RE: rights and responsibilities

vocabulary

• Bible - the holy book of Christians
• Church - community of Christians and a place to worship
• Conscience - an inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action
• The Decalogue- the ten commandments
• Democratic processes - the ways in which all citizens can take part in the government
• Electoral processes - the ways in which voting is organized
• The golden rule - the teaching of Jesus that you should treat other as you would like to be treated
• Human rights - the right and freedom to which everyone is entitled
• Political party - a group which tries to be elected into power on the basis of its policies
• 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

Christians and the bible

• what are the christian opinions on the authority of the bible ?
• The bible is the word of God and its totally right.
• The bible is the word of God but needs to be interpreted by the church
• the bible was inspired by God and gives guidance about how to live but needs to be adapted for modern life
• what are the some of the 10 commandments in the bible to help Christians make decisions
• you shall have no other God
• you shall not murder
• you shall not steal
• you shall not commit adultery
• why Christians believe they should use the bible when making moral decision ?
• many Christians believe the bible is the word of God , it contains teaching on how to live
• the bible has authority from God about what Christians should believe and how they should live (eg. THE 10 COMMANDMENTS)
• Some Christians believe that only the bible should be used to decide what is right wrong and what they should do

The authority of church

• how does the church guide Christians ?
• Talking to other Christians
• Praying and worshiping together
• Listening to the priest or vicar
• Explain and teach God's words
• What are the two ways in which the churches decide on moral issues ?
• Discuss in an assembly containing elected members of the church
• look to the leaders of the church to make decisions on moral issues
• Christians believe the church has authority because...
• God speaks to them through the church
• only the church fully understands the bible and knows how to interpret and apply its teaching
• the church provides rules so everyone knows what they should do
• the church is the body of Christ so Christians should follow the teaching of the church

Christians and conscience

• How do Christians use conscience to make moral decisions ?
• They consult the bible - look at the teaching of the church but in the end they follow their conscience.
• What is the conscience ?
• inner feeling or sense of what is right or wrong
• Christians believe it is the voice of God within us
• its a way that people can judge their moral actions
• it makes us feel guilty when we do something wrong
• some Christians believe that conscience it the most important guide when making a moral decision

Christians and situation ethics

• why do some Christians use only situation ethics ?
• Its similar to the golden rule taught by Jesus
• Jesus followed the situation ethics himself when he ignored the teachings of the bible and acted in a most loving way in the case where a women was being accused of adultery.
• What are the reason for using the situation ethics ?
• every situation is judged individually
• as love is the main principle
• love is an easy principle to apply and remember in all situations
• doing the most loving things appeals to people as a positive idea
• what are the reasons against using the situations ethics ?
• its impossible to predict what will happen in every example, which is what this requires
• in theory anything a person felt was the most loving thing could justified including adultery and murder
• it is not so easy to apply situation ethics in everyday cases where we are used to having rules

Variety of moral authorities

• what are the four moral authorities ?
• law and teaching of the bible
• the conscience
• teaching and guidance of the church
• principle of situation ethics
• why use a variety of moral authorities ?
• Christians believe they must live life according to God
• Christians believe various sources of authority contain advice and help on what God wants
• they may use one source of authority or refer to a combination
• what do Christians say about the God deeds and the spiritual development ?
• some Christians believe performing good actions is important to living a moral life
• other Christians believe moral development is about spiritual rather than social issues. they concentrate on building closer relationship with God

Human rights in the UK

• what are all citizens entitled to as their human rights ?
• life
• food
• free speech
• racial/sexual/religious equality
• education
• health care
• privacy
• Do you think everyone in the society should be entitled to the same rights ?
• FOR:
• The human rights act has a positive effect on the issues of child prostitution and illegal immigration.
• Protects anyone who feels their rights have been abused
• AGAINST:
• some argue that the human act has protected criminals to get away without proper punishment
• some say terrorist should not be entitled to human rights but others say anti- terrorism acts abuse the human rights

why are human rights important ?

• why are human rights important to christians ?
• Every person is created by God in his image and deserve to be respected
• God loves everyone equally so we should all be treated equally
• The teaching of the bible (10 commandments) support most of the human right laws
• what does the bible teach about human rights ?
• The parable of the sheep and goats teaches the moral duty is to help others
• Jesus taught the golden rule showing all humans are worthy of value
• should the humans right law be in agree with religious beliefs ?
• NO- UK is run in a secular and not religious way
• NO - Christian values should not be imposed on the government
• YES- some Christians have campaigned for humans like racism and apartheid in south Africa

democratic and electoral processes

• what are three political parties in UK?
• Labour party - Help poor, provide hospitals and school for all
• Conservative party - encourage people to look after themselves, provide only what people cant pay for themselves
• Liberal democrat party - Green issue important, government + individuals working together to help everyone
• why is it important to take part in voting ?
• Allows citizens to choose who will run the country
• People elected are responsible for making important decisions that effect everyone
• Issues include taxes benefits, rubbish collection, health treatment, schools and the armed forces
• change can only happen through the democratic process
• how else can someone take part in the government ?
• write to meet MPs to discuss issues
• lobby (influence government decisions)
• become member of political party
• stand for elections

christian teachings on moral duties

• what are the three main teaching of Christians on moral duties and responsibilities ?
• The golden rule - states christians should treat others as they would wish to be treated (matthew 7:12)
• The parable of the sheep and the goats- states God will separate his people into those who helped other and who didn't, it also teaches that Christians should help other people in need
• Am i my brothers keeper by St Paul - states christians Should help those who are suffering
• The ten commandments - stresses the importance of moral duties and following the rules on everyday basis

The nature of genetic engineering

• what is genetic engineering used for ?
• genetic disorders may be cured
• hormones and proteins can be produced
• genes can be inserted to grow human part on animals
• inherited disorders could be removed
• Could grow crops that are resistant to pest and disease
• cloning
• what are the concerns based on genetic engineering?
• We dont know the long-term effects which could be dangerous
• technology could be dangerous in the wrong hands as they could produce biological weapons
• no one makes decisions on what is defective and what is not
• this could lead to designer babies.

Christian attitude to genetic engineering

• why are some christians for genetic engineering ?
• God gave humans the power over the world. as long as GE doesnt cause any harm its acceptable
• The golden rule is to help others and GE such as curing disease is helping others
• Jesus healed others and Christians believe they should follow his example
• God gave the gift of knowledge so we should help others by using our knowledge and technology
• why are some christians against genetic engineering ?
• Some curing defects cause suffering so Christians would be against that
• Catholics believe life begins at contraception and are opposed to anything that involves research on embryos
• life is scared, special and created by God so humans should not be doing anything against this
• Only God can create life not humans