Topic title: Whose body is it anyway?
Year group: 9
When taught: December – February
What are we learning?
- In this module we will apply our knowledge from the previous module to consider how people use their ethical theories/religious teachings to help them decide how to act.
- We will look at ethical issues surrounding life including fertility treatment, abortion, conjoined twins, organ donation and the death penalty.
- We will study Christian arguments for sanctity of life and consider how this informs their ethical choices.
- We will look at how Humanists make moral decisions and explain Humanist arguments for quality of life.
- Explain issues surrounding life, when life begins and the rights associated with it.
- We will evaluate religious and humanist responses to the ethical issues above.
Why is this important to know?
- The exploration of the topics included enable students to connect prior learning to local, national and global issues facing the world today.
- This module enables students to engage with current ethical issues for example abortion law changes/IVF law etc.
- Enables students to nurture key skills of evaluation and critical analysis of different views and arguments.
Where does this link into our past and future learning?
- Students take the learning from the previous module (ethical theories and religious codes for living) and apply it to ethical issues such as the sanctity of life, abortion, IVF, organ transplantation and the death penalty.
- Religious perspectives are explored as well as Humanist. The use of sources of authority (ethical theories, philosophers as well as religious texts) are developed from previous modules (especially our previous module on ethical theories).
How will we be assessed on this topic?
- Ongoing assessment of knowledge and understanding of key terms through Satchel: one quizzes/homework/retrieval tasks in lessons.
- A longer written assessment in the Spring Term designed to test knowledge and understanding as well as evaluation skills.
What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?
In PBE longer answers we use codes to identify what makes a good answer. These include:
- Use of key terms (KT)
- Knowledge of key terms (K)
- Use of sources of authority (SOA) to help explain different views. For example: quotes from the Bible, religious figures such as Aquinas, Fletcher.
- Explanation of points in detail (EXPN)
- Giving different views towards the topic studied (DV)
- An understanding of how religious beliefs motivate people to act (I)
- Evaluation of different views looked at (EV) using critical sentence starters e.g. ‘It could be argued….’, ‘on the other hand….’
- Linking points back to the specific question asked (L)
- In evaluation questions, concluding/reaching a judgement is important (RJ)
What key words are there in this topic?
Quizlet: Click here
What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?
- Use key terms in your written work but also when you are contributing to class discussions.
- Use the Quizlet cards to continually remind yourself of key terms. Create your own flashcards for these to use for revision. Create your own key quotes flash cards.
- Read the news and consider how articles link to what we have been studying.
- Discuss the issues we have looked at in lessons with your family members.
- Attend Philosophy Club to engage in further debate with students from a different year group.
What wider reading can be done on this topic?
BBC Radio 4 – A History of Ideas. (Look at the section titled: How Can I Know Wrong from Right?). Click here: BBC Radio 4 – A History of Ideas – A History of Ideas
BBC KS4 webpages – Useful webpages aimed at GCSE students but accessible for KS3: Click here: The debate about abortion – Matters of life and death: Abortion and euthanasia – CCEA – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – CCEA – BBC Bitesize
Death penalty – Crime and punishment – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – WJEC – BBC Bitesize
Supporting document/links:
Knowledge organiser (see below)
What is an abortion?
- The intentional termination of a pregnancy.
Why do people choose to have an abortion?
- The pregnancy was a product of rape
- The foetus (unborn child) is severely disabled.
- The pregnancy endangers the mother’s life
- Inconvenient time for the parents.
- Parents can’t afford a child Parents done want children.
- Parents have already had children Parents think they are too old or too young.
Christian views
Generally
- Abortions are not preferable
- Christians believe in the Sanctity of life – the belief that life is a gift from God and should be treasured and respected, not seen as disposable, something to be ‘got rid of’
- In the Bible it says “God gives and god takes away” (Job 1:21) so we shouldn’t create or end life – that is God’s job.
- In the Bible God said “Go forth and multiply” (Genesis 1:28)
Catholic Church’s view
- Some Christians (e.g. Roman Catholics) believe that life begins at fertilisation and ending the pregnancy would be like killing and God said “thou shall not kill” in Exodus 20:13. Abortions are not acceptable.
- Catholics also think abortions are not allowed as it breaks Natural Law. Aquinas said that we have a duty to reproduce and protect the innocent (*2 of his five primary precepts)
- Roman Catholics do however allow abortion in the case of double effect – where the primary aim of an action is to help the mother, not abort the foetus (e.g. if it endangers the mother’s life)
- It would be preferable to have the baby and give it up for adoption
Liberal Protestant View
- Liberal Protestant Christians believe abortions are not preferable but acceptable in some situations – rape, severe disability or endangering the mother’s life
- All life is a gift from God but God is all loving and forgiving (explain why this is relevant).
