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Religious views on matters of life
AIM: To understand the religious views on
organ transplants & blood transfusions.
Starter:
Complete Quiz on sheet
Christian teachings…
"Do onto
others as you
would wish
them do onto
you." Matthews
Gospel
What about fertility treatment?
“Love thy
Neighbour”
Matthews Gospel
What would this
mean when it
comes to organ
donation?
• Throughout his life Jesus taught people
to love one another and he proved his love
for the world upon the cross.
• It seems in keeping with this that
Christians consider organ donation as a
genuine act of love and a way of following
Jesus’ example.
• Christians feel it to be a generous and
loving thing to do!
Jehovah’s Witnesses…
•Jehovah's Witnesses are a
branch of Christianity.
They do not agree with any
blood transfusions…
Jehovah’s Witnesses
believe that their life is in
their blood and they
therefore should not take
anyone else’s. This has
resulted in several Jehovah
Witnesses dying in
situations that required a
life saving blood
transfusion.
“For the life of a
creature is in the
blood”
Leviticus 17:11
They would agree with
organ transplants as long
as the blood is drained
from the organ
beforehand. These are
called “bloodless
transplants”.
Buddhism
• Key teaching in Buddhism = Metta (loving
kindness).
• For Buddhists, any action is judged on the
intentions behind it. If things are done for
good then a Buddhist would agree with them.
• Can you think of any times when Buddhists
would be against organ transplants?
1. Explain religious attitudes to
transplant surgery. (3 marks)
2. You are a Dr trying to help a sick child.
Her parents are Jehovah Witnesses.
How do you handle this?
• Write out a conversation between you
and the parents.
FERTILITY TREATMENT
CHRISTIAN VIEW
• Christians believe that God created all life and that humans have a special
relationship with him “Before you were I formed you in the womb, I knew you”
(Jeremiah 1:5) – conception is part of God’s plan.
• Christians regard children as a gift from God. The purpose of marriage is to “be
fruitful and multiply” (have children) and to provide a stable and loving
environment for raise a family. Some Christians believe it’s good to help couples
have children and so accept IVF and AIH.
• Christians do not agree with AID (Artificial Insemination by Donor), IVF (InVitro Fertilisation) or surrogacy because this introduces a third person in to the
relationship and so can be considered being unfaithful (“Do not commit
adultery”).
• The Roman Catholic Church believe that life begins at conception (when the
sperm meets the egg) and so do not agree with spare embryos being created,
such as through IVF, as the embryos are either experimented on or thrown
away, which could be considered murder (“Do not commit murder”).
BUDDHIST VIEW
• Buddhists are expected to take full personal responsibility for everything they
do and for the consequences that follow.
• Allows all forms of IVF – shows Metta to those who are infertile.
• Some do not agree to spare embryos being experimented on or destroyed as life
begins at conception and the First Precept teaches ‘Do not harm others’. They
also practise Ahimsa.
• Others believe that an embryo does not possess the five skandhas (form,
feelings, perceptions, thoughts and consciousness), so destruction of embryos is
not an issue.
• Destroying an embryo destroys the reincarnated foetus’ chance of gaining more
good karma and chance at reaching enlightenment in this life.
GENETIC ENGINEERING:
CHRISTIAN VIEW
• Many Christians are concerned that genetic engineering might make
irreversible changes to God’s creation.
• Roman Catholics believe that scientists could become destroyers of
creation through genetic engineering.
• Other Christians believe that God is the creator but that His creation
is ongoing. They believe genetic engineering could be used in a positive
way to make the world more just and to help everyone have good health.
• Methodists accept genetic engineering if it is used to help diseases but
are concerned about what might happen if the wrong people use it.
BUDDHIST VIEW
• * Believe in Right Intention (Eightfold Path). If the intention is good
e.g. to save lives with the removal of hereditary diseases from DNA,
good karma will be received.
• Dalai Lama said ‘the destruction of nature is due to ignorance, greed
and a lack of respect for the earth’s living things’ – changing nature for
selfish reasons could be seen as disrespecting nature.
• Same arguments as above with regards destruction of embryos.
CLONING AND SAVIOUR SIBLINGS:
CHRISTIAN VIEW
• It is not accepted by most.
• Anglican (Church of England) Christians don’t oppose it as long as it is
used responsibly, e.g. not cloning humans.
• Roman Catholics believe cloning a human would threaten individuality.
God gave humans uniqueness.
• Some Christians are concerned that children cloned could be seen as a
product of technology rather than a gift from God.
• They also believe that cloning a child for ‘spare parts’ is unacceptable –
sanctity of life.
BUDDHIST VIEW
• Same arguments as above.
• Metta – to help save a life, however you must consider suffering caused
• Always link back to Buddhist belief about Karma and rebirth and how
their actions affect their ultimate goal of achieving enlightenment (to
end rebirth and reach a ‘state’ of contentment and peace).
ORGAN DONATION AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS:
CHRISTIAN VIEW
• Most Christians support organ, blood and tissue donation. The Brethren
Conference 1993 said “We have the opportunity to help others out of the
love of Christ through the donation of organs and tissues.”
• For Roman Catholics, this type of donation is supported as an act of charity.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses allow transplant surgery but not blood transfusions.
Leviticus 17:10-11 says “The life of everything is in the blood” and so all
blood must be removed from organs and tissues before being transplanted.
BUDDHIST VIEW
• There are no rules in Buddhism for or against organ donation, but central to
Buddhism is a wish to relieve suffering (causing harm) – following Metta,
Right Action, karma, 1st Precept – as long as it is done with the Right
Intention – not for personal gain or greed.
• Some see this act of generosity (alms/charity) to have positive
ramifications for their karma.
• Some Buddhists believe that consciousness may stay in the human body for
some time after the breath has stopped and so until the consciousness
leaves the body it is important the body remains undisturbed. They may
have concerns that an operation to remove organs, which takes place so
soon after death may damage their consciousness and cause harm to their
future lives.