Death and Afterlife

In this lesson, we will look at at how religious beliefs about the afterlife impact their beliefs about ethical issues such as abortion and euthanasia.

Death and Afterlife

In this lesson, we will look at at how religious beliefs about the afterlife impact their beliefs about ethical issues such as abortion and euthanasia.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The impact of beliefs regarding death and the afterlife on Islamic and Christian responses to ethical issues.
  2. Non-religious views

Equipment

You will need two different coloured pens: black or blue and another coloured pen, such as green or red.

Content guidance

  • Contains subject matter which individuals may find upsetting.

Supervision

Adult supervision suggested

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which of the groups below is usually against euthanasia due to the belief in predestination?
Church of England
Humanists
Correct answer: Muslims
Roman Catholics
Q2.
Which definition below best fits with the term 'euthanasia'?
This is when a pregnancy is deliberately ended
This is when someone is unlikely to make a recovery and the doctors / patient decide to end their treatment
This is when the medication given to make someone more comfortable have the side effect of speeding someone's death
Correct answer: This translates as 'good death' and is when someone requests to have their life ended by a doctor. Drugs will be used to end their life.
Q3.
Which of the reasons below is not generally accepted as a reason for a person to be euthanised?
They are living with a disability or illness which will not get better, and which causes them daily suffering
Correct answer: They have a illness in which they have a 50% chance of full recovery
They have a terminal illness that will cause them increasing suffering
They have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease of the brain
Q4.
Which of the ethical theories below is most likely to be followed by Muslims?
Correct answer: Sanctity of life
Situation ethics
Utilitarianism
Q5.
Which of the ethical theories below is most likely to be followed by Roman Catholics?
Correct answer: Sanctity of life
Situation Ethics
Utilitarianism

5 Questions

Q1.
Which of the statements below best reflect both Christian and Islamic views on this life and the afterlife?
All people will go to heaven as God is all loving, therefore it doesn't matter what we do in this life.
This life is all that there is, so the most important thing is to make sure we're happy now.
Correct answer: This life is important because it will have an impact on a person's eternal afterlife. Therefore the most important thing is to follow God's teachings now.
Q2.
Which of the beliefs below does not fit with the Islamic view on the sanctity of life.
Human life is more important than animal life
Human life is sacred as it was specially created by Allah
Correct answer: Human life is sacred because humans are made in God's image
Human life is special because humans have souls and rational minds
Q3.
Which ethical theory is most likely to be followed by humanists?
Sanctity of life
Situation ethics
Correct answer: Utilitarianism
Q4.
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
This is when a foetus has tested positive for Down's Syndrome
This is when a foetus is likely to have a severe disability
This is when a pregnancy has reached full term and the mother can safely deliver the baby
Correct answer: This is when the embryo implants outside of the womb, for example in a fallopian tube
Q5.
Which of the answers below best expresses Sunni Islamic beliefs against euthanasia.
Euthanasia should not be practised because we only live this life once, so should live as long as possible even if we're suffering
Muhammad said that his friend should not undergo euthanasia
Muslims have campaigned against euthanasia
Correct answer: Only Allah has the right to take life, and he has predestined the day of a person's death

Lesson appears in

UnitReligious education / Matters of life and death

Religious education