Religion and Human Relationships
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Roles of men and women in the family
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The concept sanctity of life
Attitudes to abortion
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Marriage ceremonies
The ways in which the ceremonies reflect
and emphasise Christian teaching about
marriage
Responses to civil partnerships
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Different attitudes towards abortion
Reasons for different attitudes
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Beliefs about sexual relationships
Beliefs about contraception
Responses to issues raised by fertility
treatment and cloning
Attitudes to euthanasia and suicide
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Beliefs about the ethics of divorce
Beliefs about the ethics of re-marriage
Sexual relationships and contraception
Attitudes to fertility treatment
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Divorce
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Sanctity of Life
Marriage and Marriage Ceremonies
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Roles of men and women in the Christian
family
Roles of men and women in the Church
family
Religion and Medical Ethics
Different attitudes towards euthanasia
Different attitudes towards suicide
Reasons for different attitudes
Using animals in medical research
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Beliefs about the use of animals in
medical research
GCSE Philosophy & Applied Ethics
Miss Rosbrook 2012/13
Purpose of a family
Purpose of a family:
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To provide love
To create a safe environment
To prepare children for adulthood
To educate
To provide physical and emotional care of
all family members
Roles of men and women in the
Christian and Church family
Christians accept that all families are different.In
Christianity, it is recognised that some people might
choose to remain single. They might do this to devote their life to God by becoming a monk, priest or a
nun. Or they might remain single to do a job that does not fit with family life.
There are still Christians, and Christian denominations, who believe that a woman should stay at home
and care for the children and her husband. However, most people would probably take the view that all
Christians are equal, whether male or female.
Traditional view of the roles in a Christian family:
Alternative views on the role of women within a Christian family:
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Christians should not emphasise the differences between men and women but consider them
equals – “There is neither Jew nor Greek ... Male nor female ... For you are all one in Jesus Christ.”
(Galatians 3:28)
In the Old Testament, women are generally shown as strong, important people and rulers – for
example:“Deborah, a prophetess, was leading Israel at that time ... The Israelites came to her to have
their disputes decided.” (Judges 4:4-5)
Jesus also treated women as equals – for example Luke 8:1-3 describes the inner circle of Jesus'
followers including an unspecified number of females including Mary Magdalene.
We were all made imago dei(in the image of God) and therefore equal. Household chores as well
as responsibility for look after any children and bringing in money should be shared.
Catholic perspectives on the role of men and women within the
Church family:
Only men may become priests and bishops. The Pope is therefore
always male.
• Catholic priests and bishops have to remain celibate – in a sense
they are married to Christ and his work in the Church.
• This idea is supported by the majority of the New Testament
which suggests all Jesus’ disciples were male.
• Also, during the Eucharist, the priest represents Jesus and
therefore a woman cannot perform this ceremony.
BUT:
• Women do play an important role and can take an active part by becomingextraordinary
minstersof the Holy Communion (giving out the consecrated bread and wine at mass) or visiting
the sick and those in need.
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Church of England (Anglican) perspectives on the role of men and women within the Church
family:
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Both men and women can become vicars however bishops and the leader of the Church, the
Archbishop, is always a man.
The Anglican Church in Britain ordained its first women priests in 1994.
Within the CoE there is disagreement over this division with many Anglicans believing that if a
woman is ordained as a vicar then they should be allowed to become bishops.
Others maintain that the greater level of authority and oversight held by a bishop should remain
the role of men only.
Remember:
Even in the twenty-first century there are still many arguments and discussions about the roles of men
and women. This can be over particular religious issues such as whether women can be ordained or
other non-religious issues such as equal pay or whether women should stay at home and look after the
family.
Marriage and Marriage Ceremonies
Marriage provides a relationship through which husband and wife support each other; this relationship
is built on love and faithfulness. It also provides a secure environment for the upbringing of
children.
The purpose of marriage:
Key words:
Sacrament: An outward, physical
sign of an inward, invisible grace.
Vows: Promises made between
the couple getting married with
God as a witness.
Remember – some couples may
exchange rings. The circle
represents eternity and their
unending love for each other.
Main facts:
- A Christian marriage is a civilceremony because the couple’s relationship is publicly witnessed by the
congregation and the register signed.
- Christians also believe that marriage is a holy relationship – it is seen as a sacrament (special action
which brings a person closer to God) and part of God’s plan for humanity. Because it is a religious
commitment, marriage should take place in a chapel or church.
