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Year 11
AQA

Sanctity of life

I can explain the concept of the sanctity of life and analyse Christian teachings on it, comparing them with non-religious views.

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New
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Year 11
AQA

Sanctity of life

I can explain the concept of the sanctity of life and analyse Christian teachings on it, comparing them with non-religious views.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The sanctity of life means life is sacred or intrinsically valuable.
  2. The value of life can be viewed absolutist or with consideration of extrinsic factors like suffering or autonomy.
  3. The Bible teaches that humans are created in God's image and emphasises the importance of preserving life.
  4. Catholics and Anglicans believe life is sacred because it's created by God, Quakers emphasise the divine in everyone.
  5. Humanists value life for its potential, while sentientists focus on the capacity to feel pleasure and pain.

Keywords

  • Intrinsic - something is valuable just because it exists, regardless of its usefulness

  • Sanctity of life - the belief that life is sacred/special because it was created by God, or because we are each unique individuals

  • Value - the worth, importance, or usefulness of something

Common misconception

All Christians see the sanctity of life as a moral absolute.

Different denominations and individuals may have varying perspectives on whether extrinsic factors such as dignity or well-being impinge on the sanctity of life.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Sanctity of life, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For Task B 2), students could continue by writing a paragraph of reasoned arguments to support a different point of view and refer to non-religious arguments.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
A common criticism of the theory of evolution from religious groups is that ...
it is not based on scientific evidence
Correct answer: it contradicts the belief that God created all life forms
it suggests that humans are unrelated to other species
it is only a theory with no proof
Q2.
Which scientific discovery challenged traditional religious views on the origin of life?
the discovery of gravity
Correct answer: the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin
the Big Bang theory
the invention of the microscope
Q3.
What do fundamentalist Christians believe about the origin of life?
that life evolved over millions of years
that Genesis is a symbolic story
Correct answer: that God created all life exactly as described in the Bible
that science fully explains the origin of life without God
Q4.
The book of the Bible that describes the creation of life is called ...
Correct Answer: Genesis, genesis
Q5.
Some Christians believe that God initiated the Big Bang, a belief known as evolution.
Correct Answer: theistic, Theistic

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the term 'sanctity of life' mean in religious teachings?
life is valuable only when it is useful to others
Correct answer: life is sacred because it was created by God or because each person is unique
life is valuable based on a person’s achievements
life’s value depends on personal happiness
Q2.
Which Bible verse is often used to support the idea that human life is sacred?
“You shall not steal.”
Correct answer: “God created mankind in his own image.”
“Love your neighbour as yourself.”
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Q3.
What is one key difference between Catholic and Anglican views on the sanctity of life?
Catholics believe life is sacred, while Anglicans do not
Correct answer: Anglicans consider factors; Catholics hold that life is sacred in all situations
Catholics believe only certain lives are sacred, while Anglicans value all life
Anglicans focus only on the afterlife when discussing life’s value
Q4.
The belief that life has value simply because it exists is known as ...
Correct Answer: intrinsic, Intrinsic
Q5.
Christians believe that human life is sacred because it was created in the image of ...
Correct Answer: God, god
Q6.
The view that moral decisions should be made based on love and compassion is called ethics.
Correct Answer: situation , Situation