RE GCSE

 

The Sanctity

of Life

 


Disability 1

Contemporary Moral Issues page 46

Answer the questions on file paper

1. Write out the meanings of these words:

Disability

Handicap

  1. Read the story of Daniel carefully on page 49, and answer the questions.
  1. How old is Daniel?
  2. Why is he disabled?
  3. What is the name of Daniel’s disability?
  4. This disability can affect people in different ways. How is Daniel affected?
  5. What is the name of the school which Daniel goes to?
  6. What kind of school does Daniel go to?
  7. Why - do you think - it is important to him to go to this school?
  8. How does Daniel manage to do his school work?
  9. How do other pupils welcome Daniel into school?
  10. How would you feel if you were Daniel?
  11. Why does Daniel find it hard to believe in God?
  12. If Daniel came to our school, what changes do you think there would have to be? (make a list)
  13. If you were disabled like Daniel, what do you think you would miss most? (Give your reasons).
  14. Do you think it is good for Daniel to attend an ordinary school? Say why.
  15. Do you think it is good for other pupils to get to know people like Daniel? Say why.
  2. In recent years, charities which work with handicapped people have changed their names. For example, the Spastics Society is now called SCOPE, and Mencap is now called MIND. Why do you think they have changed their names? Give reasons for your answers.

 

  1. What do you think?

Disabled people often say that people’s attitudes can make things difficult for them. For instance, they face

over-protection,

fear,

embarrassment,

stereotyping and

being patronised.

What does each of these attitudes mean?

Why do these attitudes make it difficult for disabled people?

  1. Making it easier

Imagine Daniel comes to our school. Design one item, gadget or aid that would help him take part in school life. You can draw the gadget here:

 

Learning Difficulty 2

Contemporary Moral Issues page 91

(The section about the Mentally Handicapped)

Note: Nowadays it is more usual to say ‘Learning Difficulty’
than ‘Mental Handicap’

  1. Write out the meanings of these words on file paper.

Mental Handicap (Learning Difficulty)

Mental Illness

  1. Read carefully the section called Mentally Handicapped on page 91, and answer these questions.
  1. How many mentally handicapped people are there in Britain?
  2. How many of these mentally handicapped people are children?
  3. What proportion of the population of Britain are mentally handicapped?
  4. Why is mental handicap not always visible?
  5. Mental handicap is nowadays usually called ‘Learning Difficulty’. Why do you think this is?
  6. Why do you think ‘normal’ people often find it difficult to cope with mentally handicapped people?
  7. In the past, what used to happen to people with learning difficulties?
  8. What was bad about this?
  9. What tends to happen to people with learning difficulties now?
  10. Why is this better?
  1. What did JeanVanier say about mentally handicapped people?

a) Copy out his words. (page 91)

b) Why do you think he says that mentally handicapped people can be an inspiration to others? Do you agree with his point of view?

  1. Learning Difficulties and Mental Illness

Make sure that you know the difference between Learning Difficulty (Mental Handicap) and Mental Illness. Give an example of each one and say how they are different.

Caring for the Dying 3

Roman Catholic Christianity page 75

  1. The Hospice Movement

Answer the questions.
  1. What is a hospice?
  2. Why are so many Christians involved in the hospice movement?
  3. Name three Christians who work with people who are dying.
  4. Give the name of a hospice.
  5. What do hospices try to do to help people who are dying?
  6. Why do Christians in the hospice movement think it is right to help people have dignity in their last days?
  7. Some people think that if someone is dying they should not be told, in case they lose hope. Do you agree with this? (Say why)
  1. Giving bad news

Imagine that you are a doctor. You find out that a young person, who is one of your patients, is dying. In the form of a play, write out the conversation you have with that person.

  1. Hospice Poster

A hospice is having a fund-raising event. Design a poster for the event. It must:

  1. advertise the event
  2. explain a little about the work of the hospice.

The Sacrament of the Sick 4

Roman Catholic Christianity pages 42-43

  1. Write out the meanings of these words

Anointing

Unction

  1. The Sacrament of the Sick in the Bible

a) Jesus told the disciples to lay hands on the sick.
Fill in the gaps of the passage. (Mark 16:17-18)

 

Jesus said: ‘These___________________ signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will___________________ speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink___________________ deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on___________________ sick people, and they will get well.’

b) James 5:14-15 tells how the first Christians anointed the sick. The quotation on page 42 has a mistake in it. Can you find the mistake?

Copy out the passage (use file paper).

 

  1. The Sacrament of the Sick

Answer these questions.
  1. What is the purpose of the sacrament of the sick?
  2. Who can receive the sacrament of the sick?
  3. When people receive this sacrament do they expect to be healed? If not, what do they expect?
  4. What is the main thing that happens in the sacrament?
  5. Who carries out this act?
  6. Who, according to the Church, are responsible for the ministry to the sick?
  7. Name two other ways in which Christians can care for the sick.
  8. If someone you knew (a catholic) was very sick, would you want them to receive the sacrament of the sick? (Say why)
  1. The Order of Service

What happens in the Sacrament of the Sick? Write a list of what happens.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

 

  1. Prayer for the Sick

Write a prayer for the sick (or, if you prefer, copy one out).