- Marriage is a gift from God and its importance was stressed by Jesus - ‘Man will leave his father and
mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh ... What God has joined together, let
no man separate.’ (Mark 10:6-9)
- The words of the marriage ceremony stress that the promises of the bride and groom are made before
God.
- At the beginning of the service the priest or minister reminds the couple of the seriousness of
marriage. They are told it symbolises therelationship between Christ and the Church.
- The couple answers these vows: Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, honour and protect
her/him, and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live?
- They promise that they will stay together: for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in
health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law.
Remember:
The Christian Church believes that it is a sin for people to have sexual relations with each other unless
they are married because of the vow to be faithful taken before God. Some Christians believe sexual
relations before marriage also break the seventh commandment – ‘do not commit adultery’.
Christian responses to civil partnerships
Civil partnerships were made legal in the UK in December 2005, giving same-sex
couples the same rights in law as married couples. However, civil partnerships are
not ‘marriage’. This is because, by law, in the UK, marriage has to happen between
‘one man’ and ‘one woman’.
Key word:
Main facts:
Civil partnership – the
legal recognition of a
same-sex relationship.
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Civil partnership ceremonies, by law, do not have any religious
content to them.
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The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England are opposed to civil partnerships because
they teach that marriage is the proper place for sexual activity to occur and that one of the main
purposes of sex should be to create new life which homosexual sex cannot do.
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The Roman Catholic Church sees homosexual activity as essentially masturbation which it
believes is always wrong because it is the misuse of sexual genitalia.
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Quakers are the only group that fully accepts homosexual couples in their meetings.
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Individual Christians may have different opinions to that of their church. They may feel that
everyone is created in God’s image and that they are therefore equal and should betreated
equally.
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Some Christians believe that civil partnerships provide companionship, unity and stabilityin the
same way heterosexual marriage does.
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Rev Paul Collier, an openly homosexual CoE vicar believes that in not doing so, the Church is
‘failing to respond to an opportunity to celebrate and affirm love, fidelity and commitment.’
Bible quotes: civil partnerships
“... man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become
one flesh.” (Genesis 2:20-24)
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Neither the
sexually immoral nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ...” (1
Corinthians 6:8-10)
“Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22)
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is
detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” (Leviticus 20:13)
Christian beliefs about divorce and remarriage
Christians see marriage as being for life and consider
that the promises the couple made were to God as
well as to each other. Because of this divorce is
always viewed very seriously. However, Christians
have different attitudes on the subject of divorce.
Main facts:
Key words:
Adultery – When someone who is married has a
sexual relationship with someone to whom they
are not married.
Divorce - The legal dissolving of a marriage so
that the partners are free to marry someone
else.
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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that
divorce was wrong unless it was because
of adultery - “It has been said, ‘Anyone who
Annulment – A declaration that the marriage
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of
was never a proper marriage in the eyes of the
divorce.’But I tell you that anyone who divorces
Church, e.g. because one of the parties was
his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes
forced into it.
her the victim of adultery, and anyone who
marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”(Matthew 5:31-32)
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In 1981 the Church of England decided that although a person had been divorced this should not
prevent them marrying someone else in a church ceremony.
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The Roman Catholic Church accepts that people may get a divorce, which is a civil matter, but they
are still seen as married because a sacrament cannot be undone. If they have a sexual
relationship with another person or get married again in a civil ceremony, they are not allowed to
receive communion as what they are doing is seen as a sin.
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In certain circumstances the Pope may grant an annulment to a couple who wish to separate. An
annulment says the original marriage was flawed and therefore did not actually take place. Once
an annulment has been granted, the couple are free to marry again in church.
Bible quotes: Divorce and remarriage
“The two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore what God has joined
together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:8-9)
“A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be
reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
Remember:
Christians believe that they should do everything they can to try help the couple stay together, such as
going to marriage counselling (Relate), praying, or speaking to the priest/minister.
Christian beliefs about sexual relationships
Key words:
Celibate – Someone who abstains from sexual activity.
Chastity – Abstaining from sexual activity because of religious vows, e.g. a nun or a monk.
Cohabitation – To live together without being formally married.
Fornication– Sexual activity between two adults who are not married to each other.
Even though many people now choose to live together in relationships without being married, this is not
welcomed by the Christian Church.
