Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies

Unit 8.2
Religion, Environment
and Medical Issues

Key Words
Global Warming: The increase the temperature of the Earths
atmosphere.
Natural Resources: Naturally occurring materials which can be utilised by
humans.
Creation: The act of creating the universe, or the universe which has
been created.
Environment: The surroundings on which plants and animals live and on
which they depend to continue living.
Stewardship: Looking after something on behalf of another so that it can
be passed back or on to the next generation of stewards.
Conservation: Protecting and preserving natural resources and the
environment.
Artificial Insemination: Injecting semen into the uterus (womb) by
artificial methods.
Embryo: A fertilised egg in the first eight weeks after conception.
Infertility: Not being able to have children.
In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF): The method of fertilising an egg in a test
tube.
Surrogacy: An arrangement where a woman bears a child for another
woman.
Organ Donation: Giving organs to be used in transplant surgery.

Global Warming
Twenty of last thirty years have been
recorded as the warmest years since
records began. And it looks like the Earth
is continuing to get warmer.
The expected average temperature
rise of just 20c by 2050 will lead to an increased rainfall of around
20% in Britain. In addition to this, sea levels will rise due to the
polar ice caps melting. This could lead to coastal regions being lost,
whilst Mediterranean countries such as Spain could become
deserts.

Possible Causes of Global Warming

1. The Greenhouse Effect
The burning of fossil fuels (gas, coal and oil) produces carbon
dioxide. This produces a barrier in the atmosphere rather like
the glass in a greenhouse so that the heat from the sun can get
through, but cannot get back out again. Many scientists believe
that this is causing the Earth to warm up. This is often called
global warming.

Possible Causes of Global Warming

2. Natural Climate Change
Some scientists say the climate
change is simply part of the natural
cycle of the planet. They say the
hottest periods over the past 10,000
years were before humans started
producing carbon emissions.
They say if global warming was due
to human activity the troposphere
(the Earths atmosphere 10-15km up)
would be warming quicker than
ground level, and its not.
They also state that nature naturally
produces more C02 emissions than
humans ever will.

3. Solar Activity
Some scientists claim that natural
radiation from the sun is the cause.
They say solar flares cause there
to be less clouds and so more of the
suns heat warms the Earth.
They also doubt humans are the
cause as temperatures dropped
after WWII whilst carbon dioxide
levels rose rapidly.

The Threat of Pollution

1. Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels such as coal and
oil releases sulphuric and nitric acid. These
pollutants go into the atmosphere and change
the rain water in clouds making it so acidic
that it can burn things when it comes to Earth. Buildings and
forests are being destroyed by acid rain produced by the UK
burning fossil fuels.

The Threat of Pollution

2. Radioactive Pollution
Nuclear power stations do not produce carbon dioxide, but do
produce nuclear waste which takes thousands of years to be safe.
Waste is buried without knowing if the storage boxes will be able to
contain it safely for this length of time. When living things come
into contact with excess radiation, they can be killed, get cancer or
have seriously ill offspring.

The Threat of Pollution

3. Eutrophication
An excess of nitrates, nitrites and phosphates in
rivers is leading to a lack of oxygen and an increase
in aquatic plants, which is causing fish to die and
poisons to enter water supplies. This is caused by
fertilisers being washed into streams, sewage
pollution, and the lack of trees to soak up the
nitrogen. This could lead to major health problems
for humans such as septicaemia.

The Threat of Pollution

4. Human Waste
Human causes of pollution include things such as
sewage, rubbish and litter. Sewage needs to be
treated before it is safe to enter the water system
again it carries hundreds of diseases and can cause
eutrophication. Billions of tons of rubbish is dumped
every day to rot in the ground giving off toxic gases,
and litter has been identified as the main cause of
the increase in the UK rat population to around 70
million.

The Environment: Secular Analysis

There are many conflicting arguments about how to deal with
environmental problems, even amongst scientists.
1. Government Action:
Set carbon emission
limits on cars, heavier
tax for those who use the
roads more and
unnecessarily. Signing up
to the Kyoto Protocol
to cut greenhouse
gas emissions unlike the USA who
refused to as it
would affect the
American way of
life and China and India
who refused as it would
stand in the way of their
own industrial progress.

2. Alternative Lifestyles:
Some people only use natural
products such as cotton or wool,
eat organic food, and ride bikes
instead of driving cars. If we all
lived this way there would be no
environmental problems.

