Explain the arguments for legalising
euthanasia
Define the word – what is euthanasia (don’t list all the different types but it is worth
mentioning the difference between active and passive, and why one is considered illegal and
the other is implicitly accepted)
Some countries have already legalised euthanasia – discuss the Dignitas Clinic and how
strict procedures are followed there; if it were legalised here we too could ensure there
was no abuse of the system (remember how Ann Porter’s death was filmed and the police
called- some statistics showing that it has not become too common or abused there might
support an argument for legalising it).
It is a form of suicide – sometimes called assisted suicide – which is no longer illegal since
the 1971; if we can show sympathy and understanding for people so desperate they take
their own life, why not for those who are not only desperate but physically unable to act
out their wishes
People are kept alive too long these days – not so long ago some of these people suffering a
‘living death’ would have died naturally. We need the law to prevent medicine keeping people
alive beyond what is compassionate.
Many people argue that the right o die with dignity is the mark of a civilised society – it has
been in the media a lot lately and the tendency to not convict people who support their sick
relatives and the positive press the receive could be seen as evidence that there is a
groundswell of opinion in favour of legalising it.
Making criminals of the terminally ill – Ann Porter
Round off the argument.
(b) ‘Religious believers should strongly
support the legalising of euthanasia’ (15)
Speak about individual conscience – by definition it is
hard to say what people should think and feel; there
is always going to be great diversity in religious
responses to moral issues.
Say why in Christianity and Islam many might be
opposed to legalising euthanasia –it’s a good tip to
always put the opposing argument first
(life is sacred/God gives/God take away/the value of
suffering etc)
On the other hand – (quality is important as well as
sanctity/ there are issues of freewill/should show
compassion as we do with those committing suicide)
Conclusion – hard to say what religious believers should
strongly believe, but maybe it is fair to say that
Chrisitans, for example, should follow the law of love
(agape) (situation ethics etc)
The six main elements and
indicators of secularisation
The decline in membership of and
attendance at religious institutions
Reduction of religious influence in society
The growth of rational and scientific
thought
The growth of religious pluralism
The secularisation of religious institutions
The emergence of the mass media
• To complete and present research on
six main indicators of secularisation
• To begin to look at the clash between
sacred and secular and the rise of
secular fundamentalism.
Presentation to class next
Monday
Take the element of measuring secularisation that you
have been given and analyse it in some depth.
1/ In what way does it indicate that our culture is
more secular than it used to be? How does it
influence secularisation
2/ What are the problems with it?
3/ Can you offer any statistics/evidence to support
the claim that society is more secular than, say, fifty
years ago base don this indicator?
4/ Is this indicator of secularisation, then, a good one
or not?
5/ Finally, compare the indicator you have studied in
depth to the other five – if you were to put them in a
league table of indicators, which would be first, last.
Where would your indicator be?
Two websites to visit regularly
The Church Times
The Church of England
(a) Explain the six indicators used to
measure secularisation (30)
(b) ‘Britain is a far more secular society
than it was fifty years ago’ Assess this
view.
Guidance for part b –
Begin with a definition of secular
Discuss difficulty of measuring such a concept – refer briefly to six indicators but
do not repeat part A
Put forward arguments that suggest it might be more secular (less children in
Sunday school; rise of personal conscience; influence of secularists and new
knowledge displacing God etc etc)
Put forward arguments that suggest it might not be more secular (pluralism in
religions; difficulty of measuring; people religious out of choice; less paid
clergy but more lay ministers; popularity of church schools etc etc)
Suggest a conclusion - refer back to the question directly.
DUE TUESDAY AFTER HALF TERM.
The clash of sacred and secular
Nadia Eweida
Caroline Petrie
Bushra Noah
Aisha Azmi
Olive Jones
The rise of secular fundamentalism…