 Death
– Used to be defined when the heart
stops beating – more commonly now when
there is no brain activity:
 Sanctity
of life
 Quality of life
 Value of life
 Christians
believe in life after death – God
decides where you will spend eternity.
Heaven or Hell – this depends on how you
have followed your religion and your actions
throughout life
 Catholic
Christians believe in purgatory – a
place where the souls goes to get “cleansed”
before heaven
 Muslims
believe that when you die there is a
place of waiting – Barzakh. Then there is the
“Day of Judgment” when Allah decides who
goes to heaven / hell
 Powerful
imagery surrounds these beliefs –
fire, devil , torture: paradise, happiness,
peace
 Poverty
– relying on a state pension of £400
fuel / petrol / heating
 Forced to retire- jobs given to the younger
generation. Feelings of boredom
 Illness – More likely to have health problems
 Dependant on others – less mobile and need
help with jobs - gardening
 Feel Worthless or lonely – can be left alone
when their partner dies
 Living
at home: Many are independent and
live at home with support (meals on wheels)
 Living
with family: Some old people live
with family who provide care for them. This
is a way to show gratitude towards them.
Muslims in particular prefer this option as it
is their duty to care for the elderly. Might be
difficult with medical care needed
 Community
options
 Sheltered
housing – specialist housing with a
warden on duty to help
 Residential
homes – provided their own
rooms but have communal common rooms
 Care
homes – provide all care and medical
needs
 Christians
believe the elderly should be
supported and respected.
 Christians
prefer the elderly to have
independence but will consider care options
 Churches
provide support
often
for the elderly such as services in the
residential homes
 Christianity
is deeply involved in
the hospice movement
 Christians
are encouraged to recognise experience
and wisdom is associated with age
 “Love
your neighbour” teachings of Jesus

Muslims believe in an
extended
family so different generations often live
with each other


It is an expected duty to look after
elderly parents which provides spiritual growth
disrespectful to put the
It is seen as
elderly in a home

Passive – Withdrawal of treatment / food –
Intention is to stop pain / allow natural death

Active – Deliberate action killing / ending
someone’s life

Voluntary – Asking for help to die

Non-voluntary – Not able to ask (Coma)

Involuntary – Could ask but don’t – Murder??
 Euthanasia
is illegal in UK and people have /
will face criminal charges for helping other
to die.
 In
Switzerland euthanasia is allowed and
many people have travelled to the Dignitas
centre who help people die with dignity
 The
bible includes many references to the value of
life –
 It
Sanctity of life
breaks one of the 10 commandments
“do not kill”
 Christians
believe God has fixed our life spans –
Only he has the
right to take it away
 Suicide
is wrong but most Christians
recognise people who try to kill themselves
need care and understanding.
 In
the past some denominations (types of
Christians) refused to bury suicide victims on
church ground – the Quakers did not take this
view
 Christians
support the turning off life support
machines
 Case
Study of Tony Bland (Hillsborough) – took 5 years
to turn off the life support
 The
idea of the “right to die with dignity” is
NOT acceptable to Muslims
 Islam
teaches that it is Allah who created life
– only he can take it away -Life is a sacred
gift
 Suffering
is for a purpose – it is the will of
Allah who is testing them
 Muslims
do not oppose the turning off life support
machines or passive Euthanasia - To prolong life
unnaturally is to go against the will of Allah
 Muhammad
taught it is wrong to take one’s own life
– it will result in torment on the day of judgement

A home for the terminally ill

Aim is to control pain and stop suffering palliative care

The emphasis is on the quality of life and providing
support – preparing people for the journey.

Set up by Dame Cicely Saunders – a Christian who believed
that we should help those in need

Christianity and Islam teach that there is an
after life and people will be at peace with their
God after they die. This is a comfort for both the
person dying and the ones left behind.

Christians believe that you should not fear death
and that God will look after you in your
suffering.

Hospices are a Christian based home for the
dying.

On a practical level religions are keen to support the
dying. Priests listen to confessions and help with
funeral arrangements.

They may visit the family after the funeral to offer
support in their mourning

Muslims believe that Allah is compassionate and will
help those suffering