Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone and I'd like to welcome you to this RE lesson today on the sanctity of life in Christianity.

Today you will be able to explain the concept of the sanctity of life and analyse Christian teachings on it.

Some keywords that we'll be using are holy, image of God, sanctity of life, and value.

By holy, we mean sacred and connected to God.

By image of God, we mean the belief that humans reflect God's nature.

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

Today's lesson will form two parts.

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

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

Laura and Jacob are discussing the value of life.

Jacob says, "I think life has intrinsic value, which means every person has worth just by being alive.

We should do everything we can to preserve life no matter what the circumstances are." Laura replies, "For me, life's value is due to external factors like someone's wellbeing and happiness.

I don't think we should always do everything we can to preserve life.

If a life involves unbearable suffering, it might be kinder not to protect it." Have a think about the views expressed by Jacob and Laura.

What is the key difference between them? If you're able to pause and turn and talk to somebody nearby, please do, or you can pause and talk to me.

Rejoin when you're ready to move on.

Sanctity of life.

This means the sacredness, holiness, or intrinsic value of life.

Life is valuable because it is holy or sacred.

So it leads to views like life should be protected and it impacts on views surrounding issues to do with the value of life.

Sanctity of life is sometimes contrasted with quality of life.

Quality of life means the qualities or characteristics that a life has.

So what it is like.

The value of life in this instance is affected maybe by external factors.

So this could include physical health, mental health, relationships, personal freedom, and it might lead at times to the view that sometimes life does not need to be protected if the quality of life is low.

These accounts of the creation of life taken from Genesis, the first book of the Bible, are a source of wisdom and authority for Christians when they're thinking about the value of life.

Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, tselem, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.

'" This is the Hebrew word for image, the word tselem, and it can also be translated as representation.

It suggests that humans share certain qualities with God.

Genesis 2:7 says, "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed, Hebrew word naphach, into his nostrils, the breath of life and the man became a living being." So this word naphach is a Hebrew verb describing God breathing life into Adam, and it actually relates to the word used for living being in Hebrew.

So it suggests for human beings, there's some kind of spiritual aspect, maybe a soul to human life, and that this comes directly from God.

Give one implication of the teaching that humans are made in the image of God.

So pause the video, take your time to think about what this teaching might mean.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, human life is holy and connected with God.

Humans have value and should be treated with respect.

Humans can think, choose, and reflect God's qualities, and humans can grow spiritually and connect with God.

If you've got anything along those lines, well done.

The key point is to talk about the way they reflect or connect with God.

The word sanctity comes from Latin, from a word sanctitas, meaning holiness or sacredness.

So sanctity of life refers to the belief that human life has intrinsic value because it is sacred or holy.

And it's often understood to be because it was created by God or because we're unique individuals.

In the case of Christian teachings, it's because we are created in the image of God.

Sanctity of life is often contrasted with quality of life.

So the word quality also comes from Latin, from the word qualitas, which means a characteristic or a property.

Quality of life usually refers to the standard of health, comfort, and happiness or fulfilment that a person experiences, and it's about that overall wellbeing.

So we have sanctity of life about that intrinsic value that people are just born with, it's built-in, and quality of life, which is about how their life is going, their wellbeing, and factors that might be affecting that.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of the following describes the concept of 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, special, or holy because it is created by God or because we're 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, pause the video if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check the answer.

Well done if you put B, it is the belief that life is sacred, special, or holy, and that's usually because it was created by God.

All of the other definitions were really about the quality of life, the overall happiness or wellbeing.

Some people do not have absolute views on the intrinsic value of life.

So they might think there are circumstances when the sanctity of life does not need to be protected.

So generally speaking, they might regard life as sacred, but that view could have some flexibility.

Izzy 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?" So looking at that scale with life does not need to always be protected at zero, and life should always be protected at 10, where would you place Izzy's view? If you are able to pause the video and have a conversation with someone nearby, please do, or you can pause and talk to me, come back when you're ready to move on.

Someone with more relativist views on the sanctity of life would take quality of life into account and may think that life does not need to be protected.

So Alex says, "When someone's quality of life is poor, for example, if they are unable to make choices for themselves, it could be that protecting their life is not the kindest thing to do." So let's think about that scale again from zero to 10, with life does not need to always be protected at one end, and life should always be protected at the other, where would you place Alex's view on this scale? I wonder how close it is as well to Izzy's.

