society and can start afresh - Rehabilitation Good: - Fair and just punishments - Criminals can still eventually return to their lives - Community service Good: - Benefits society/the victim - Criminals can feel better and can still continue their lives 35
Lesson Three: Christians and justice Justice is important to Christians because God is just (fair): The Old Testament says that God is a God of Justice Treating people unjustly is a sun and will be judged by God on the Day of Judgement Jesus taught that people should be judged fairly and equally, and he led this example by treating everyone equally The Golden Rule: treat others how you would wish to be treated The rich should share with the poor to make society more just and fair People should be treated equally because God created everyone as equal (St Paul: you are all one in Christ ) Jesus: The man who has two coats should share with him who has none, and the man who has food should do the same How to show justice in Christianity: Buying Fairtrade products helps farmers to receive a fair wage for their produce Giving to charities like Tearfund or Christian Aid Taking part in campaigns such as Make Poverty History to raise awareness and help less economically developed countries Donate to food banks 36