Sanctity of life

• Liberal Christian beliefs about

  sanctity of life, imago dei and

  abortion

  Liberal Christians (in this case the Church of England) agree that life is sacred and humans are created in God’s image. Abortion is not a good

  thing, but sometimes it is ‘the lesser of two evils’. There are some situations where abortion might be the best course of action such as If the

  pregnancy is the result of rape, continuing the pregnancy might be dangerous to the woman’s physical or mental health, then abortion should be

  allowed. If the child is likely to be severely disabled and so effect its quality of life.
• Catholic belief about sanctity of life

  All human life is sacred and everyone has a right to life which should be protected and valued at every stage
• Imago Dei


  The Catholic belief that humans were made in the Image of God
• The Catholic Church is against abortion in all circumstances
• Abortion


  Seen as murder, a great moral evil
• The Catholic Church teaches that life begins at conception
• Sanctity of life


  The Catholic belief that all human life is sacred and that everyone has a right to life which should be protected and valued at every stage
• Humanist beliefs about sanctity of life,

  imago dei and abortion

  Humanists such as Peter Singer reject any belief in the sanctity of life. Human life does have value but it does not belong to God and humans were

  not created in the image of God. In terms of abortion, Humanists value happiness and personal choice. In making a decision they would look at

  the evidence, consequences and rights and wishes of everyone involved. Life is not sacred but is worthy of the highest respect. Generally they

  would take a pro-choice stance and argue that quality of life is more important that sanctity of life.
• Jewish beliefs about sanctity of life
• Imago Dei


  Humans are made in the image of God
• Sanctity of life


  Life is sacred and belongs to God
• Sources of Jewish beliefs about sanctity of life

  • Book of Genesis in the Torah (Jewish written law)
  • Book of Jeremiah
  • Psalms
  • Ten Commandments
• Taking life is wrong: “Do not kill”
• Abortion is not specifically mentioned in the Torah
• Exodus implies that the life of an unborn child is of equal worth to the life of the mother
• In cases such as abortion ‘pikuach nefesh’ might apply
• “So God created mankind in his own image”
• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”