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Christianity teaches that the sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage. In
Genesis 2:24 men and women are told to ‘become one flesh’. Outside of marriage, sexual activity
always constitutes a grave sin.
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In the Roman Catholic Church, priests are required to take a vow of celibacy as the Church
believes that is a priest was married he would be distracted from loving and serving God.
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Some Christian Churches will allow cohabiting couples into their congregations but the majority
will not.
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The seventh commandment – ‘You shall not commit adultery’ is often interpreted to mean it is
wrong to have a sexual relationship with anyone to whom you are not married, even if you are not
married.
Bible quotes: Sexual relationships
“You have heard it said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”(Matthew 5:27-28)
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you...You are not your own...honour
God with your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Christian beliefs about contraception
Christians believe that life is a gift from God and sacred, and that the
purpose of sexual activity is to create new life. Because of this, the Roman
Catholic Church does not approve of artificial contraception. Some other
Churches accept the use of artificial contraception in order to ensure
children are planned and wanted.
Main facts:
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No specific teachings in the Bible about contraception. Christians instead, interpret the teachings
and believe that life is a gift from God therefore using contraception is preventing a new life
which God wishes to be born and is therefore a sin.
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Many others believe the Bible should be interpreted in the age in which Christians live. Although
they think that the teachings on life being scared within the Bible should be considered carefully,
because the world is becoming overpopulated and there is a great deal of poverty, they believe
contraception should be allowed.
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The Roman Catholic Church considers that conception is a natural outcome of sexual
intercourse and that anything which prevents this is wrong. It teaches that married couples have
an obligation to obey God’s command to Adam and Eve to “Be fruitful and increase in number”
(Genesis 1:28)
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The only form of contraception which is permitted by Catholics is the ‘rhythm method’ (also
known as ‘natural family planning’). This involves planning sex around the most infertile times in
a woman’s monthly cycle.
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The Church of England teaches that decisions about the number of children in a family and
when to have them is a matter for the parents’ conscience which is influenced by God.
Key words:
Artificial contraception - Medicine or devices which prevent conception
Contraception – The prevention of pregnancy by using artificial methods such as condoms or the pill or
natural methods such as the rhythm method or withdrawal.
Natural contraception - Techniques such as ‘natural family planning’
a) What is divorce? (1 mark)
b) Give two aspects of a Christian marriage service. (2 marks)
c) Why might Roman Catholics not want to be divorce? (3 marks)
d) Explain how Christians might respond to someone contemplating having sex before they are marriage. (6
marks)
e) ‘The only purpose of marriage is to have children.’ Discuss this statement. You should include different,
supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (12 marks)
a) What is contraception? (1 mark)
b) Give two types of contraception. (2 marks)
c) Why do some Christians disagree with sex outside of marriage? (3 marks)
d) Explain different Christian views on the role of men and women. (6 marks)
e) ‘Times have changed, the Church needs to change too.’ Discuss this statement. You should include
different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.
(12 marks)
a) What it a sacrament? (1 mark)
b) Give two symbols in a wedding ceremony. (2 marks)
c) Why are the vows an important part of a wedding ceremony? (3 marks)
d) Explain how Christians would respond to a same sex couple wanting to get married. (6 marks)
e) ‘Marriage is outdated’. Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a
personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (12 marks)
Sanctity of Life
Christians often say that they believe in the ‘sanctity of life’. They mean that they believe that there is
something special and holy about human life.
Key words:
Main facts:
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For Christians, human life is different
from other kinds of life because
people share something of the
nature of God.
Sanctity of life: The belief that all life is given by God
and is therefore sacred.
Soul: The non-physical part of a person that may go to
heaven when the person dies.
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The book of Genesis describes how
God made Adam and then “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Christians regard this as
God giving humanity a soul.
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Genesis also says that people are made imago dei– in the image of God.
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Christians believe that each person has a soul which does not die when the body and mind die, but
lives on after death. It is the soul that is judged by God, and which can join God in heaven forever.
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The Bible teaches that God plans every human life – “All the days planned for me were written in
your book.”
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Christians believe life should be treated with respect. They have a responsibility to take care of
themselves and others.
Remember: Christians believe that God makes each person so everyone has value, whether they are
newly born or elderly, healthy or ill, useful members of society or in need of care.
