What does it mean to be human? If you were on a life boat that couldn’t hold everyone on board how would you collectively decide who would be sacrificed? This brings out discussion about the value of a human being and the values that we hold to. Those that get to stay in the boat do so because they are deemed to have value, they are worth saving. So why did everyone say John Howard had to go?

Because they didn’t like him. Steve Wonder got to say because it would be pretty mean chucking a blind guy overboard. Saddam got to stay because of the reward money. A 70 year old grandfather nearly got thrown out on the basis that his life was nearly over anyway.

Academics have made attempts to define human life. The problem with any definition is that some people don’t fit. For example, unborn children (can’t contribute to society), those who are asleep (cannot articulate their self awareness) or those in a coma, or those who are frail and elderly.

One class member argued that those who are terminally ill and suffering might be better off euthanized, for their sake and their family. However, euthanizing a person involves sending them through the portal of death. Some people don’t want that to happen prematurely. Apparently, in the Netherlands some people carry cards saying they don’t want to be euthanized if they are incapacitated. Reports indicate that some elderly people are afraid that the decision will be made for them. It is a very fine line between making a choice and having a decision made for you.

I shared with the students that I believed we are made in the image of God. That we have a soul and we are valuable. And for this reason we look after the frail and the helpless.

Moving onto what the students thought about… the human race, why I am alive, death, love, the beginning of the world, where did humans come from, my purpose for being alive.

Answers were mostly from an evolutionary basis. Purpose for life was non personal, to continue our species. “To make more people, it’s not as if I’m unique so I have no purpose.

Their understanding of death is that it happens, it is inevitable. Some said that death was the end, while others weren’t sure what happened after.

Their understanding of Love: Mostly answers have been about love being a feeling someone gives you or love making you happy. However today there were two very interesting answers.

“Love is someone you would trust, care and die for.”

“Love is someone you would trust your life to.” 

These two answers demonstrate that love is more than a feeling but something of great value and it is something that we give and cherish.

What I believe about hell

One student asked me what I believed about hell and was it possible to get out of hell once a person was there. I answered that Roman Catholics believed in purgatory, a halfway between heaven and hell. It was a place whereby people paid off their debt of sin to get to heaven. But I didn’t believe that. I believed that once a person goes to hell they stay there. I was then asked what hell was like. At this point half the boys were really listening. I explained that it was a place of eternal torment, not like some say, a big party with their mates. The movie ‘Constantine’ had a go at depicting hell (it wasn’t nice). A person should not be surprised if they have rejected God all their lives to find themselves in Hell. The decisions you make in your life are so important and sometimes have eternal consequences.

What I believe about salvation

Another student then asked me what I believed about going to heaven, did a person have to be good. Salvation, I said is not based upon a person’s ability to be good, I’m a sinner. People are saved because they have faith in God, because they have asked for the forgiveness of their sins. A different student then asked whether you could murder someone and still go to heaven. I answered that there have been people on death row in America who have become Christians before they were executed. I was then asked whether you could do whatever you like and then say sorry before you die. Another student answered for me that you never know when you will die. I agreed that it was a very big gamble to take.

The importance of spirituality

Let me encourage you to consider your spirituality. We are made in the image of God, we are eternal creatures. It is important to work out what you believe about yourself, the universe and the afterlife. Check out “What we believe” on this website for more information.