1.1.3 Nature and value of life

Question 1

What is the sanctity of life?

Answer 1

The belief that life is precious or sacred. For Christians, human life is different to all other forms of life.

Question 2

What 6 key words summarise why human life is sacred?

Answer 2

• God-given
• Image
• Purpose
• Soul
• Protected
• Incarnation

Question 3

What do Christians believe about the nature and value of human life?(9)

Answer 3

• Christians believe that all human life is sacred.
• According to this belief every person is made by God and is of great value to God.
• Christians believe that God created humans in his image.
• Christians understand this to mean that humans have God like characteristics such as compassion, intelligence, creativity and conscience. This is one of the things which sets humans apart from animals.
• Christians also believe that humans have a God-given purpose – to procreate, to maintain the balance and harmony of the created order and to care for all aspects of God’s creation.
• This is the responsibility of Stewardship.
• Another feature of human nature which marks humans out as special and superior to animals is that God bestows a soul on humans.
• Christians believe that as life is a gift from God only God can end life.
• In addition, the value and unique status of human life is reinforced by the Christian belief that God chose to become a human being.

Question 4

Which Biblical quote proves every person is made by God?

Answer 4

Psalm 139:13 says “For it was you who formed my inwards parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”

Question 5

Which Biblical quote proves every person is of great value to God?

Answer 5

Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Question 6

Which Biblical quote proves God created Humans in his image?

Answer 6

Genesis 1:27 “So God created humankind in his image.”

Question 7

Which Biblical quote proves Humans are superior to other beings in relations to stewardship?(2)

Answer 7

Genesis 1:28 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea….”

Luke 12:7, “…you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Question 8

Which Biblical quote proves Humans have a soul?

Answer 8

Genesis 2:7 “The lord God…breathed into his (Adam’s) nostrils the breath of life.”

Question 9

How would Christians support the view that only God can end life?(2)

Answer 9

Exodus 20:13, “You shall not murder”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

Question 10

Which Biblical quote proves God became a human being?

Answer 10

“The word was God…The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:1 & 14)

Question 11

What do Buddhists believe about God?

Answer 11

Buddhists do not believe in a creator God and as such do not believe that human life was created by God and is a gift.

Question 12

What do Buddhists believe about souls?

Answer 12

Buddhists also disagree with the Christian idea that humans have a soul and instead believe that there is no fixed, unchanging essence which is you (anatta) - nothing, including the self, is permanent; all things change (anicca) and are dependent on other things (pratityasamutpada).

Question 13

Why is life valuable and meaningful to Buddhists?

Answer 13

For Buddhists, life is meaningful and valuable for different reasons - it is incredibly fortunate to be born as a human being and as such human life is precious even if it is not sacred in the sense that it was created by God.

Question 14

What is special to only humans for Buddhists?

Answer 14

Only humans:
* Can reveal the buddha-nature (thathagatagarbha) or attain arhathood.
* Are able to experience the bliss of nirvana.
* Are able to develop the mind in a way that other creatures cannot - this allows humans to develop the wisdom and mindfulness needed to produce fruitful action which will result in fruitful karma; humans have the ability to bring about positive consequences and to escape suffering and the cycle of samsara.

Question 15

What do Buddhists believe in relation to human superiority?

Answer 15

Whilst human life is meaningful and precious this does not mean that it is superior to other forms of life - all life is worthy of respect. Other creatures can experience suffering and should be treated with compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta). The principle of ahimsa (non-violence) and the Five Precepts apply to all sentient creatures.

Question 16

What does the Dhammapada (129-130) say?

Answer 16

“All are afraid of danger, all fear death. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not hurt or fill others. All are afraid of danger, all hold their lives dear. Putting oneself in another’s place, one should not beat or kill others.”

Question 17

What do Humanists believe about God and souls?

Answer 17

As humanists are atheists, they do not believe that human life was created by God; instead, they agree that the theory of evolution explains how human life came to exist. They do not believe that:
* Humans have a soul that can continue after death.
* That human life was planned and created for a purpose.

Question 18

What do Buddhists believe about the importance of life?

Answer 18

They do believe that life is special, not because it was created by God but because this is the only life we will have and therefore we should live it to the full.

Question 19

Why do humanists believe life is special?

Answer 19

Life is special because it is amazing that human life even exists given the number of factors that had to be correct for life to emerge and evolve.

Question 20

What do humanists believe about the quality of life?

Answer 20

Quality of life is an important principle for humanists who believe everyone has an equal right to live a fulfilled life; if this is the only life we have we shouldn’t live in a way that causes others to suffer or prevents them from living their life fully. In addition, humans should treat others with kindness and compassion and help others to live happy, fulfilling lives.

Question 21

Why is the limited nature and human life important to humanists?

Answer 21

The limited nature of human life makes it valuable and it should be treated with respect and dignity.

Question 22

What is a common misconception of humanism?

Answer 22

Sometimes people think that because humanists are called humanists that they are unduly or narrowly concerned with the rights and welfare of human beings. But this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the word ‘humanism’: most humanists are strong supporters of animal welfare and recognise the necessity of sensible policy that respects and acknowledges animal sentience and their capacity to suffer.

Question 23

Why are humanists called humanists?

Answer 23

Humanists are called humanists because as human beings we try to make ethical decisions on the basis of our human capacity to reason. Humanists support the reduction of animal suffering resulting from human behaviour and see compassionate attitudes to animal suffering as a hallmark of a humane society.

Question 24

What is speciesism and who popularised it?

Answer 24

Peter Singer is a moral philosopher, who popularised the term speciesism. Speciesism is the idea that humans have greater moral rights than other living beings, based simply on the fact that they are human.

Question 25

What is Peter Singer’s viewpoint on speciesism?

Answer 25

Singer opposes speciesism, as he believes that all living beings should be treated equally. He believes that to treat humans differently to other animals is the same as treating one race differently to another. Singer therefore fights for animal rights and promotes veganism.

Question 26

What did Peter Singer say in the Animal Liberation 1975 about speciesism?

Answer 26

“Speciesism - the word is not an attractive one, but can think of no better term — is a prejudice or attitude of bias in favor of the interests of members of one’s own species and against those of members of other species.”

Peter Singer, Animal Liberation 1975

Question 27

What does Peter Singer suggest regarding the value of life?

Answer 27

Singer suggests that we use sentience rather than species or intelligence to judge which life has value; sentience is the ability to experience pain and pleasure. Those who agree with Singer might ask why is animal suffering any less significant than human suffering.