What do religions teach about the origins and value of life?
Religious and scientific views on the origins of the universe and life, the sanctity of life, and the value of human and animal life.
A focused answer on the origins and value of life for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering creation and scientific accounts, the sanctity of life, and the value of human and animal life.
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What this dot point is asking
Edexcel wants you to explain religious and scientific views on the origins of the universe and life, how believers relate these to the creation accounts, and the religious belief in the sanctity of life and the value of human and animal life. This sets up the ethical questions of abortion and euthanasia in this theme.
The origins of the universe and life
Both faiths begin with the belief that God is the creator of everything, while many believers also engage with science.
Christianity teaches that God created the universe (Genesis 1 to 3) and Islam teaches that Allah created the heavens and the earth and gave life. Believers respond to science in divergent ways. Some read the creation accounts literally and see a conflict with the Big Bang and evolution. Many read them metaphorically, holding that scripture teaches the religious truth that God is the creator and that life has purpose, while science explains the physical process. On this common view, the Big Bang can be how God began the universe and evolution how he shaped life, so science answers the how and religion the why, and the two agree. This is a frequent Evaluate question.
The sanctity of life and the value of human life
These beliefs give human life a unique status and shape religious attitudes to many ethical issues. Because life is a gift from God and humans bear God's image, believers argue that life should not be taken or treated carelessly, that the weak and vulnerable should be protected, and that decisions about the beginning and end of life (such as abortion and euthanasia) are serious because they touch God's gift. The sanctity of life is the foundation of this whole theme, so a strong answer in any related question links back to it. Some non-religious people instead speak of the quality of life, the idea that what matters is how good a person's life is, which can lead to different conclusions on these issues.
The value of animal life and stewardship
Religious teaching also values animal life and the natural world, though usually it places human life higher. Both faiths teach that creation is good and that humans are stewards (khalifah in Islam), responsible to God for caring for the world and its creatures rather than abusing them. Animals should be treated with kindness and not made to suffer needlessly, and many believers support animal welfare for this reason. At the same time, most Christians and Muslims accept the use of animals for food and other purposes, within humane limits, because humans are given a special place in creation.
For the exam, be able to explain the origins debate (creation, the Big Bang, evolution, literal versus metaphorical readings), define and apply the sanctity of life, and note the value of human and animal life. Link this dot point to abortion and euthanasia, where the sanctity of life is weighed against the quality of life. A strong Evaluate answer on origins weighs whether science and religion conflict or are compatible, concluding that for most believers they can agree because they answer different questions.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 1RA0 20193 marksOutline three religious beliefs about the value of human life.Show worked answer →
A 3-mark Outline question (AO1): three accurate, distinct beliefs. Acceptable points include: life is sacred and a gift from God (sanctity of life); humans are made in the image of God; only God has the right to give and take life; all life should be respected and protected; life is created with a purpose. One mark for each distinct belief, no development needed.
Edexcel 1RA0 20184 marksExplain two religious beliefs about the origins of the universe.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark Explain question (AO1): two developed beliefs. Belief one: God created the universe, as described in Genesis or the Qur'an, so the world is not an accident but the work of God. Belief two: many believers accept the Big Bang as how God created, reading the creation accounts as religious truth rather than science. Two marks for each developed point.
Edexcel 1RA0 20225 marksExplain two reasons why human life is special in religious teaching. In your answer you must refer to a source of wisdom and authority.Show worked answer →
A 5-mark Explain question (AO1): two developed reasons plus a source. Reason one: humans are made in the image of God, giving them unique value and dignity. Reason two: life is a sacred gift from God that only God has the right to take. Support with a source: "God created mankind in his own image" (Genesis 1:27), or a Qur'anic teaching that taking one life is like killing all humanity (Surah 5:32). The accurate source secures the fifth mark.
Edexcel 1RA0 202112 marks"Science and religion cannot agree about the origins of life." Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, refer to religious teaching, and reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks plus 3 SPaG]Show worked answer →
The 12-mark Evaluate question (AO2), plus 3 SPaG. Arguments for: a literal reading of Genesis (six days, recent creation) conflicts with the Big Bang and evolution, so some believers and some scientists see them as opposed. Arguments for a different view: many Christians and Muslims accept the Big Bang and evolution as how God created, reading scripture as religious truth, so science explains the how and religion the why, and they agree. Use specialist terms (creation, Big Bang, evolution, sanctity of life). Reach a justified conclusion weighing conflict against compatibility. The best answers sustain a line of reasoning.
Related dot points
- Religious and non-religious attitudes to abortion, the sanctity of life and the quality of life, and when life begins.
A focused answer on abortion for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering the sanctity of life, when life begins, and divergent Christian, Muslim and non-religious attitudes.
- Religious and non-religious attitudes to euthanasia and dying, and beliefs about life after death in Christianity and Islam.
A focused answer on euthanasia and life after death for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering the sanctity of life, attitudes to euthanasia, and beliefs about the afterlife.
- The biblical account of creation and the role of the Word and Spirit, and the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
A focused answer on creation and the incarnation for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering the Genesis account, the role of the Word and Spirit, literal and metaphorical readings, and Jesus as the incarnate Son of God.
- The Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam and the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam, their nature, purpose and importance.
A focused answer on the Six Beliefs of Sunni Islam and the Five Roots of Shi'a Islam for Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0), covering their nature, purpose and importance.
Sources & how we know this
- Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Religious Studies A (1RA0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2016)