The Environment and
Medical Issues revision
Key words: write out the answers
then
click
to
check
them
Pollution
The contamination of the natural environment
Global warming
Increase CO2 in the atmosphere raises the temperature of the earth, with
potentially devastating effects on the environment
Conservation
Preserving and protecting the environment and its natural resources
Stewardship
Taking care of the environment on behalf of God and for the benefit of
future generations
Creation
The act of creating the universe
Environment
The surroundings in which plants and animals live and on which they
depend to live
Natural resources
Naturally occurring materials, such as oil and fertile land, which can be
used by humans
Artificial insemination
Injecting semen into the uterus by artificial means
Embryo
A fertilised egg in the first 8 weeks after conception
Infertility
Not being able to have children
In-vitro fertilisation
The method of fertilising a human egg in a test tube
Organ donation
Giving organs to be used in transplant surgery
Surrogacy
An arrangement whereby a woman bears a child on
behalf of another woman
Air
pollution
Water pollution
Types of pollution
Noise pollution
Land pollution
Effects of pollution
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Most scientists say that pollution has caused the
greenhouse effect which is heating up the earth
because gases are trapped in the atmosphere
This in turn has caused the polar ice caps to melt
It has also meant that we experience more freak
weather conditions
However, not all scientists agree! Some believe that
this is a natural worldly cycle that happens every so
many thousands of years
Also, not all pollution is damaging e.g. noise
pollution only effects people, not the environment
The effects of global warming –
the increase in the Earth’s temperature (thought to be
caused by the greenhouse effect)
The earth’s
temperature
rises
Weather becomes
hotter in places
Leads to drought in
some areas and so
crops fails
Polar ice caps melt
Sea levels rise,
meaning that low
lands could
disappear e.g the
Maldives
People starve and
some lands can’t be
populated
Non-religious attitudes to the
environment
Many non-religious people are concerned about the environment. Governments have
pressured large companies such as McDonalds and B&Q in to making sure that
they recycle waste and that they ethically source good.
Governments have also set targets to reduce CO2 and to recycle more, hence many
houses now have recycle bins and tips are more accessible.
It is understood that the effects of global warming are felt everywhere but especially
by LEDCs who experience more drought and so have food shortages.
It is estimated that over the next few hundred years much of low land in countries will
be under water due to the melting of the ice caps e.g much of Holland
On the other hand some people still don’t care what the damage is and refuse to do
their part. If governments really wanted change then more could be done to make
people have environmentally friendly cars and use solar panels on their houses to
get electricity
Greenpeace
This is a non-religious group who:
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Work for sustainable development
Campaign against climate change
Try to protect the rain forests from being destroyed
Stand up for animal rights e.g. they try to stop
whaling
They do this because they believe that the planet
belongs to everyone and so no one should destroy it.
Ways people try to reduce pollution
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Recycle clothes, plastics, paper etc
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Use public transport or walk rather than use a car
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Use energy efficient products e.g. light bulbs,
washing machines
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Carry re-useable bags to cut down on plastic bags
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Buy local produce to reduce transports carbon foot
print
The Christian attitude to the
environment
All Christians believe that they have a
duty to protect and care for the
environment and should not pollute it
Reasons for this attitude:
1.
The Bible says that people were created by God to be
stewards – to take care of it on God’s behalf and for the
benefit of future generations
2.
God made the world and so it is not ours to ruin
3.
The Parable of the Talents Jesus taught people that God
expects them to look after the world and leave it in a better
condition than they found it in.
4.
If Christians look after the world then they will be rewarded
by God in heaven.
5.
Pollution is NOT looking after the planet.
It is selfish and does not look after the world as God
intended.
Muslim attitudes to the environment
All Muslims believe that they have a
duty to protect and care for the
environment and should not pollute it
Notice that these are similar
ideas to Christians!
This is because:
1.
Islam teaches that Muslims have been given a
responsibility to rule over the earth and the
resources by Allah.
2.
God made the world perfect and so it should be
respected. Tawhid is the idea that God made
everything to fit with everything else – the world is
in unity.
3.
Allah made Adam his first khalifah (steward) someone who rules for him and looks after the
world.
4.
Humans will be judged by Allah on Judgement Day
on how well they have they looked after the world.
