Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone and I'm your RE teacher today.

I'd like to welcome you to this lesson on sanctity of life as part of a unit on religion and life.

In today's lesson, you are going to be able to explain the concept of the sanctity of life and analyse Christian teachings on it, comparing them with non-religious views.

Keywords that we'll be using today are intrinsic, sanctity of life and value.

So intrinsic means that something is valuable just because it exists regardless of its usefulness.

Sanctity of life is the belief that life is sacred or special because it was created by God or because we are each unique individuals and value is the worth, importance, or usefulness of something.

Today's lesson will take two parts.

We will be looking first at the concept of the sanctity of life and then at different views on the sanctity of life.

So let's get started looking at the concept of the sanctity of life.

Laura and Jacob are discussing the value of life.

Laura says, "Is human life valuable just because it exists?" Jacob responds, "Yes, every person has worth just by being alive.

We can't put a price on life." Laura replies, "Does that mean life should be protected at all costs?" And Jacob responds, "Yes, every life has intrinsic value, so we should do everything we can to preserve it, no matter the situation." Why is Laura's question important? Give yourself a moment.

Turn and talk to somebody nearby if you can, or you can pause and talk to me and have a think about why her question is worth asking.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready.

The word sanctity comes from Latin.

It's from the root word, sanctitas, meaning holiness or sacredness.

So sanctity of life refers to the belief that human life is sacred, and this is often understood to be because it was created by God or because we are unique individuals.

So let's check your understanding.

Which of the following describes the concept of the sanctity of life? Is it A, the standard of health, comfort and happiness or fulfilment experienced by a person or group? B, the belief that life is sacred or special because it was created by God or because we are each unique individuals? C, the level of comfort, wellbeing, happiness, and freedom from suffering that a person experiences in their life? Or D, the ability to make choices have control over one's life and live according to one's values and desires? So take a moment to reread those answers and choose the one that you think describes the concept of the sanctity of life.

Pause the video and come back when you are ready to check.

Well done if you put B.

It is the belief hat life is special or sacred because it was created by God or perhaps because people are regarded as unique.

Sanctity of life is the sacredness or intrinsic value of life.

So for many people, this comes from the fact that it was created by God.

But of course there are those who don't believe in God, but who might still regard life as having intrinsic value.

And for them it might just be about the uniqueness of individual human beings.

So it often leads to the view that life should be protected and it impacts views on issues surrounding the value of life.

Now, some people don't have absolute views on the intrinsic value of life, so that means they don't always stick to the same answer.

They might think that there are circumstances when, for example, the sanctity of life does not need to be protected.

So perhaps sometimes there might be a situation that means that life does not have to be protected, and yet most of the time they do believe that life should be protected because it has intrinsic value.

Laura says, "I think human life is valuable, but that doesn't mean it should always be protected.

What if someone is in great suffering and pain with no chance of recovery?" Looking at the scale with zero meaning life does not need to be always be protected, and 10 meaning life should always be protected.

Where would you place Laura's view? Take a moment, turn and talk to somebody nearby if you are able to, or you can pause and talk to me and then come back when you are ready to continue.

Moving on, let's your understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Someone who believes in the sanctity of life values all life equally, regardless of wellbeing or suffering.

Give yourself a little bit of time to think and also think about why.

Pause the video if you need to and then come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So well done if you put false.

Now it's an easy one to make a mistake on because people who believe in the sanctity of life do think that life is always valuable, but they often also consider the quality of life as Laura did in our last example.

So they might recognise that life is sacred, but they might also take into account someone's wellbeing and suffering and see them as important when they're making decisions about the value of life.

So for task A, I'd like you to decide which statements someone with an absolutist view on the sanctity of life would agree with.

So this is not Laura's view, where she was prepared to be flexible depending on the situation.

This is someone who thinks life should always be protected because it's sacred.

You're going to explain your choices for each statement.

Number one, life is valuable no matter the circumstances or situation.

Two, how valuable life is depends on the individual's situation.

Three, the sanctity of life means that life should always be protected.

Four, it's important to consider the context and the person's experience when deciding the value of life.

So for each statement, you're deciding whether someone with an absolutist view on the sanctity of life would agree with it, and you need to explain your choice.

So take your time, pause the video, take as long as you need, and then come back when you are ready to check your work.

So let's have a look at what you could have said.

Number one, life is valuable no matter the circumstances or situation.

You should have said that this will be someone who agrees in the absolute sanctity of life because they're saying life is valuable in all situations.

Number two, how valuable life is depends on the individual situation.

For this one, you should have said disagree, because the value of life varies in this example.

Number three, the sanctity of life means that life should always be protected.

For this one, you should have said agree because it aligns with the belief that life is sacred and the word always gives away that it's absolutist.

And number four, it's important to consider the context and the person's experience when deciding the value of life.

And for this one, you should have said disagree, because although it acknowledges the value of life, it's saying it can be influenced by external factors like someone's experiences.

