Give an account of any one religious method of ethical decision-making (25 marks)There is diversity in the method of ethical-decision making for

Christians No introduction, go straight into answering the question to save time (no waffling!) I have chosen to include wording from the question as my linking sentence, which shows the examiner that I am answering the question! I have also told them which religion I will be using.

Christians set out to follow the Will of God. However, they use various different sources of authority to discover what the Will of God is. (The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Church, Conscience, Reason and Natural Law, and The principle of Love [Agape and Situation Ethics] Use pg 121 of AS green textbook for more.) Spend some time outlining each of these. I would give a couple of sentences to each and no more than that!

Give an account of any one religious method of ethical decision-making (25 marks)

Depending on the convictions of the person, they are likely to place a different emphasis on the importance of each source. Some see some sources as more important than others. E.g. A Fundamentalist Christian is likely to take a more literal view of the Bible and be strongly opposed to an ethical issue such as euthanasia, because one of the ten commandments is to not kill. On the other hand, a Liberal Christian may be in favour of euthanasia if they see it as being the more loving thing to do. It is good to include key terms in your answer, and to demonstrate accurate knowledge. Referencing the Bible is useful here given that you are answering the question on Religious Ethics. I am using one example (and one example here is enough!!) before moving on to my next point.

So what are the main ethical principles of Christianity? Christianity has its roots in Judaism, and the Old Testament contains some important ethical rules. For some Christians, these are a set of deontological and absolute rules. More key terms!!!

Give an account of any one religious method of ethical decision-making (25 marks)

It is important to note that some Christians attempt to drop the legalism found in trying to keep Jewish Law, but the moral aspect of the Jewish law is not lost. It appears to be maintained throughout the New Testament with Jesus raising the standard for moral behaviour. For example, Jesus said "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matt 5:17) This shows how the Old Testament is still important to Christians because Jesus said he did not come to get rid of the law. It appears that the standard is raised in Jesus teachings, for example, moving from the command in the Old Testament to not commit adultery, to the attitude of not even looking lustfully at a woman in the New Testament. Christians then go on to say that they now have the Holy Spirit within them to enable them to live how God intends. This is now going into more depth, and those who demonstrate this level of knowledge will be hitting the top A grade in the exam. This is nearing university level!

Give an account of any one religious method of ethical decision-making (25 marks)All that would be left to do is to give a broad brush approach to

the general themes for ethical decision making in the New Testament. Mention Jesus, Paul, and any of the following quotes would be useful:‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.’ (Matt 7)‘Love is the fulfilling of the law.’ (Romans 13). It appears that the ultimate Christian ethical teaching seems to centre on love. Christians are most interested in trying to please God.

This is how some Christians go about making ethical decisions!

It’s really quite simple once you get your head around it …

As you do more revision, you will start to make links and it will become easier to grasp the bigger picture, and therefore, to do applied

ethics!!

Example 1Explain how a follower of Natural Law might approach the

issue of abortion (25 marks) You would need to explain the theory of Natural Law

associated with Aquinas, influenced by Aristotle. Key points to include: Natural Law is absolutist and deontological, depending on the

idea that God created things to fulfil a purpose Human reason should be used to work out how to act morally. This should then be applied to the question of abortion by

explaining how in Natural Law the preservation of the innocent is a primary precept and that the foetus deserves the same status as a born human

The concept of primary and secondary precepts The doctrine of double effect could also be applied to abortion,

explaining how Natural Law would allow this.

Example 2Assess the extent to which Utilitarianism is a useful method

of making decisions about abortion (10 marks) Candidates may assess the usefulness of Bentham’s

approach and contrast it with that of Mill, or they may contrast a Utilitarian approach to abortion with that of another ethical theory.

Good responses are likely to consider issues relating to the rights of the mother and the foetus.

Better responses might consider the long term consequences of an abortion, in discussing the balance of pleasure and pain.

Example 3Explain how religious ethics might be applied to issues of

war and peace (25 marks) Some candidates may simply explain Just War theory, such

answers are unlikely to achieve the highest levels. Better answers are likely to use examples to illustrate the application of Just War theory.

Other responses may give an account of the varieties of approaches to pacifism: absolute, relative, contingent etc, and apply this to a religious framework.

Some candidates might refer to both Just war and pacifism as contrasting approaches.

Good responses from a Christian perspective might explain Christian realism. The approaches to issues of war can be explained from the point of view of any world religion.

Example 4To what extent is Kant’s ethical theory a good approach to

human embryo research? (10 marks) Candidates may explore the issue of how easy or difficult it

would be to universalise embryo research in a way that would encompass all the different reasons for carrying it out.

Candidates may consider the embryo is being used as a means to an end, and reject embryo research, or they may question whether an embryo is a human being, and so look to the universal benefits of embryo research in curing diseases.

Candidates may refer to inflexibility and better answers may refer to conflict of principles, and the fact that Kant’s stress on acting out of duty alone means that there is no room for compassion and all consequences are ignored whatever they may be.

Plan an essay Explain how religious ethics might be applied to issues of war

and peace. (25)Explain why a follower of religious ethics might object to

euthanasia.  (25)Explain a Utilitarian approach to war. (25)Explain how a follower of Natural Law might respond to issues

raised by voluntary euthanasia (25) ‘Natural Law is not the best approach to euthanasia’. Discuss

(10)To what extent is Kant’s ethical theory a good approach to

human embryo research? (10)Assess the extent to which Utilitarianism is a useful method of

making decisions about abortion. (10)