A Rocha
This is a Christian group who work for conservation.
They do this because they believe that humans are stewards of the
earth, and should look after it for God
They believe in the parable of the talents which says that those
who leave the earth in a better state than they found it will go
to heaven
They campaign against climate change and put pressure on the
international community to reduce CO2
They believe that we all have a responsibility to recycle and to
save the rainforests which are the lungs of the earth
The reasons why they work for conservation are the same reasons why Christians
believe that they should care for the planet.
A Roche – a Christian group working for conservation
What they do:
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A Rocha runs projects in a number of countries (e.g. UK, France, Canada, Lebanon,
Portugal among others). The projects focus on education, science, conservation or
research.
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Projects Here are two examples of A Rocha projects:
1. Living Waterways project in the UK
The Living Waterways project is based in west London. The aim of the project was to
“open up the wonders of God’s creation to people who have little chance to enjoy
the beauty at first hand.” Working with the local council the other community
groups A Rocha has helped to turn 90 acres of wasteland into the Minet Country
Park. The park has recreation space and nature conservation areas. Instead of burntout cars and dumped waste the land now has nature trails, green open space and a
children’s playground.
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2. Les Tourades study centre in France
The A Rocha study centre in France focuses on three main areas: Welcoming visitors
and encouraging discussions of environmental issues. Conducting scientific
research on local flora, fauna and ecosystems. Managing and protecting vulnerable
or threatened sites.
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Test yourself
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Name the 4 types of pollution
Which do not physically damage the
environment?
Name 3 ways people try to reduce pollution
What is the Muslim and Christian attitude
towards the environment?
Give 4 reasons a Christian has this view
Give 4 reasons a Muslim has this view
Religion and Medical
Issues
Artificial insemination - Injecting
semen into the uterus by artificial
means
IVF - The method of
fertilising a human egg in a
test tube
AIH – by husband
This can use the husband
and wife’s DNA, or can use
donated egg, sperm or
embryo
AID – by donor
Types of infertility
treatments
Fertility drugs
Drugs used to make a
woman produce eggs.
Conception then happens
naturally
Surrogacy - An
arrangement
whereby a woman
bears a child on
behalf of another
woman
Christian attitudes to fertility
treatments
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All Christians think that having a family is
important, but disagree with some of the
technology available.
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You need to learn what the main opinions are
towards the treatments, and why
Opinion 1: Some Christians are against the use of embryo
technology (IVF) and anything which involves a donor
(surrogacy, AID)
This is because:
1.
God intended a child to be conceived by a married couple. This means that
donors are not allowed, or is anything which doesn’t allow natural conception
(IVF). The egg and sperm must meet by themselves.
2.
The use of donors can be seen as being like adultery and the 10 Commandments
say “Do not commit adultery”
3.
Statements have been issued by Roman Catholics saying that it is wrong. They
said that the use of donors was “mechanical adultery”.
4.
When embryos are created using IVF, ones not used may be disposed of. Roman
Catholics believe that life begins at conception and so this is classed as murder
and the 10 Commandments say “Do not kill”.
5.
The use of donors may cause problems for the family in the future if the child
wants to find their biological parent. Family is really important to Christians and
banning donors prevents this problem.
Opinion 2 : Some Christians allow
treatments to be used
This is because:
1.
God gave doctors the knowledge to develop the treatments,
which he wouldn’t have if he didn’t want them to be used
2.
The Bible contains stories of God bringing happiness to
infertile women by allowing them to have a child. Using
technology today is a great act of kindness
3.
It follows Jesus’ teaching of ‘love thy neighbour’
Opinion 3: Some Christians do not
want any treatments to be used
This is because:
They think that God is omnipotent and so has
decided that someone is infertile. It would be a
sin to go against God’s wishes.
This is backed up with evidence from the Bible
“Hannah had no children because the Lord
kept her from doing so.”
Opinion 4: All Christians ban the
use of surrogates
This is because
1.
Of the problems it may cause families over
issues of identity
2.