3. Science and Technology

There are now several
alternative ways of making
electricity which do not produce
carbon dioxide or nuclear waste.
Car manufacturers
are looking at water,
sugar cane and
electric batteries as
alternatives forms of
power.

Most cars are now made of up

to 75% recycled material. Better
efficiency means it would take
50 small cars built in 2007 to
produce the same pollution as 1
small car in 1977. Although the

number of cars
will

be higher
pollutants
emitted from
cars
have from
Scientists are using will
chemicals
reduced
by things
plants rather than oil
to produce
75% by 2010
such as plastics.

Natural Resources
Natural resources can be divided into two main types:
Renewable Resources:
Resources that can be
used over and over again
because they renew
themselves naturally.
Renewable resources
usually produce little or no
pollution.

Non-Renewable
Resources:
Resources that can only
be used once. NonRenewable resources
disappear once they are
used and often cause
pollution in their use.

Wind

Water/Wave

Oil

Natural Gas

Solar

Fertile Land

Iron

Coal

Oil Seed Rape/Sugar Cane

Tin

Copper

Soft Woods

Uranium

Hard Wood

These cause no problems

to
the environment but are

Use of these creates problems

as
they become more scarce and

Creation and the Environment

Because God made the
Earth,

the Earth belongs to

God.

And God said, Let there

be... ...and there was...
...and God saw that it was
good...
...there was
evening, there
was morning, the th day.
(Genesis
(Genesis 1:1-31)
1:1-31)

Christianity teaches that

God created the universe in such a
way that it has produced an
environment perfectly suited for
human life.

Genesis 1 & 2 state that God appointed

humanity as stewards of His creation. As a
result, most Xians feel they have a
responsibility to look after the environment
on behalf of God.

Stewardship of the Environment

This factory refines coal from its mountain top open cast
mine.

Q. Should a Christian fight for the closure of

this factory?

Stewardship includes a responsibility for humans

too. Shutting down this factory could put
thousands of people out of work, affecting the
lifestyle of whole communities.

Stewardship of the Environment

Stewardship:
Stewardship:
Christians
Looking after
Looking after
believe that with
something so that
something so that
authority comes
it can be passed
it can be passed
responsibility for
on to the next
on to the next
Gods creation
generation.
generation.
As stewards many Christians today feel

They should
leave the
Earth in a
better state
than they
received it
by reducing
pollution and
preserving
resources.

They should
share the
Earths
resources
helping LEDCs
(less
economically
developed
countries)
without causing

God said let us

make man in our
own image to
have dominion
over all living
things and
God told man to
rule over all the
earth.
1:26 (Genesis
God will judge
30)
them not only on
their faith but how
they lived. Is their
lifestyle
environmentally
aware? Do they
actively support
environmental
and humanitarian

Islam and the Created Environment

Islam teaches that the universe and everything in
it was created by God as a place perfectly suited
to human life.
The Quran states: The sun and moon follow
courses exactly computed; And the herbs and the
trees both alike bow in adoration He has set
up the balance in order that you may not break
the balance. Surah 55:5-8
The universe
Everything
There is a
was created
is created
balance in
by one God
by God so
creation so
and as such
humans
humans must
the whole of
must respect
work to maintain
creation has a
Gods creation
the ecological
unity, a
and treat it
stability put in
common bond,
with care.
place by God

Islam and the Created Environment

The Quran states: Behold thy Lord said to the
angels, I will create a vice-gerent on earth. And he
taught Adam the nature of all things. Surah 2:30
Islam teaches that God
created Adam as his
Khalifah (vice-gerent;
someone who looks after
things on your behalf) or
steward of creation.
The Shariah (Muslim Law)
and Ummah (Muslim
Community) teaches a
respect for all of Gods
creation

Islam teaches that God

created humans as his
stewards (Khalifahs) of
the Earth. He showed
people how to look
after the Earth in the
Quran.
Life is a test and God
will judge Muslims on
their faith and actions,
including how well they
looked after the world.

Medical Treatment for

Infertility
Around 1 in 7 couples (14%)
in the UK have problems
being able to conceive a child.
There are many different
factors involved in becoming
pregnant and if there is a
fault in any factor at any
stage, then infertility can
occur. Infertility is the
inability to conceive
children naturally. On July
25th 1978, Louise Brown,
the worlds first baby
produced using IVF
was born. Today,
around 6000 babies
are born every year in
the UK as a result of IVF
treatment. However, IVF
only has a 15% success rate
and can cost around 2,500
for every attempt.

Importance of Infertility Treatment

Infertility is an increasing issue in the UK with

around 12-14% of couples unable to conceive.

