What are we learning about today?

Watch the following clip as an introduction to your learning.

Task: What issues are raised by the clip?

You must use one of the following key phrases:

“Do not kill” (The Fifth commandment)

‘Treat others as you wish to be treated’ (Golden Rule said by Jesus)

‘Sanctity of Life’ (means ‘Life is holy as God gave life, so only God can take it away’)

Title: Christian & Muslim Attitudes to Euthanasia

1. The Problem of Unanswered

Prayers & Belief In God

2. The Problem of Evil & Suffering and How Religion Responds to It

3. Christian & Muslim Beliefs

About Life After Death

4. Reasons Why Some People Do Not Believe In

Life After Death 5. Christian & Muslim

Attitudes to Abortion

6. Christian & Muslim Attitudes

to Euthanasia

Christmas!8. Assessment

Feedback7. Assessment

Lesson

By the end of this lesson…

D Grade: Describe four main points about Christian & Muslim attitudes to euthanasia

C/B Grade: Explain Christian & Muslim attitudes to euthanasia

A/A* Grade: Evaluate religious attitudes to euthanasia

Key Words: Euthanasia, Non-Voluntary Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide, Voluntary Euthanasia, Sanctity of Life, Evangelical

Protestants, Catholics, Liberal Protestants, Shari’ah, Quality of Life

Key Word Definitions For this Topic• Assisted suicide: Providing a seriously ill person with the means to

__________ suicide

• Euthanasia: The __________ killing of a person dying from a painful disease

• Non-voluntary euthanasia: Ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good __________ for thinking they would want you to do so

• __________ euthanasia: Ending someone’s life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death

• Quality of life: the idea that life must have some __________ for it to be worth living

Reason, Commit, Benefits, Painless, Voluntary,

Watch and make notes‘CONNECT –EXTEND – CHALLENGE’ 

How are the ideas and information connected to what you already know?

What new ideas did you get that extend your thinking in new directions?

What is still challenging or confusing for you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiPFeluy3rA

The Law!

• In the UK euthanasia is illegal. Euthanasia is regarded by the law as murder, and can be punished at such.

• Assisted suicide is not punishable as murder since suicide is not illegal; however, assisted suicide is not legal and it can be punished by up to 14 years imprisonment.

• It is not illegal for medical professionals to switch off life support machines.

• Providing terminal sedation is also legal. This is when the patient is given drugs which mean they are not conscious and do not feel pain, although it may also speed up a persons death.

Controversial issueShould remain ILLEGAL

because... Should be LEGAL because...

The law protects life Gives choice; allows them to practise their own free will

Some might not want to die but are forced into it

Control over what happens in their medical care/death

It is murder and all murder should be illegal

If quality of life is very poor, life is not worth living

Doctors should save life, not end it

It will allow medical resources to be used to help people who can recover

Dignitas clinic

This is a clinic in Switzerland that helps people to die.

Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. For example, lethal drugs may be prescribed as long as the recipient takes an active role in the drug administration.

Some people call this ‘suicide tourism’.

What do you think?

Christians & The sanctity of life!

• Many Christians object to euthanasia for the following reasons:

• The sanctity of life – God gives life and only God should take life away.

• Committing suicide is a sin. Helping someone to commit suicide is also a sin.

• Everyone’s life is valuable to God.

• When a person is dying, they prepare themselves for the afterlife. Euthanasia takes away this opportunity.

• Many Christians also object to euthanasia for non-religious reasons.

Is there is a purpose to suffering?

The Bible teaches Christians that God does not send us any experience that we cannot handle:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God promises to help those who are suffering so to end your life would show a lack of trust in God’s promise. Therefore, the Christian response to the terminally ill is to help them bear their suffering through pain relief rather than encouraging euthanasia.

Task: Write a paragraph which describes: ‘Christian belief about suffering’

Christians believe that sometimes suffering is necessary to make a person, and those around them, stronger. Suffering in this life is made up for when people receive their reward in heaven.

But we should still try to alleviate suffering:

1.It is criminal to leave people in pain. But the answer is to kill the pain not the person.

2.Christians believe that it is important to care for those who are suffering with love. This is highlighted in the Christian parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 9).

3.One example of this love and charity in action is the Hospice Movement. It was established by the Irish Sisters of Charity in Dublin in 1900.

Challenge: Why do Christians support hospices?

EXT: Find out four facts about hospices (using the information sheet)

Exam questions• a) What is euthanasia? (2 marks)

• b) Do you think euthanasia should be made LEGAL? (4 marks)

• I think euthanasia should/should not be made legal because...

• Firstly, ... because...

• Secondly, ... because...

Christian views: ALL Christians agree euthanasia is not

acceptable because of the sanctity of life.

Euthanasia in the form of turning off life support machines, refusing treatment and terminal sedation SHOULD be

allowed

Euthanasia, EXCEPT in turning off the life support machine of someone who is already brain dead, is WRONG

People have free will and should choose what medical care they have

Although the 10 commandments say do not murder, the person is already dead - so this is not murder

Christians are supposed to reduce suffering - this includes preventing suffering of the patient and their family

God has already taken the persons life as they are brain dead - medicine is keeping the person alive artificially

These forms of euthanasia are allowed within the law so should be accepted by Christians

No quality of life if they are brain dead so the persons life should be ended

It should be up to the individual to choose their treatment, NOT medical authorities

Life support machines cost lots of money and this money could be better used helping others

Death is a natural process and humans should not interfere with it Churches teach that this is acceptable

Muslim attitude:

• Euthanasia is wrong!

• This is supported in the Qur’an and the Hadith

• However it is acceptable to turn off a life support machine because the life Allah has planned for that person is already over if they are brain dead

Why Muslims do not accept euthanasia...

Euthanasia is killing and this is forbidden

in the Qur’an

Only Allah can decide when a

persons life is over

Hadith show that a person who ends

their life earlier than Allah intends will not go to Paradise

Life is a test which should not be ended

prematurely

Life is holy and belongs to Allah. Humans cannot decide when to end it

Islam is a religion of mercy and so

Muslims should care for the sick, not kill

them

Quotes from the Qur’an

Why Muslims do not accept euthanasia...

The Qur’an says:

Not to kill yourself: indeed, God is merciful

to youQur’an 4: 29

The Qur’an shows that people should accept suffering and they will be rewarded for it:

Those who patiently preserve will truly receive a reward without

measureQur’an 39:10

Plenaryd) “All religious people should have the right to decide when their life should end.” In your answer you should refer to at least one religion other than Christianity. i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. (3 marks)ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you. (3 marks)

I think all religious people should … or should not have the right to decide when their life should end. Firstly, …

On the other hand, other people would disagree for the following reasons. Firstly, …

Read and discuss:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2004515/Terry-Pratchett-euthanasia-debate-Dont-fall-idea-old-disposable.html

Extension: Read and discuss Terry Pratchett’s views about how euthanasia could be abused if it became

law.