Bible quotes: Sanctity of life
“The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
“The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away.” (Job 1:21)
“Do not murder” (Exodus 20:13)
Attitudes to abortion
Most Christians believe that abortion is wrong but some would permit it in some circumstances.
Key words:
Abortion: The deliberate expulsion of the foetus from the uterus before the pregnancy reaches full term
(usually 40 weeks)
Doctrine of double effect: If doing something morally good has a morally bad side-effect, it is right to do it
providing the bad-side effect was not intended.
Ectopic pregnancy: When a foetus starts to grow in a Fallopian tube rather than the womb.
Miscarriage: When a baby is aborted through natural causes.
Main facts:
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Roman Catholics believe that life begins from the moment of conception, on the very first day of
pregnancy.
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Some other Christians believe that the foetus cannot really be described as a person until later on
in the pregnancy, when it becomes more recognisably human. Others believe that it becomes a
person when it is capable of surviving on its own, at about 22 weeks.
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Roman Catholics believe the killing of an unborn baby is morally wrong in all circumstances.
However, if an abortion is needed to save the mother’s life, such as in the case of an ectopic
pregnancy, they would accept the doctrine of double effect.
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The Church of England also opposes abortion but recognises that there can be certain conditions
when abortion would be morally acceptable such as the child would experience a low quality of
life due to severe medical disabilities, or in the case of rape.
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The Methodist Church says that abortion is always an evil but recognises that there are cases
where abortion may be the lesser of two evils: if the child were born with an incurable disease
for example.
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Some Christians are more willing to accept early abortions than those that take place later in a
pregnancy.
Bible quotes: Sanctity of life
“Do not murder” (Exodus 20:13)
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Remember: Many of the Christian Churches have a relative morality in their approach to abortion – they
adapt the rules to different situations but would still see abortion as a last resort. The most common
secular view is that the woman should have a right to choose whether she has an abortion after she has
had counselling as she has personal autonomy over her own body.
Religious and secular viewpoints hinge on the question of when life begins.
Attitudes to fertility treatment
Fertility treatment is used when people want to have children but are unable to conceive naturally.
Usually, this is because of some kind of medical problem. However, there are different Christian attitudes
to fertility treatment.
Key words:
AID: Artificial insemination by donor
AIH: Artificial insemination by husband
IVF: When sperm and an egg are put together in a tube until an
embryo is formed which is then transferred into a woman’s womb
Main facts:
 IVF involves the egg and sperm being brought together in a test tube. If conception takes place
and an embryo is formed, it is placed inside the women’s uterus.
 Another method of fertility treatment is artificial insemination. Sperm is collected and placed in
the woman’s uterus artificially:
- Sometimes this is the husband’s sperm (AIH)
- Sometimes sperm can be used which as come from an anonymous donor (AID). The law now
states that anyone donating sperm or eggs has to provide their details, so that at the age of 18, a
person conceived this way can seek out their biological parents.
 The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990:
- Frozen embryos may be stored for a maximum of 10 years. However, these can only be implanted
if both partners agree.
- Scientific experiments may only be carried out on embryos up to 14 days after conception; after
this time they may not be kept alive
 Some Christians believe that fertility treatments should be encouraged because they bring so
much happiness to people who would otherwise not be able to have children – Agape.
 God has also given humanity the ability and intelligence to develop the technology to enable
fertility treatment to take place.
 However, other Christians believe that fertility treatment is wrong. They consider that God
chooses whether people have babies or not. This is part of the teaching about sanctity of life.
 Roman Catholics believe that life begins at conception. This causes a major problem, particularly
with IVF, which can produce spare embryos. Some of these embryos may be thrown away during
the process, stored, or used in medical research, which they believe goes against the sixth
commandment.
 The Roman Catholic Church does not believe that having a baby is a God-given right but a divine
gift.
 Roman Catholics are also against AID because they think that the introduction of a third partyis a
form of adultery.
Remember: Some people object to fertility treatment because it may be used by people in a
homosexual relationship or are not in relationship but still want to have children. People who have
passed the natural age for childbearing can also use it.
Bible quotes: Fertility treatment
“The Lord had closed her [Hannah’s] womb.” (1 Samuel 1:5)
“Give me children or I will die.” (Genesis 30:1)
Attitudes to cloning
Cloning creates a genetically identical animal or plant from another. The most famous example of a
cloned animal was Dolly the sheep (1997-2003).