 

 

  1. Weakness

Pope John Paul said ‘Weakness is a creative part of human living’.

What do you think this means?

Do you agree?

Stories of Healing 5

Jesus and Healing

There are many stories of Jesus healing people. These stories show:

    1. that Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God
    2. that God cares about people who are sick.

For Christians, Sickness is not a good thing, but often there are good things which can come from sickness.

 

  1. Questions

Answer the questions.

  1. What do the stories about Jesus healing people show?
  2. For Christians, is sickness always a bad thing?
  3. Do you agree with the Christian point of view about sickness? (say why)
  1. The Story of the Paralysed Man Mark 2:1-12

The people of Jesus time thought that people were disabled because they had sinned: in this story Jesus shows he can heal and forgive sins.

Read the passage then answer the questions.

  1. Where did Jesus go back to?
  2. Who did the four men bring to Jesus?
  3. Why couldn’t they get in to see him?
  4. How did they solve the problem?
  5. What did Jesus say to the paralysed man?
  6. Why did he say this to him?
  7. What did the teachers of the law think when they heard what Jesus said?
  8. How did Jesus prove that he has authority to forgive sins?
  9. What did the people say when they saw what happened?
  10. In your file, draw a picture to illustrate this story about Jesus healing someone.

3. The Story of the Centurion’s Servant Luke 7:1-10

Read this story and fill the gaps.

A Centurion is a Roman Officer. He and his servant were not Jews, but they did believe in the power of Jesus. This story shows Jesus’ power and how people could believe in him.

1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the___________________ people, he went to Capernaum.

2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was___________________ sick and about to die.

3 When the___________________ officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant.

4 They came to___________________ Jesus and begged him earnestly, "This man really deserves your help.

5 He loves our people and he himself built a___________________ synagogue for us."

6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, "Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I do not___________________ deserve to have you come into my house,

7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the___________________ order, and my servant will get well.

8 I, too, am a man placed under the___________________ authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it."

9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned round and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, I have never found___________________ faith like this, not even in Israel!"

10 The___________________ messengers went back to the officer’s house and found his servant well.

Use these words

authority, order, deserve, faith, synagogue, messengers, officer, Jesus, sick, people.
  1. Picture

Draw a cartoon strip of the story of the healing of the centurion’s servant.

5. Answer the questions.

  1. In both stories it is important that people have faith. Why do you think that was important?
  2. What do you think the healing stories tell us about Jesus’ feelings for sick and disabled people?
  3. Do you believe the healings really took place? (Give reasons for your answer).

Life after death: Heaven 6

Read Roman Catholic Christianity p 26-27, especially ‘What is heaven?’

Read this

Catholics believe that everyone should try their best to follow God in their lives. Death is not the end. Catholics believe that it is the beginning of a new life. If someone has tried to follow God in their lives and is sorry for anything they have done wrong, then Catholics believe God will welcome them into heaven.

No one goes automatically to heaven. God decides who goes to heaven.

1. Complete the sentences
  1. Catholics believe death …
  2. If someone has led a good life, God …
  3. God decides …

2. What is heaven like?

Read the section on heaven on page 26 and the top of page 27, then finish the sentences.

  1. St Paul wrote: ‘Now we see in a mirror …
  2. St Thomas Aquinas wrote: ‘God alone can …
  3. The Catechism says: ‘Heaven is the ________________ end and fulfilment of the ___________________ human longings, the state of supreme, definitive ___________________.
  4. St John wrote: ‘ We are God’s children now; we do not yet know what we shall be when …

3. What I think heaven is like?

What do you think heaven may be like? Finish the sentences to give your opinion

I think heaven looks like …

 

 

 

 

 

I think that people in heaven …

 

 

 

 

 

I think heaven will be good if …

 

 

 

 

 

4. My picture of heaven

Design a poster which shows your idea of what heaven is like.

Life after Death: Hell 7

 

 

Life after Death: Purgatory 8

Time to Live page 300

Read this

God wants everyone to live with him forever in love. God wants to free people from anything that keeps them separate from God.

Very few people are all good or all bad. Most people try to do good, but they do things against God. God wants to help these people to live with him in heaven.

Purgatory is the name for the way that God purifies (makes clean) people after death so that they can join him in heaven.

Purgatory is a sort of waiting room for heaven.

We should pray for souls in purgatory so that they may get to heaven quickly.

Finish the sentences

God wants everyone …

Very few people are …

Most people try to …

But most people do …

Purgatory is the name for …

We should pray for …

When I had to wait

Most people hate waiting for this things, but some things are worse waiting for than others.

On file paper write about a time you had to wait for something for a long time. Say how the waiting felt, and how you felt when the waiting was over.

You can draw a picture go with what you write.

What might Purgatory look like?