Take a moment, pause and turn and talk to someone nearby or talk to me and come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding again, someone who believes in the sanctity of life values all life equally regardless of wellbeing or suffering.

So take a moment to decide if this is true or false.

Also, have a think about why.

Pause the video when you are ready to check what you've come up with.

So well done if you put this is false, but why is it false? Well, we saw in the case of Izzy that although she argued that sanctity of life is important, she was also really taking into account quality of life, recognising that while life is holy, wellbeing and suffering can still be important in moral decisions.

So sanctity of life is not always an absolute view.

It can be relativist, which means it's flexible and it may matter more or less depending on the circumstances of someone's life.

For task A on the concept of the sanctity of life, which statements would someone with an absolutest view on the sanctity of life agree with? Explain your choices for each statement.

So remember, an absolutist always thinks life is sacred regardless of the situation.

We've just looked at how not everyone has an absolutist view, but here we are looking at the example of someone who does.

Statement 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 life is holy and should always be protected.

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

So remember, you're deciding which one's someone with an absolute view, so they're not going to change, they're not gonna be flexible, would agree with, and you also need to explain your choices for each of the statements.

So take your time, pause the video, and come back when you're ready to move on.

So you could have said for one, that they would agree, they have an absolutest view because life is valuable in all situations.

For number two, because it says it depends on the situation, you would put disagree.

Because this is saying the value of life varies.

For number three, because it's saying life should always be protected, this agrees because it aligns with the belief that life is sacred.

And for number four, where it's saying that you should consider the context, the person's experience, this would be disagree because it acknowledges the value of life can be influenced by external factors.

So well done if you spotted that they would agree with one and three, but their view would have to be more relativist if they were going to agree with two and four.

So for the second part of our lesson, we're going to be looking 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.

And these would include the Bible and church teachings.

They might also use their conscience and their ability to reason.

That means to work things out for themselves because they would regard these as gifts given by God.

They could also consider some non-religious arguments when trying to work out what they should do.

Different Christians might emphasise one source over another, and so therefore they might end up with some varying views.

Christians look to the Bible in general as a source of wisdom and authority on the sanctity of life.

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 suggests that human life has intrinsic value and 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." From Psalm 139:13.

This suggests that God knows and values each life before birth.

It highlights the sanctity of life and the intrinsic worth of every individual from the moment of conception.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5.

And this is God speaking to the prophet Jeremiah about his calling to be a prophet.

It suggests that God has created Jeremiah's life and therefore every person's life with a purpose and it supports a belief that all life is holy and should be respected, in this case even before birth.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19.

So this verse from Paul's writings teaches that the body is holy, it belongs to God.

It's like a temple that God dwells within.

And you might therefore infer that it should be treated with respect.

"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13, one of the 10 Commandments.

It highlights the sanctity of life because it forbids the intentional taking of another's life, really emphasising instead the importance of protecting and respecting human life.

So different Christian denominations do agree on the sanctity of life, but their teachings might vary slightly.

We have the Catholic church teaching in the catechism, the value and holiness of life, its intrinsic worth, stating that it remains forever in a special relationship with the creator.

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

And we have Quaker teachings, emphasising this part of God in everyone which makes life holy.

Danielle is a Roman Catholic and 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.

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

We should always strive to protect life, ensuring that it is valued.

While human life is unique and special due to being made in God's image, animals are also part of God's creation and should be treated with kindness and compassion as humans are trusted with stewardship over the rest of creation." Fergus is a liberal Anglican and he's also been asked about his views on the sanctity of life.

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

However, this doesn't mean there aren't situations when the value of life is affected by factors such as suffering or loss of autonomy.

I apply situation ethics to difficult moral dilemmas because it encourages us to act in the most loving way possible and it balances the inherent sanctity of life with the need for compassion.

I believe human life has a special status in God's eyes, but I do my best to respect animals as God has interested us to care for His creation." Tamara is a Quaker.

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

Tamara says, "I believe life has a value because everyone has the light of God in them.

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

For me, the sanctity of life is about ensuring that life is lived meaningfully and with compassion for others.

