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GCSE Religious Studies

GCSE Religious Studies. Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life. Key Questions. When does human life begin? Who is responsible for life? What rights do we have to interfere with nature?. The Beginning of Life. Conception – zygote Blastocyst Embryo Spiritual being? – at quickening

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GCSE Religious Studies

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  1. GCSE Religious Studies Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life

  2. Key Questions • When does human life begin? • Who is responsible for life? • What rights do we have to interfere with nature?

  3. The Beginning of Life • Conception – zygote • Blastocyst • Embryo • Spiritual being? – at quickening • Viability • Birth

  4. The ‘Sanctity of Life’ • Holy and Sacred • Created by God • Life is a gift • Life must be preserved • Every life has a purpose • God alone decides the beginning and end of life

  5. Infertility Treatment • IVF • AID • AIH • Egg/Sperm storing • Fertility drugs • Surrogacy

  6. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 • Sperm and egg donors must always remain anonymous • Donors have no legal rights over any children born as a result of their donation • Frozen embryos may be stored for a maximum of 10 years • Scientific experiments may only be carried out on embryos up until 14 days after conception. After this time they must not be kept alive.

  7. Genetic Engineering • Cures for medical conditions such as Cystic Fibrosis • ‘Playing God’ – the production of designer babies

  8. Genetic Manipulation • Genetic Engineering • Gene Therapy • Xenotransplantation

  9. Cloning • Producing genetically equivalent offspring • 1997-2003 ‘Dolly’ • Humans? • Therapeutic Cloning – use of stem cells from embryos

  10. Arguments For Therapeutic Cloning • Could eliminate heart disease and heart attacks • Could deal with serious burns and brain deterioration • Could reduce infertility • Reversing the ageing process?

  11. Arguments Against Therapeutic Cloning • Suggests some human characteristics more important than others • Would allow designer babies • Slippery Slope • Destroys individuality • Against the will of God? • Unnatural? • Population crisis

  12. Transplants and Transfusions • Many more donors are needed to meet demand • Jehovah’s Witnesses (Christian) oppose blood transfusions • Biblical commands not to consume blood • Court becomes involved if parents refuse transfusion to save life of child • Normally court over-rules parents’ religious beliefs

  13. Organ Transplants • Living donor – bone marrow/kidney • Recently deceased donor – donor cards

  14. Arguments For Transplants • No risk to dead person • One person’s death=life for another • Last chance of life for many • Donor’s final contribution to society

  15. Arguments Against Transplants • Difficult to define death – need to remove organs quickly • Risk to living donors • Upsetting for living relatives • Transplant operations are very expensive and take resources away from other equally needy patients

  16. Religious Views • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Most religious groups have no moral problem with the use of transplant surgery • Use of animals? • Some Muslims may have an issue with donation of organs as the body belongs to Allah

  17. Key Christian Beliefs • Life is a gift from God • Sanctity of life • God is the giver and destroyer of life • Trust in God • Individuality and purpose of each human life • Jesus was a healer

  18. Christian Attitude to Infertility • No direct biblical teaching concerning fertility treatment • Biblical view of childlessness was that it was God’s intention • Most denominations accept IVF and AIH • Many oppose AID – adultery • Roman Catholics oppose fertility treatment – ‘unnatural’ sexual acts e.g. masturbation

  19. Christian Attitude to Genetic Engineering and Cloning • God-given responsibility to care for creation • Worry that genetic engineering abuses human authority • Many accept on the grounds that it is hugely beneficial to human health • Most very wary of cloning • Human life conceived through man, woman and God • Some support strictly controlled therapeutic cloning

  20. Christian Attitude to Embryology and Transplants • Catholics oppose all embryo research • Other denominations accept controlled embryo research • C of E supports embryo research up to 14 days • Most accept organ donation • Blood transfusions accepted by all except Jehovah’s Witnesses

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