So well done if you managed to spot whether those were agreeing or disagreeing with that absolutist view on the sanctity of life.

We're going to move on to the second part of our lesson now, and we're going to look at different views on the sanctity of life.

Christians try to answer questions such as "Is life's value found in its mere existence?", by consulting sources of authority such as the Bible, church teachings known as tradition, and they might also use their conscience and reason because they'd see these as gifts given by God and consider non-religious arguments as well whilst they work out what to do.

It's important to remember that Christians may interpret sources differently or emphasise one more than another.

So let's look at Bible teachings as a source of wisdom and authority.

Genesis 1:27 says "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God, he created them, male and female, he created them." This is taken from the first creation story in the Bible and it suggests that human life has intrinsic value and that it shares unique qualities with God.

It's therefore sacred and should be respected and protected.

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139 verse 13.

So this verse might suggest to Christians that God knows and values each life before birth, highlighting the sanctity of life and intrinsic worth of every individual from the moment of conception.

So very much supporting the sanctity of life.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born, I set you apart." Jeremiah one verse five.

And this verse again suggests that God creates each life with purpose and it supports belief in the sanctity of life.

So life is sacred and should be respected.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?" Now this verse is often used to highlight the idea that our bodies themselves are sacred, they belong to God, and therefore should be protected and treated with respect.

"You shall not murder." So this quotation from the 10 Commandments really highlights the sanctity of life by actually giving a rule.

It forbids intentionally taking life and therefore stresses the importance and value of human life.

Different Christian denominations have different teachings on the sanctity of life, but they generally agree that life is sacred.

So the Catholic Church teaches the intrinsic value of human life stating that it remains forever in a special relationship with the creator.

So God has that special connection with human beings.

Anglicanism teaches that life should be respected from beginning to end, and human worth should be protected in everything we do.

So as you go about your daily business, as an Anglican, you should be protecting people.

And Quaker teachings actually emphasise there's part of God in everyone.

They call this the light of God.

The sanctity of life is usually very much a religious concept, but there are non-religious perspectives who would also regard life as having some level of intrinsic value.

We're going to look at Richard Dawkins and Peter Singer who are both atheists in this example.

Now using Richard Dawkins to represent humanism, a humanist would say that life has that intrinsic value.

So it's valuable in itself because of its potential.

And Peter Singer, as an example of as sentientist, he focuses on the importance of being able to experience pleasure or pain.

Any life, and this would include animal life, that potentially can experience pleasure or pain, has that built in intrinsic value.

But for both of these scientists and philosophers, the value does not come from God.

So life is not sacred in that kind of holy way.

It's very different factors that are influencing their views.

So for a humanist, it's the potential that leads them to think that life has a level of intrinsic value.

And for a sentientist is that ability to feel pleasure and pain, which is there in every sentient being, and that's what gives life its value.

So although a sentient would say that life has intrinsic value, they certainly wouldn't agree that life is sacred or agree with the sanctity of life.

Let's check your understanding.

Give one reason why a non-religious person might think that life has intrinsic value.

Take some time, have a think about your answer, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

So you could have said a number of things.

Here are two examples.

You could have said potential, and you could have said the ability to experience pleasure and pain.

Well done if you said either of those things.

Danielle is a Roman Catholic.

She's been asked about her views on the sanctity of life.

She says, "Life is sacred because every person is created in the image of God, and this dignity must be respected and protected at all times.

We have a responsibility to uphold the sanctity of life from the moment of conception until natural death.

This means that all human life is valuable and should be treated with care and respect.

We should offer support to those in need, always striving to protect life and ensuring that it is valued." So a very clear view on the intrinsic value of life because it is created by God, in his image.

Fergus is a liberal Anglican, and he's also been asked about his view on the sanctity of life.

"For me, the sanctity of life means all life reflects the image of God and holds intrinsic value.

However, this doesn't mean I don't think there are situations when the value of life is affected by extrinsic factors such as suffering or a loss of autonomy.

I like to apply situation ethics to difficult moral dilemmas because it encourages us to act the most compassionate and loving way possible and to balance the inherent sanctity of life with the need for showing love and care." So here we've got an example of someone who does believe in the sanctity of life, but maybe isn't absolutist about that so he would be considering individual situations when making decisions about the value of life.

Tamara is a Quaker.

She has been asked about her views on the sanctity of life.

She says, "I believe that all life is sacred because everyone has a part of God within them.

This light gives each person inherent value, and that's why we treat all people with respect and dignity.

Life isn't just about existing, it's about living in peace, equality, and love.

That's why we oppose war and support non-violent ways of resolving problems. To us, sanctity of life isn't just about keeping people alive, but ensuring that life is lived meaningfully and with compassion for others." So Tamara's take is a little bit different here.

Yes, she thinks life should be protected, but she also thinks that part of that requires us to work hard on the quality of life to ensure that people are living a peaceful and dignified life.

Diane is a humanist.

She's been asked about her views on the sanctity of life.

