What do religions teach about the sanctity of life and abortion?
The sanctity and quality of life, when life begins, and religious and ethical attitudes to abortion in Christianity and Islam.
A focused answer on the sanctity of life and abortion for AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), covering the sanctity of life, when life begins and attitudes to abortion.
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What this dot point is asking
AQA wants you to explain the sanctity of life, the question of when life begins, and religious and ethical attitudes to abortion in Christianity and Islam. The strongest answers show a range of views within each faith and tie the debate to when life is held to begin.
The sanctity of life
Some thinkers contrast this with quality of life, the idea that the value of a life also depends on its conditions (health, dignity, freedom from suffering). Religious believers generally hold that sanctity of life comes first, but quality of life arguments appear in the harder cases.
When does life begin
Because the answer to this question decides whether abortion ends "a person", it shapes the whole ethical argument, which is why the exam expects you to address it.
Attitudes to abortion
Most religious believers oppose abortion because it ends a God-given life. However, many accept it in limited circumstances, treating it as the lesser of two evils: when the mother's life is in danger (where Islamic teaching and many Christians clearly permit it), when continuing would seriously harm the mother, after rape, or where the child would suffer a severe condition. Within Christianity, the Catholic Church is strongly opposed in nearly all cases, while many Anglicans and other Protestants allow it in hard cases out of compassion. The debate balances the rights of the unborn child against the rights and situation of the mother.
For the exam, link this topic to the wider Theme B ideas. The sanctity of life argument used against abortion is the same principle used against euthanasia, so a strong student can show the consistency of the religious position across both issues. You should also be able to weigh sanctity of life against quality of life arguments, which feature in the harder evaluation questions. Be precise about the law and the religion: in the UK, abortion is legal under certain conditions, but legality is not the same as moral approval, and the question is asking what believers think is right, not what is permitted by law. The strongest answers present a range of religious views, ground them in teaching such as "you shall not murder" or the Qur'anic value of life, and address directly the question of when a foetus becomes a person.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of AQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
AQA 20172 marksWhat is meant by the sanctity of life?Show worked answer →
A 2-mark AO1 definition question. The sanctity of life is the belief that life is holy, sacred and God-given, so it should be protected and not taken. One mark for life is sacred or holy, the second for God-given or belongs to God. It is the foundation of religious objections to abortion and euthanasia.
AQA 20194 marksExplain two religious attitudes to abortion. Refer to scripture or another source of religious belief in your answer.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark AO1 question. Attitude one: abortion is wrong because life is sacred from conception, so the foetus has the right to life, "you shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) and the Catholic teaching that life begins at conception. Attitude two: abortion may be permitted as the lesser evil if the mother's life is at risk, which many Muslims and some Christians accept, prioritising the mother's life. Markers reward two distinct, developed attitudes plus a source. Attribute views to traditions.
AQA 202312 marks"Abortion is always wrong." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should refer to religious teaching, give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The AO2 evaluation, 5 bands plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for: the sanctity of life means the unborn child has a God-given right to life from conception, "you shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13), so abortion is killing an innocent. Arguments against: many believers allow it when the mother's life is at risk or after rape, prioritising the mother and showing compassion; some stress quality of life and that the soul enters later (around 120 days in much Muslim teaching). Use terms (sanctity of life, conception, quality of life). Reach a justified conclusion weighing the rights of the unborn against the mother and circumstances.
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Sources & how we know this
- AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) specification — AQA (2016)