1. Matters of Life and Death
Beliefs about Life after death:
Christian beliefs
Jewish beliefs
Non-religious beliefs
Why some don’t believe in life after death
Issues involving life and death:
Christian and Jewish views on abortion
Christian and Jewish views on euthanasia
The media and matters of life after death
Arguments for and against the media commenting on religious beliefs about matters of life and death

2. Keywords
Immortality of the soul – the idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body
Paranormal – unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes, for example, ghosts, mediums
Resurrection – the belief that, after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world, when it is raised
Near-death Experience – when someone about to die has an out-of-body experience
Reincarnation – the belief that, after death, souls are reborn in a new body
Abortion – the removal of the foetus from the womb before it can survive
Sanctity of Life – the belief that life is holy and belongs to God
Assisted Suicide – providing a seriously ill person with the means to commit suicide
Euthanasia – the painless killing of someone dying from a painful disease
Non-voluntary Euthanasia – ending someone’s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want you to do so
Quality of Life – the idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living
Voluntary Euthanasia – ending life painlessly when someone in great pain asks for death

3. Christian beliefs about Life after death and how these affect their lives
All believe in life after death even if there are differences in beliefs. Reasons for belief:
How beliefs in life after death affect Christians’ lives
Jesus rose from the dead – must be life after death
St Paul – people will have a resurrection like Jesus – “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”
John the Devine – at the end of the world dead will be raised and brought before God for judgement
Jesus taught he would come again at end of world to make final judgements on heaven and hell
Believe people made up of body and soul – believe soul is immortal
Belief in life after death gives life purpose and meaning
Believe what happens when we die is determined by how we live – will try to live a good Christian life
This means following Jesus’ teachings – love God and love neighbour
“Love thy neighbour” – work for Christian charities
Believe sins can prevent people going to heaven – try to avoid sinning
Gives life meaning and purpose – may suffer less depression

4. Jewish beliefs about Life after death and how these affect their lives
All believe in life after death. Reasons for belief:
How beliefs in life after death affect Jews’ lives
Tenakh teaches this – Jews should believe what Tenakh says
One of Thirteen Principles of Faith says there will be life after death – should believe this
Talmud (written discussions by Rabbis about the teachings of the Torah) teaches this – most Jews try to follow Talmud
Gives life meaning and purpose
Main teaching of Judaism is resurrection – God will end this world and create a new one, God will resurrect dead and decide what happens to them – try to live a good Jewish life
Orthodox Jews – leading good life means following Torah and Halakhah – pray 3 times a day, fast on Yom Kippur, observe Shabbat.
Leading good life means following Mitzvot – keep kosher, observe dress laws.
Orthodox Jews – believe they should make final confession. Also keep Shiva after funerals – always aware of proximity of death
Gives life meaning and purpose – less depression

5. Non-religious beliefs about Life after death
Non-Religious Reasons for Believing in Life After Death
Why Some People Don’t Believe in Life After Death
Near-death experiences
Evidence for spirit world
Evidence for reincarnation
If no God then no heaven
Different religions have different ideas – must not be true
Evidence for life after death based on holy books – which one should be believed?
Science says mind cannot live without body
Nowhere for life after death to take place
How would we recognise souls without bodies?
Parents not religious

6. Christian attitudes to abortion
Against – always wrong – Catholics and Evangelical Protestants
Allows abortion in limited circumstances – Liberal Protestants
Sanctity of life
Life begins at conception – “thou shall not kill”
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...” – suggests life begins at conception
Adoption a better solution
Doctrine of double effect – can deal with difficult issues e.g. when mother’s life is at risk
One sinful act should not provoke another (e.g. rape should not mean a woman has an abortion)
“Love thy neighbour”
Life does not begin at conception
Sanctity of life broken in just war so why not abortion?
Should accept technological advances in medicine

7. Jewish Attitudes to Abortion
Should never be allowed:
Life begins at conception – “thou shall not kill”
Sanctity of life
Wrong unless mother’s life at risk:
Torah permits killing in self defence
Abortion acceptable:
Life doesn’t begin until foetus can survive on their own
Torah – Jews must prevent unnecessary suffering

8. Euthanasia Euthanasia can include different things to different people
Some think turning off life support or withdrawing extraordinary treatment counts as euthanasia (this is not what the law says)
For others it is assisted suicide
Assisted suicide illegal in UK
Assisted suicide can be voluntary or non-voluntary

9. Christian Attitudes to Euthanasia
Catholics and many Liberal Protestants – disagree with assisted suicide. Switching off life support (if brain dead), withdrawing extraordinary treatment and giving painkillers which may shorten life is not euthanasia so these are acceptable
Other Christians – Any form of euthanasia is wrong including switching off life support, withdrawing extraordinary treatment or giving painkillers which might shorten life
Sanctity of life
Euthanasia is murder – “thou shall not kill”
Up to medical experts to determine when death has occurred – if doctors say someone is brain dead they have already died so switching off life support is OK
Catechism permits not giving extraordinary treatment
Doctrine of double effect – allows painkillers
Bible bans suicide
Sanctity of life
Euthanasia is murder – “Thou shall not kill”
A few Christians – accept limited use of euthanasia (including assisted suicide)
Modern medical science – we can no longer be sure what God’s wishes are
Love thy neighbour
Human rights

10. Jewish attitudes to euthanasia
Against – all forms wrong – Most Jews
Allows switching off life support machines and not striving to keep someone alive – Some Jews
Torah – suicide is wrong and will be punished by God
Sanctity of life
Euthanasia is murder – “thou shall not kill”
Tenakh and Talmund – only God can give and take life
Some Rabbis have agreed it is OK
If someone is brain dead, God has already taken their life
Striving to keep someone alive is preventing God from taking their soul

11. Arguments For and Against the Media Being Free to Criticise Religious Views on Life After Death
Freedom of expression – for democracy, electorate needs to make an informed decision
Religious leaders use media to criticise government policies on matters of life after death – must be prepared to face criticism
Multi-faith society – freedom of religious belief and expression
Important issues to everyone
Stirs up racial hatred
Criticisms can cause offence to believers
Close to blasphemy
God is beyond human criticism