Main facts:
 Most of the concerns about cloning relate to the possibility that it
might be used to clone humans. Most Christians feel that the cloning of a
human, were it to be possible, is unacceptable.
 Most countries have banned the use of cloning to produce human
babies (reproductive cloning).
 In therapeutic cloning, tissues are created. Single cells are taken from
a person and ‘reprogrammed’ to create stem cells. These cells have the
potential to develop into any type of cell in the body in order to provide replacement organs or
limbs. In 2001, the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Act allowed the use of human embryos in
stem cell research, using leftover embryos from IVF treatment.
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Many Christians feel that research into therapeutic cloning is against the will of God as it is
unnatural. They argue that each person has individuality tampered with – we should not ‘play
God.’
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Others would say that people have a God-given responsibility to care for creation and if
therapeutic cloning would benefit humans then it is a good thing as long as it is strictly controlled.
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The Roman Catholic Church teaches that cloning separates the procreation of children from the
sexual act and often involves the creation and subsequent destruction of a large number of
fertilised eggs. This is against the Roman Catholic teaching on the sanctity of life.
Key words:
Cloning: The making of a replica
Reproductive cloning:Cloning which creates offspring
Stem cells:Single cells which have the potential to be ‘reprogrammed’ to develop into any type of cell in
the body.
Therapeutic cloning:A medical procedure where single cells are taken from a person or embryo and
‘reprogrammed’ to create stem cells which can be used in medical treatment.
Attitudes to suicide
Most Christians believe that it is wrong for a person to commit suicide, although they recognise that
these people may have gone beyond the stage where they are able to make rational decisions.
Main facts:
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Suicide is when a person ends his or her own life. In the UK less than 1 in 100 deaths every year is
the result of suicide.
In the past, suicide was considered a serious crime and the Christian Church treated it as a sin.
Christians might argue against suicide by saying:
God chooses when people are born and when they die.
Suffering can bring people closer to God.
Suicide is a form of murder, even if the murderer and the victim are the same person – and one
of the Ten Commandments is ‘You shall not murder’.
Paul said the body was a temple of the Holy Spirit and so the body should be treated as a place
where God lives, and should be respected.
Suicide is sometimes viewed as a mortal sin against the Holy Spirit which prevents the person
entering heaven. In the past this meant that suicides could not be buried in consecrated ground.
Suicide is sometimes regarded as a selfish response which ignores those people left behind.
Remember: Most Christians believe that the right response to suicide is to be loving and forgiving.
People who attempt suicide should be helped to overcome the reasons which made them want to kill
themselves. People who do commit suicide should be regarded with respect and understanding, not
condemned.
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The Samaritans is an organization that was started in 1953 by the Rev. Chad Varah who was a
Church of England vicar.
It provides confidential emotional support to anyone needing it – including those contemplating
suicide.
The Samaritans is available to anyone, or any religion or note. The volunteers do not give advice
or tell the caller what to do, but listen and help people to work out their own answers.
Bible quotes: Suicide
“Do not murder” (Exodus 20:13)
“There is a time to live and a time to die.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3a)
“The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Key words:
Suicide: When someone ends his or her own life.
Sin: An act which goes against God’s wishes.
Suffering: Physical, mental or spiritual pain.
Attitudes to euthanasia
The word euthanasia comes from two Greek words: ‘eu’ meaning good and ‘thanatos’ meaning death.
Literally it means a ‘good death’. There are different Christian attitudes and beliefs on what constitutes a
‘good death’ and whether or not the quality of life is more important than the sanctity of life.
Key words:
Euthanasia: A gentle or easy death; helping someone to die.
Hospice: A place where terminally-ill patients are cared for.
Palliative care: Care given to a terminally ill patient to help them die in as much comfort as possible.
Main facts:
 There are different types of euthanasia:
- Voluntary – someone chooses to ask for the ending of their life (also known as assisted
suicide)
- Involuntary – other people decide it would be best is someone’s life ends (e.g. coma).
- Active – action is taken to end someone’s life; for example a lethal injection might be given.
This is illegal.
- Passive – treatment is withdrawn, resulting in death (debatable whether this is actually
euthanasia)
 The Roman Catholic Church is totally opposed to euthanasia and teaches that any act which
deliberately brings about death is the same as murder. It teaches that ordinary treatments, such
as feeding a patient, must always be continued, but that ‘extraordinary’ treatments, such as a
complicated operation that is unlikely to succeed, need not be given. They do this applying the
doctrine of double effect.