Also, even though sex doesn’t take place
between the father and the surrogate, it could
be classed as adultery and the 10
Commandments say “do not commit
adultery”
Muslim attitudes towards infertility treatments
Like Christians Muslims also believe that married couples should be able to
have children, but not at any moral cost. Just because the technology exists,
it doesn’t mean it SHOULD be used. There are 2 main opinions:
Some Muslims believe that if a
couple can not have children
then that is Allah’s wish and
so should not be changed.
Reason: This is because God is
all powerful and has a plan for
everyone. It would be a SIN to
go against this plan.
Other Muslims do allow treatments to be used, BUT ONLY IF
THE HUSBAND AND WIFE’S DNA is used.
This is because:
Fertility is seen by
many as just another
illness, and in the
Qur’an Muslims are
encouraged to help
the sick
The child of a donor will not know their lineage
which is important. This means that surrogacy
and adoption are not allowed (but Muslims
should care for orphans – just not change their
family name). Muslims are taught that a
woman is not a mother unless she has carried
the baby herself.
The use of donors is
the same as
adultery which is
a sin
IVF is allowed, even though some
embryos may be disposed of. This
is because Allah doesn’t breath the
soul in to the embryo before 120
days and so it is not classed as a
living thing until this point.
Now test yourself
1.
List 4 types of fertility treatments
2.
Why do some Christians not like the use of embryo technology
(IVF)?
3.
Why do Muslims only allow the DNA from the parents to be
used in fertility treatments?
4.
Give 2 reasons why some Muslims allow fertility treatments to
be used
5.
Why may some Christians and Muslims be totally against the
use of fertility treatments?
6.
Give 2 reasons why some Christians allow fertility treatments to
be used
Transplant surgery
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There are over 8000 people waiting on the transplant
list. Not all of those people will live long enough to
receive an organ.
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In the UK donors can be both dead or alive. If dead
the body remains on a life support machine until the
doctors are ready. If alive then organs can be given
(often to a close relative) but only if there is no risk to
the donor’s health.
Non-religious arguments for
transplant surgery
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It saves lives
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It uses organs from the dead which otherwise would go to
waste
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It is a way for people to do something selfless and show
compassion
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It gives a quality of life back to people whose illness means
that they can not do things
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It can bring comfort to the dead donor’s relatives to know that
their relative has helped many others
Non-religious arguments against
transplant surgery
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It costs thousands of pounds but there is no
guarantee that it will work
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Because there are not enough organs, there is a
black market which exploits the poor
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It mutilates the dead which can bring suffering
to the relatives of the dead donor
Christian views – 3 opinions
Some Christians would
not support the use
of transplant
surgery because:
1. God is omniscient.
Saving a life goes
against God’s plan
and so is a sin
2. It goes against the
sanctity of life – life
is special and holy
and belongs to God.
Saving a life is
playing God which is
a sin
All Christians are
against the black
market.
However, many other
Christians do support
transplant surgery.
This is because:
This is because it
exploits the poor
which is forbidden
by the Bible
1.
It follows Jesus’ teachings of
‘love thy neighbour’.
2.
Jesus healed people and organ
transplants is another form of
this
3.
Churches have issued
statements saying that it is a
good thing (modern day
heroism) as long as it is done
in a morally acceptable way.
4.
The Bible teaches the
importance of sacrifice and
helping others, which organ
donation does
Muslim views on transplants
Some Muslims will allow transplant
surgery. This is because:
1. Islam teaches that every Muslim
should try to end suffering.
Transplants can do this
2. In 1995 The Muslim Council of
Britain said that Muslims could
carry a donor card
3. Muslims must be charitable, and
organ donation is an act of charity
4. It can save lives and so is allowed
Some Muslims think that transplant
surgery is wrong. This is because:
1. The Qur’an teaches that on the Last Day,
God will resurrect everyone . This means
that Muslims do not allow anything to be
removed from the body after death,
including organs
2. The belief in the sanctity of life.
Muslims should not do anything to harm
the body which is God’s creation
3. God is omniscient and has a plan for
everyone. Transplant surgery interferes
with that.
Like Christians, all Muslims are against the black market as it
degrades the human body
Now test yourself
1.
Around how many people are currently waiting
on the transplant list?
2.
Why many some NON-RELIGIOUS people be
against transplant surgery?
Give 2 Christian arguments for an against
transplant surgery
3.
4.
Give 2 Muslim arguments for an against
transplant surgery