As for animals, I believe they too are part of God's creation and should be treated with kindness and respect.

Their lives hold value and I strive to live harmoniously, avoiding harm, and showing care for the environment and all creatures." Diane is a humanist, so she doesn't believe in God, and she's also been asked about her views on the sanctity of life.

Diane does agree with Christians to an extent.

She says, "I believe life has intrinsic value, not because it's holy, 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." Zoe is an atheist and a sentientist.

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

Zoe says, "As a sentientist and an atheist, I believe the value of life comes from the ability to experience pleasure and pain, and not from an in-built sanctity of life.

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

I don't see life as holy the way that some religions do, but I recognise the importance of treating all conscious beings with care and respect." So think carefully about those different views.

We've looked at a Roman Catholic Christian, an Anglican Christian, a Quaker, and a sentientist who doesn't believe in God.

We did also consider a humanist view, but out of those four, a Roman Catholic, A, an Anglican Christian, B, a Quaker, C, and a sentientist, D, who is most likely to disagree with the concept of the sanctity of life? So to disagree with the idea that life is holy, usually because it's special and in some way may be connected with God or created by God.

Take a moment to think about your answer.

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

So well done if you put a sentientist.

A sentientist values life based on the ability a conscious being has to experience pleasure or pain, not on any kind of in-built or intrinsic value.

And so a sentientist is likely to give equal value to animals because they're capable of experiencing suffering or pain as they do to humans.

For our practise task, for task B part one, I'd like you to explain two Christian teachings about the sanctity of life.

You can follow this guidance, point, develop, and point, develop.

So it's quite a useful approach at GCSE, to always think when you make a point, how can I develop this further? So pause the video, take your time to think about what two Christian teachings you could use and make sure that you explain them clearly by developing the point that each is making.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So you could have said, "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." And for the second point, "Another verse, Psalm 139-13-16 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 managed to include some reference to the Bible as a source of authority.

And if you explained what the sanctity of life means from two different teachings.

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

Human life has value because it is holy.

Now, in a GCSE question, you're often asked to evaluate a statement and to think about different perspectives.

So in this one it says, "Evaluate this statement considering arguments for and against." And it tells you, "In your response, you should refer to Christian teachings and reach a justified conclusion." I'd like you to use the points on the next slide to write a paragraph of arguments for the statement and a paragraph of arguments against the statement.

So just a small amount of the question, just two paragraphs worth, but showing that you've considered two different perspectives.

So here are some points that you can use.

For, it's created by God, it's in God's image, and it's holy.

And against, you could argue there's no evidence it's created by God, that human life has potential instead, and that the capacity to feel might be what gives it value.

So on the against side, we're actually thinking more about kind of a humanist or an atheist view, and the idea of how they might value life.

So use these points to write a paragraph for and a paragraph against.

Pause the video, take your time, and come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So you could have said, on the for side, "Christians would argue life is sacred because it was created by God and humans are the pinnacle of creation.

Humans have a special status over other life as they were created in God's imag, Genesis 1:26-27.

Therefore, life is holy and a gift from God." On the against, "Some people would argue that life is not holy as there's no evidence it was created by God.

However, this does not mean it does not have value.

Instead, a humanist might argue that life's worth comes from its potential.

And a sentientist might argue that it is the capacity to feel pleasure or pain." So well done if you managed to explain the Christian concept of sanctity of life, especially if you linked in that Bible teaching, being created in God's image, and if you also managed to look at the opposing view that life is not created by God, but that the value might come from other factors such as its potential or the ability to feel pleasure and pain.

In today's lesson, we've looked at the fact that sanctity of life means life is sacred, holy, or intrinsically valuable, that when considering the value of life, it's possible to be absolutist in regard to the sanctity of life, or to consider extrinsic factors like suffering or autonomy, which affect the quality of life.

Genesis 1 describes human life as created in God's image, and Genesis 2 describes God breathing life into Adam.

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

Anglicans agree, but they would also perhaps acknowledge some extrinsic factors like suffering.

And Quakers emphasise that there is part of God in every person.

Humanists view life as valuable due to its potential, while sentientists focus on the ability to feel pleasure and pain.

Thank you very much for working with me today.

I do really appreciate all of your efforts.