 The Church of England has similar views to the Roman Catholics. It teaches that although the
deliberate taking of human life is forbidden, there are strong arguments that people should not be
kept alive at all costs when they are suffering intolerable pain. To allow someone to die may be
the most loving thing to do and applies the Christian principle of agape.
 The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) does not have a united view on euthanasia. For
Quakers, what is important is that they do the most loving thing.
 Many Christians support the hospice movement. Hospices care for the dying. They do everything
they can to make a patient more comfortable, such as keeping severe pain under control (called
palliative care). They try to give the dying patient a peaceful and happy end to life and aim to
provide an alternative to euthanasia, believing that a ‘good death’ can be achieved without killing,
if the patient is surrounded by care, love and support.
 The acceptability of euthanasia revolves around the question of quality of life versus sanctity of
life. Many Christians and non-believers would wish to consider the quality of life of the patient.
Christians in particular would want to compare this with teachings about the sanctity of life:
should a patient be forced to live even though they are in desperate pain which cannot be
relieved?
Remember: Euthanasia is related to suicide because it is about people choosing when and how a life
should end. The difference is that euthanasia involves more than one person as the person is usually
incapable of taking his or her own life.
Beliefs about the use of animals in
medical research
Many Christians would follow their individual consciences as
to whether or not animals should be used in medical
research. However, most Christians recognise that animals
are part of God’s creation and should be created with care
and not be hurt unnecessarily.
Key words:
Dominion: Authority or rule.
Medical research: Scientific experiments carried out to help
disease.
Stewardship: Looking after something for someone else.
Main facts:








Key people:
Adam – The first human
being who was given the
task of stewardship of
the earth and dominion
over it.
The Bible teaches that humans have a role of
St Francis of Assisi –
stewardship over the earth and should care for it.
Believed that animals
as
In the past, animals were not considered as important
had
souls.
humans and many Christians do not believe animals
have souls or can have a relationship with God.
The Roman Catholic Church and Church of England both consider animal experimentation
as an important method of testing for life-saving drugs but the animals must not be
hurt unnecessarily.
In the past, medical experiments on animals have produced a vaccine for polio, assisted in
the development of anesthetics and helped to produce drugs for the treatment of asthma.
Quakers are opposed to research on animals for trivial matters such as cosmetics but are
divided on whether experiments should be done in order to save lives. They believe that to
say you love God but then impose cruelty on his creations is a contradiction.
However, many Christians do not approve of using animals in medical research. They
believe God made his covenant with animals as well as humans and that both humans
and animals have the same origin in God.
So, while many Christians would be happy to eat animals, they still believe that animals are
God’s creation and should not be allowed to suffer.
St Francis of Assisi said that animals ‘had the same source as [himself]’. Therefore inflicting
pain on any living creature is incompatible with living in a Christ-like way.
Remember: There are no specific passages in the Bible about animal testing but many Christians
will refer to passages from Genesis about stewardship and dominion to support their opinions.
Bible quotes: The use of animals in medical research
“God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the
ground.’” (Genesis 1:28)
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
(Genesis 2:15)
a) What is cloning? (1 mark)
b) Give two types of euthanasia. (2 marks)
c) How have Christian responses to suicide changed? (3 marks)
d) Explain how Christians might respond to someone who wants to commit suicide? (6 marks)
e) ‘God has a plan for everyone. We mustn’t interfere with Gods plan’. Discuss this statement. You should
include different, supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your
answer. (12 marks)
a) What is euthanasia? (1 mark)
b) Give two types of fertility treatment (2 marks)
c) What is the sanctity of life? (3 marks)
d) Explain Christian views on fertility treatment. (6 marks)
e) ‘Abortion is murder’. Discuss this statement. You should include different, supported points of view and a
personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (12 marks)
a) What is abortion? (1 mark)
b) Give two reasons why a Christian might object to abortion. (2 marks)
c) How would a Christian treat someone who is terminally ill? (3 marks)
d) Explain Christian views on cloning. (6 marks)
e) ‘Embryos have the same value as a human being’. Discuss this statement. You should include different,
supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. (12 marks)