Draw a picture which shows what purgatory might look like.

 

What I believe 9

In the last few weeks we have been thinking about the Catholic idea of life after death - about Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Now is the time for you to think about your beliefs, about life after death and some other things.

Think about this carefully, then fill in the boxes below. In the second box put Yes, No, or Don’t know.

Do you believe in:

Subject

do you?

Why?

Alien abduction?

    

Luck?

    

Life after death?

    

Reincarnation?

    

Heaven?

    

Hell?

    

Purgatory?

    

E Now, on file paper, write down what you believe about life after death.

The Sanctity of Human Life 10

Read this

The Catholic Church teaches that Human Life is Sacred. This means that life is a gift from God. God is the Lord of Life. No one may take the life of another person.

Human life is precious from the first moment that it begins. This means that the Church teaches that murder, abortion and euthanasia are always wrong.

Finish the sentences

According to the Catholic Church, Human Life …

No one has power over life, only …

Taking life is …

As soon as it begins, human life …

These are always wrong …

Life lived to the full

Catholics believe God wants us to live our lives to the full. How do you think we make the most of life? Add words to the spider diagram to give your opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Destroyed or Spoilt

There are many ways in which life is spoilt, hurt or destroyed. One example is war. Another is terrorism. Use the spider diagram below to copy these words and add any other thoughts of your own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Sacred

Catholics believe that Human Life is Sacred. This is called the

The Sanctity of Human Life

Use these words to design a poster, banner or leaflet to show what you think this means.

Euthanasia: Right or Wrong? 11

Read this

Euthanasia means ‘good death’. It is the name given to the idea that it is all right to end someone’s life if they are in pain or if the quality of their life is very poor.

Voluntary Euthanasia means that the person who is suffering asks to die.

Involuntary Euthanasia means that the person who is suffering does not or cannot ask to die. Voluntary Euthanasia is against the law in this country, but it is allowed in Holland and in part of Australia.

Answer the questions

Euthanasia is …

Voluntary Euthanasia is …

Involuntary Euthanasia …

Euthanasia is against the law…

Euthanasia is allowed in …

For or Against?

What reasons can you think of for or against Euthanasia? Make a list of them here.

In favour or Euthanasia

Against Euthanasia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

What would you do?

Here are some situations in which people might think Euthanasia would be a sensible thing to do. What would you do?

Read through the cases then write what you think should happen. Would Euthanasia for these people be a good thing? Why?

  1. An old lady has no relatives and is now very confused about the world around her. She doesn’t recognise anybody.
  2. A teenager has had a very bad road accident and will not be able to use his arms or legs again.
  3. A woman of 30 has got cancer and is very sick. The doctors tell her that she will die in three years. She is already in a lot of pain.
  4. A child falls from a tree while he is playing and has a very bad head injury. The doctors say he will probably be like a baby for the rest of his life.

.

Euthanasia: The Church’s Teaching 12

Roman Catholic Christianity pages 108-109

Read this

The Catholic Church teaches that Euthanasia is wrong. Life is a gift from God. Only God may decide when a life should end. It is wrong to do anything that will deliberately end a life. Murder is wrong. Abortion is wrong. Euthanasia is wrong.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: ‘We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.’

Fill the gaps

The Catholic___________________ Church teaches that Life is a___________________ gift from God. It is wrong to do anything that will___________________ deliberately end a life. This means that ending someone’s life if they are in pain is___________________ always wrong.

The Catechism of the___________________ Catholic Church says: ‘We are___________________ stewards, not owners, of the life God has___________________ entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.’

Use these words:

Church, entrusted, stewards, Catholic, always, deliberately, gift

Answer the questions on file paper

  1. What does the Catholic Church teach about Euthanasia?
  2. Why does the Church teach this?
  3. If someone is dying and in great pain, how could a Catholic comfort them?

Other activities

  1. On page 109 of Roman Catholic Christianity it gives Five reasons which the Catechism of the Catholic gives against Euthanasia. Copy these five reasons onto file paper for your files
  2. In Holland it has been said that badly disabled babies should be killed. Write a letter to a newspaper against the idea from a Catholic point of view.

Abortion: Right or Wrong? 13

Introducing Moral Issues pages 76 -77

Read the chapter above, then answer the questions.

 

  1. What is an Abortion?
  2. The 1967 Abortion Act allowed who to carry out an abortion?
  3. For a legal abortion, what do two doctors have to agree about?
  4. Copy out and complete this sentence in your files:
    Abortion may be carried out if the pregnancy is no longer than …
  5. Copy out and complete this sentence in your files:
    Abortion may be carried out if there is a risk to …
  6. Write out three reasons which people give against abortion.
  7. Write out three reasons which people give in favour of abortion.
  8. Copy this into your file:

Since the first days of Christianity, the Church has said that abortion is very wrong. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception."

Human Life is a gift from God, and must be protected. It is wrong to take a life through abortion.

  1. Poster Activity
    Design a poster for an organisation which is against abortion.

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