Male infertility is a particular problem with around

1.5m men in the UK experiencing fertility problems.

in 2007, 12% of all births in the UK were as a result

of fertility treatment - this shows how important it
is to many thousands of couples.

It is part of human nature to want to have a child, it

is how humanity continues. Many people suffer from
depression and other mental health issues due to
infertility.

Any child born using DI (donor

insemination) since 1st April 2005,
now has the legal right, once 18, to
discover who their genetic parents
are.

Methods of Infertility Treatment

IVF (In-vitro
fertilisation): when the
egg from the woman is
fertilised outside the
womb using either the
husbands or a donors
sperm and then replaced
in the womb
All methods of fertility
treatment and cases of
experimentation in the UK
are monitored by the
Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority

Embryo Donation:
When both egg and sperm
from donors are
fertilised using IVF and
the inserted into the
womans womb.

HFEA

AIH (Artificial Insemination by

Husband):
When sperm from the husband is
inserted into his wife by mechanically
means.
AID (Artificial Insemination by Donor):
When sperm from a donor, other than
the husband, is inserted into the woman
by mechanically means.

Egg Donation:
When an egg is donated by
another woman, fertilised using
IVF by the husbands sperm and
then placed in the wifes womb.
Surrogacy:
When the egg and sperm of a couple are
fertilised by IVF then placed in another
womans womb. Or, the sperm of a husband is
artificially inseminated into another woman to
have the baby for them. The baby is handed
over at birth.

Christianity
and
Infertility
And God blessed them saying to the man and
the woman;
Treatment
be fruitful and increase in number. Genesis
Catholics bans all fertility
1:28
treatment involving medical
technology.

God has given a natural way for a husband and wife to

conceive and it is for God alone to decide if a couple should
have a child or not.
IVF involves fertilising several eggs, some of which are
destroyed or used for experimentation, this is like abortion.
God intended procreation through intercourse, fertility
treatment bypasses this. It also involves masturbation
which is classed as a sin in Catholicism
Anything that disassociates the husband and wife in
creating a child, or introduces another person into the
process, is gravely immoral.

Most Other Christian Churches allow

IVF & AIH.

God has given humanity the technology to provide infertile

married couples with a child and create a family. This is
one of the purposes of marriage.
The egg and sperm are both from the husband and wife
so the baby will be the biological child of the parents.
The concept of Double Effect allows for some embryos (up
to 14 days old)
to be destroyed if the motive is to bring
new life from embryos.
Although other methods are not banned, they could lead
to identity issues in the child or legal issues for parents
which do not help family life.

All Christians would encourage childless couples to adopt.

Islam
and
Infertility
Most Muslims will accept IVF & AIH for couples having fertility problems.
Treatment
All other forms of embryo
IVF & AIH is simply
technology are banned:

seen as the use of

These methods
medical technology
deny the childs
bring
to
about family
The discarded
right to know its
life which
embryos
are is
not
natural parents. This
encouraged
in
yet
foetuses and
is essential within
Islamic
life.
their
destruction
Islamic religion and
The
egg and
can be
justified
culture.
are
becausesperm
it is not
both
from
taking life
and
thethe Any form of egg or
intentionhusband
is to giveand
sperm donation is
Adoption
has specific rules including: the child
so
the
childlesswife
couples
regarded
asfull
adultery,
retains its biological
parents name,
adoption
baby willis banned
be andaadopted
children
arewithin
not
children
grievous
sin

Transplant

Transplant surgery is using healthy organs from a

donor to replace a dying or defective organ in a
patient with the result of extending their life
and/or
adding
totypes
their quality
life.
There
are two
main
of organofdonation:

Surgery

Deceased Donors: This is where people who have died have either previously given
permission for their organs to be used, or, relatives of the deceased person give their
permission.
Living Donors: this is where living people donate parts of their body they can live without
such as bone marrow and a single kidney.