She says, "I believe life has intrinsic value, not because of any divine source, but because it has the potential for happiness, choice, and meaningful relationships.

The meaning of life comes from pursuing what makes us happy and living according to our values.

Life has value because of its potential to be lived authentically, and so everyone should have the chance to live a fulfilling life." So she has things in common with some of those Christian views but the difference here is that God is not the source of the value of life.

Zoe is an atheist and a sentientist.

She has been asked about her views on the sanctity of life.

"As a sentientist and an atheist, I believe that the value of life comes from the ability to experience pleasure and pain and not from an inbuilt sanctity of life.

For me, the priority is to promote wellbeing for all sentient beings.

I don't see life as sacred in the way some religions do, but I recognise the importance of treating all conscious beings with care and respect." So Zoe values life.

She has this in common with humanists and with religious people, but her priority is about promoting wellbeing.

And of course, she wouldn't agree with religious people that the value of life comes from God.

We're going to check your understanding now, who is most likely to disagree with the concept of the sanctity of life? A, a Roman Catholic Christian, B, an Anglican Christian, C, a, Quaker, or D as sentientist.

Take a moment, pause the video if you need to.

Choose your answer and then come back to check when you are ready.

So well done if you put as sentientist, so like Zoe, although she does think life has value, it's not because it's got this inbuilt value from God.

Let's practise your understanding now.

I'd like you to explain two similar religious beliefs about the sanctity of life.

So this is a common skill that you have to practise at GCSE, often actually showing that although religious beliefs have differences, there are also things in common.

Now because we've just been looking at Christianity, that means we're going to explain to similar Christian beliefs.

In your answer, you must refer to one or more religious traditions.

A religious tradition means either a religion or a different branch within a religion.

You could follow this guidance, point, develop, point, develop.

So take your time to think back about what you've learned about Christian beliefs on the sanctity of life, and use the point, develop structure to write your answer.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to check.

Here's an example of what you could have written.

"In Christianity, the sanctity of life comes from the belief that life is a gift from God.

Genesis 1:27 says, "God created mankind in his own image", meaning every life is valuable because humans reflect God's image.

Another verse, Psalm 139:13 to 16 says, "You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb." This shows that life is intentionally made by God, giving it inherent value from the start." So well done.

If you manage to explain two different aspects of the Christian belief that life is sacred.

If you managed to reference the Bible even better and absolutely amazing if you've got the exact references.

For part two of our task, here is a full evaluation question.

"Human life is valuable simply because it exists".

Evaluate this statement.

In your answer, you should give reasoned arguments in support of this statement, you should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view.

You should refer to religious arguments.

You may refer to non-religious arguments, and you should reach a justified conclusion.

Now, if you were writing a full answer, you would be writing quite a lot.

Here we're gonna focus on writing a paragraph of reasoned arguments in support of this statement and as you do that, you're going to refer to religious arguments.

So in other words, based on our lesson, you are going to explain how a Christian who believes in the sanctity of life might respond.

So take some time to think back through what we've learned today.

Pause a video.

Once you've written your full paragraph and checked it through, come back and we'll have a look at what you might have written.

So looking at what you might have written, you could have said, "Human life can be seen as valuable simply because it exists, especially from a Christian perspective.

The Bible teaches that humans are created in the image of God, as stated in Genesis 1:27, "So God created mankind in his own image".

This suggests that all human life holds inherent value regardless of circumstances, as each person reflects God's likeness.

Additionally, Christians believe that life is a gift from God, and because it is given by Him, it has intrinsic worth.

The belief in the sanctity of life is supported by the commandment "You shall not murder", which underlines the importance of preserving and respecting all human life.

Therefore, from a Christian viewpoint, life is valuable in itself simply because it is a divine gift and part of God's creation." So the key points there to check you've included are phrases like "God created man in his image".

So even if you haven't referenced the exact quotation, if you've used a paraphrase and if you said it's in the Bible, then that's excellent.

And also maybe talking about some other points in the Bible such as "You shall not murder" or that "Life is a gift from God", is how Christians understand lots of the Bible teaching.

You could of course have gone into specific Christian views, so perhaps if you've mentioned Quakers and the fact that they believe every human has the light of God in them, that would really have helped with your answer as well.

Well done if you've got any of those points, there are so many different ways to approach this.

So you may have said things that are a little bit different, but equally valid.

In today's lesson on the sanctity of life, we have learned that sanctity of life means life is sacred or intrinsically valuable.

We've learned that when considering the value of life, it is possible to be absolutist in regard to the sanctity of life, or to consider extrinsic factors like suffering or autonomy.

The Bible describes humans as created in God's image and stresses the importance of preserving life.

Catholics believe life is sacred because it's created by God.

Anglicans agree, but acknowledge extrinsic factors like suffering.

And Quakers emphasise that God is in every person.

Humanist view life as valuable due to its potential.

While sentientists focus on the ability to feel pleasure and pain.

So well done today.

Thank you for your hard work in this lesson on the sanctity of life.