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NSWStudies of ReligionQuick questions
Christianity Depth Study
Quick questions on Christian ethical teachings on bioethics: HSC Studies of Religion
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is sources of Christian ethical authority?Show answer
Christian ethical teaching is derived from several sources, which different traditions weight differently:
What is the central principle?Show answer
The foundational bioethical principle is the sanctity of life: human life is sacred because humans are created in the image of God (imago Dei) and life is a gift from God. This grounds Christian caution about practices that begin, manipulate or end human life.
What is abortion?Show answer
Many Christians, especially the Catholic Church, teach that life begins at conception and that deliberate abortion is gravely wrong because it ends an innocent human life. Some Protestant traditions allow more scope for individual conscience and for circumstances such as risk to the mother.
What is iVF and reproductive technology?Show answer
Views vary. The Catholic Church raises concerns about procedures that separate procreation from the marital act and about the creation and destruction of surplus embryos. Many Protestant traditions are more accepting, weighing the good of helping couples conceive.
What is embryonic stem-cell research?Show answer
Traditions that hold life begins at conception generally oppose research that destroys embryos, while supporting ethically sourced alternatives such as adult stem cells.
What is euthanasia?Show answer
Most Christian traditions oppose intentionally ending life, holding that suffering should be met with palliative care and compassion rather than deliberate killing, while accepting that aggressive treatment may sometimes be withdrawn when it is futile.
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