Transplant surgery is
Transplant surgery can
proven method of both
bring life out of death
saving lives (heart and
and joy out of sorrow,
liver) and improving lives
rather than being
(cornea and kidney).
buried or burnt.
ULTRA (Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory
Authority)
is a government organisation set up to monitor
live transplants and preventing the selling of

In 2007, 7234 people

were on the waiting
list for vital organ
donations. However,
in 2006 only 3000
transplants took
place.
In a survey, 90% of
the public were in
favour of transplant
surgery yet less
than 50% have
registered.
One third of families
refuse to give
permission for
organs of deceased
relatives to be used,
even though the

Christianity & Transplant

Most Christians are supportive of
transplant surgery.
Surgery
Christians who
Christians who
Jesus teaching
However, they
believe in the
believe in the
of Love your
would be
immortality of
resurrection of
neighbour as
against selling
the soul believe
the body
yourself and
organs as this
the body is not
believe they
the Golden Rule
can lead to the
needed after
will have a
are both in
exploitation of
death and so
transformed
keeping with
the poor (e.g. A
organs can be
body not
the ideals of
father selling a
used to help
subject to
transplant
kidney to feed
the living.
physical
needs.
surgerybut not those
his family).
However,
some Christians
accept
live transplants
from
deceased donors.
They would see
Humans do not
Using organs
However, they
the vital
have the right
from living
would be
organs,
to act like God
people does
against selling
particularly the
and using the
not affect the
organs as this
heart, as part
organs of a
belief in the
can lead to
of Gods
dead person to
sanctity of life
medical
creation of the
give life to
and so can be
assistance only
individual
another is
used to fulfil
available for
person and so
usurping the
the teachings
the rich and not

Christianity & Transplant

Some Christians are against transplant surgery
Surgery
It raises a problem
On August 8 2000 two girls named Jodie
about when organs
should be harvested
(taken) e.g. A heart
needs to be still
beating when
Usingremoved.
organs of one
person to keep another
alive could be going
against the will of God.
God may see that
persons time as being
up.(17:11) is
In Leviticus
says the life of a being
is in the blood. Some
groups, such as
Jehovahs Witnesses,
will not accept blood or
organ transplants as it
is seen as passing or
mixing life from one

th

and Mary were born in London to a Maltese

couple. They were conjoined (Siamese)
twins. As the girls were sharing vital
organs they could not survive if they
remained in this state. Therefore, the
doctors at the hospital wanted to separate
the twins. The Roman Catholic Church
attempted to gain a High Court ruling to
block the separation seeing it as killing one
child so their organs could be used by the
other, this would be considered an evil act.
The family, who were also Catholic, did not
want the separation to take place either.
The Catholic Church offered to look after
the girls and their family in a hospice in
Rome until the girls died, which was
expected to be around six months later.
The High Court agreed with the doctors
and the separation took place on 7th

Islam & Transplant Surgery

Most Muslims are against transplant surgery

Shariah Law
The Quran states
Like Christians
teaches that
that god has
and Jews, Muslims
nothing should be
believe in the
created the body of
removed from the
Sanctity of Life,
a person so to take
body after death
meaning, only
parts from one
(even for a postGod
body and put them
mortem) as
has the right to
in another is to
decide how and
Muslims believe
take on the role of
when a person
they will need all
God (shirk). This is
should
liveSome
or die.
However,
their bodily organs
considered as the
Muslims will
if they are to be
greatest
sin in
allow
transplant using organs from a living
donor.
resurrected
to face
Islam.
lastLaw Council of
InAllah
1995 on
the the
Muslim
Islamic religious lawyers agree that
theday.
United Kingdom, issued a fatwa
Islam aims to do good and not cause
(a legal ruling based on Islamic law
made by senior Islamic figures). This
stated that it was acceptable for
living donations to be made and

a burden.
Therefore, if a close relative was
dying and a transplant would save
them, then it should be done, just as

Revision Checklist
Key Words and meanings.
What is global warming?
Three possible causes of global warming.
Four forms of pollution.
Possible solutions to pollutions.
Natural resources.
Christianity and stewardship of creation.
Islam and stewardship of creation.
Infertility treatment.
Christian view on infertility treatment.
Islamic view on infertility treatment.
Transplant surgery.
Christian view on transplant surgery.
Islamic view on transplant surgery.

Notes, Quotes & Other Key Terms

Questions to ask from revision

What Point Are You Wanting To Put Across?

Write a sentence to make your point repeating the statement can help

Point
because...

We can see
this by...

This reason
for this is...

An example
of this is...

Evidence of
this is...

What Example Or Evidence Do You Have That Could Prove This Point?
Good examples include quotes or opinions from religious people, teaching, groups or
holy writings or summaries from any of these.

For
example...

Evidence

We know this
This
suggests...

From this
people might
think...
What this
means is...

Therefore...
As a result
of this...

If you are expected to give more than one reason, make your point once but then give evidence & explanation twice

How Does This Example or Evidence Prove Your Point?

This section is most important it is the how and why of your whole answer.

Explanation

This shows
us...

 Phillip Allen