Sanctity of Life

• To define Sanctity of Life• To explain threats to the

Sanctity of Life• To explain how this

teaching affects Christian attitudes

What is wrong with this

situation?

Sanctity of LifeThis is THE most important concept in Christian ethics.

It is THE reason why you MUST respect people, & not abuse them.

suicideTorture and mutilation

Subhuman living or working conditions

Breeding humans for organ donation Human trafficking

Prostitution

slavery abortion

euthanasia

• What is the problem behind all these things?

• What do you think “Sanctity of Life” means?

Sanctity of Life is the belief that every human life has a unique value, beyond all price – because human beings are the living image of God. They should be specially respected. There is nothing you can give “in exchange” for a human being. Nobody has the right to take the life of another person away.

1. Write out the definition of Sanctity of Life. Learn it!2. Why do human beings have more value than other creatures?3. In general, what can you not do to human beings, if they have

this unique and important value?**Do you agree that humans cannot use other humans for their own benefit? Why?

Sanctity of Life is the belief that every human life has ___________, beyond all price – because human beings are

made ________________.

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Sanctity of Life is the belief that every human life has a unique value, beyond all price. This is because human beings are the living image of God. Therefore humans should be specially respected. Nothing can be given “in exchange” for a human being, and no-one has the right to take it away.

Explain to your partner, why each of the things below would go against Sanctity of life: 1. Slavery2. Prostitution3. Euthanasia4. Abortion5. Subhuman living conditions

explain 2 more examples, why they go against Sanctity of Life. **Is some human life more special than others? Eg disabled person vs. Mozart or Barack Obama?

1. It disrespects a person’s God-given dignity, as it only values them for the benefit their body can bring

2. Destroying something made in God’s image

3. Humans must not interrupt God’s purpose for them

4. It disrespects a person’s God given freedom as a person made in the image of God

5. It tries to force another human being to work for someone else’s benefit – it makes one person’s dignity to submit to someone else’s

6. Taking a life, prevents a person from continuing to do good things and be more Christ-like

Christians must defend the Sanctity of Life, everywhere.

How could the Sanctity of Life of these characters be threatened?

What could Christians do to make sure they are protected?

Choose 2 characters and explain how - Their dignity as images

of God could be threatened

- How they could be protected by society

•Who would you throw off a hot air balloon that was losing height?Are their lives all equally special or sacred? Or are some more deserving than others?