- In some situations it might be considered the kinder thing to do / most loving thing to do (like to agape and situation ethics from Joseph Fletcher – we should always act out of love because Jesus did – even if it means going against the 10 commandments.
Muslim views
- Muslims believe in the Sanctity of life – the belief that life is a gift from God and should be treasured and respected, not seen as disposable, something to be ‘got rid of’ so some are against abortion.
- Islam does allow abortion to save the life of the mother – it sees this as the ‘lesser of two evils’
- You should not terminate the pregnancy for fear of not having enough money – the Quran “kill not your children for fear of poverty; the killing of them is a great sin”
Non-religious reasons allowing abortions
- Some people believe life has not begun so it can be terminated.
- It is the woman’s right to choose (prochoice)
- The couple could have used contraception, but it failed.
- Some think it is better to abort it than have an unwanted child.
Non-religious reasons opposing (against) abortions
- Some believe life has begun Foetus has a right to live (pro-life)
- Some say we shouldn’t ‘punish’ the foetus for a mistake. Baby’s right to life.
Key terms for abortion
- Fertilisation Pro-life Pro choice
- Omnipotence – all powerful Omniscience – all knowing Omnibenevolent – all loving
- Agape – unconditional love
What is the death penalty?
The legalised killing of someone as a form of punishment. Also known as the death penalty.
Some countries who still have the death penalty.
Parts of the USA, Indonesia, Sudan, Iran, China and more
Christian views
Opposed to the death penalty.
- Christians believe in the Sanctity of life – the belief that life is a gift from God and should be treasured and respected, not seen as disposable, something to be ‘got rid of’
- In the Bible it says, “God gives and god takes away” (Job 1:21) so we shouldn’t create or end life – that is God’s job.
- Capital punishment is killing, and God said “thou shall not kill” in Exodus 20:13.
Some other Christians (v few) would support the death penalty
- In the Bible it is used as a form of punishment
Non-religious reasons in support of capital punishment
- Removing a dangerous person from society protects people
- If someone has taken another person’s life then they should pay with theirs.
Non-religious reasons against capital punishment
- You can execute an innocent person
- How can you teach people that killing is wrong by killing
- You only protect society if you execute the right person.
- Human right to life – one of the Declaration of Human Rights
- It is better and cheaper to lock people up for life
Key terms for capital punishment
- Reformation (teaching people what was wrong with their actions)
- Pro life
- Pro choice
- Omnipotence – all powerful
- Omniscience – all knowing
- Omnibenevolent – all loving
- Agape – unconditional love
What is an organ transplantation?
- A surgical procedure in which tissue or an organ is transferred from one area of a person’s body to another area, or from one person (the donor) to another person (the recipient).
Christian views
Some Christians will support organ transplantation
- Christians believe in the Sanctity of life – the belief that life is a gift from God and should be treasured and respected, we should try and save it when we can
- In some situations it might be considered the kinder thing to do / most loving thing to do (like to agape and situation ethics from Joseph Fletcher – we should always act out of love because Jesus did – even if it means going against the 10 commandments.
Some Christians will disagree with organ transplantation
- In the Bible it says, “God gives and god takes away” (Job 1:21) so we shouldn’t create or end life – that is God’s job.
Muslim views
Some Muslims will support organ transplantation
- Muslims believe in the Sanctity of life – the belief that life is a gift from God and should be treasured and respected, we should try and save it when we can
- The Quran (Islamic holy book) says “And whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind” – so saving a person by donating organs would please God (Allah)
- Muhammad (the final prophet of Islam) says “”There is no disease that Allah has created, except that He also has created its treatment.”– therefore Allah (God) has sent us the intelligence to be able to do organ transplants – we should use it to help others live.
Some Muslim will disagree with organ transplantation
- In the Bible it says “it is to Allah that the end and beginning of all things belong” so we shouldn’t create or end life – that is God’s job.
Non-religious reasons in support or organ transplant
- One person’s death can save many people – a utilitarian would say it brings about the greatest good for the greatest number.
Non-religious reasons opposing (against) organ transplants
- If an organ has failed maybe it is nature’s way of telling a person it is time to die.
Key terms for organ transplants
- Omnipotence – all powerful
- Omniscience – all knowing
- Omnibenevolent – all loving
- Agape – unconditional love
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