Unit 6: An Introduction to Christian Ethics — Matters of Life and Death
Welcome to your study guide for Matters of Life and Death! In this unit, we explore some of the biggest moral questions in human life: When does life begin? When does it end? Is taking a life ever justified? And what happens after we die?
These topics can seem intense, but don't worry! By breaking down key terms, core Christian teachings, and different viewpoints step-by-step, you will feel confident tackling both short-answer questions in Section A and extended 10-mark evaluation questions in Section B of your CCEA Paper 6 exam.
---1. Key Foundation: Sanctity of Life vs. Quality of Life
Before jumping into specific debates, you need to understand two central concepts that run through all Christian ethics:
1. Sanctity of Life: The belief that all human life is sacred, holy, and a precious gift from God. Because God creates life, only God has the right to give and take it away. This links directly to the concept of Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27) — the belief that humans are made in the image and likeness of God.
2. Quality of Life: The belief that the value of human life depends on how good, fulfilling, or pain-free that life is. If a person is suffering severe, unbearable pain with no hope of recovery, some argue their quality of life has ended.
Analogy to remember: Think of the Sanctity of Life as a priceless family heirloom that you must protect at all costs, no matter what condition it is in. Quality of Life is like asking how useful and enjoyable an object is right now.
---2. Abortion
Definition & UK Legal Framework
Definition: The premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb, resulting in its death.
In the UK, abortion is governed by the 1967 Abortion Act (along with updates such as the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act). The law permits an abortion under specific conditions, such as risk to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or severe foetal abnormality.
Christian Perspectives on Abortion
Christians do not all agree on abortion. The debate often hinges on when human life begins (ensoulment) and balancing the Right to Life of the foetus against the mother's Right to Choose.
• Roman Catholic Church (Strict Pro-Life):
- Believes life begins at the very moment of conception (ensoulment).
- Teaches that the foetus is a full human being from conception with a complete right to life.
- Strictly opposes abortion in all circumstances, basing this on the Sanctity of Life and the Sixth Commandment: "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13).
• Protestant Views (Divergent & Situation Ethics):
- Some Protestants hold a strict pro-life view similar to Catholics.
- Other Protestants apply Situation Ethics (associated with Joseph Fletcher), which teaches that Christians should always do the most loving thing (agape).
- In tragic circumstances — such as rape, incest, severe foetal deformity, or when the mother's life is directly at risk — abortion may be accepted as the "lesser of two evils" and an act of compassion.
Key Takeaway: Catholics take an absolute stance based on the Sanctity of Life from conception, whereas many other Christians use Situation Ethics to show compassion in tragic situations.
---3. Euthanasia and Assisted Dying
Types of Euthanasia
It is very common for exam questions to ask you to distinguish between types of euthanasia. Learn these four categories:
• Voluntary Euthanasia: When a person explicitly asks for their life to be ended because of extreme suffering or terminal illness.
• Non-voluntary Euthanasia: When a person is unable to ask (e.g., in a persistent vegetative state or coma), and the decision is made by others on their behalf.
• Active Euthanasia: Taking deliberate, direct action to end life (e.g., administering a lethal injection).
• Passive Euthanasia: Withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging medical treatments (e.g., turning off a ventilator or stopping artificial feeding), allowing the natural dying process to happen.
Christian Views on Euthanasia
Most mainstream Christian denominations oppose active euthanasia because:
• Human life is holy (Sanctity of Life) and created in God's image (Imago Dei).
• Ending a life interferes with God's sovereign plan for birth and death.
• Suffering can have redemptive value, and Christians are called to care for the vulnerable, not end their lives.
The Hospice Movement
Rather than euthanasia, Christians strongly advocate for the Hospice Movement, founded by Dame Cicely Saunders (a Christian doctor and nurse).
• Hospices provide palliative care — managing pain and providing emotional, spiritual, and physical comfort.
• The core goal is to enable patients to experience "dying with dignity" in a peaceful, supportive environment without actively ending life.
Key Takeaway: Christians reject active euthanasia as a violation of God's authority over life, pointing to the Hospice Movement as the loving, compassionate Christian alternative.
---4. Capital Punishment (The Death Penalty)
Definition
Capital Punishment: The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.
Christian Debate: For and Against
Arguments FOR Capital Punishment (Retribution and Justice):
• Old Testament Justice: Passages such as Exodus 21:24 promote proportionate justice: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
• Protection of Society: Ensures that dangerous offenders can never harm innocent citizens again.
• Deterrence: Acts as a severe warning to discourage others from committing terrible crimes.
Arguments AGAINST Capital Punishment (Forgiveness, Reform, and Sanctity of Life):
• Teachings of Jesus: Jesus taught love, mercy, and forgiveness. In Matthew 5:39, Jesus said: "Turn the other cheek."
• Only God Has the Right: If life is a gift from God (Sanctity of Life), taking life is wrong, even for the state.
• Chance for Reform: Execution destroys any opportunity for repentance, rehabilitation, and spiritual salvation.
• Risk of Innocent Deaths: Flawed legal systems can execute innocent people, an error that can never be undone.
Key Takeaway: Old Testament retributive justice ("an eye for an eye") supports capital punishment, while Jesus' New Testament teachings of mercy ("turn the other cheek") and the Sanctity of Life strongly oppose it.
---5. Life After Death
Christians believe death is not the end of existence. Key beliefs include:
• Resurrection of the Body: Christians affirm belief in the physical or spiritual resurrection, as declared in the historic Apostles' Creed ("I believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting"). Jesus' own resurrection provides the foundation for this hope.
• Immortality of the Soul: The belief that the spiritual part of a person survives bodily death.
• Judgment: God will judge each individual based on their faith and actions during their earthly life.
• Heaven and Hell: Heaven is eternal presence and unity with God; Hell is eternal separation from God.
• Purgatory (Roman Catholic Belief): A temporary state of cleansing and purification for souls who died in God's grace but still require preparation before entering Heaven.
Key Takeaway: Christian hope relies on resurrection and eternal life with God, with judgment determining one's eternal destination, including the specific Catholic belief in Purgatory.
---Exam Skills & Common Pitfalls to Avoid
1. Avoid Vague Scriptural Claims
Mistake: Writing "The Bible says abortion is wrong."
Fix: Name specific concepts or verses! E.g., "Roman Catholics oppose abortion because life is created by God in His image (Imago Dei) and they uphold the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' (Exodus 20:13)."
2. Don't Confuse Legal Jurisdictions
Mistake: Referring to US Supreme Court cases (like Roe v. Wade) in your answers.
Fix: Stick strictly to the UK framework: the 1967 Abortion Act and the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.
3. Always Distinguish Between Christian Denominations
Mistake: Saying "All Christians believe the exact same thing."
Fix: Show balance by comparing denominations. E.g., contrast the absolute pro-life stance of Roman Catholics with the Situation Ethics approach applied by some Protestants.
4. Balance Your Section B Extended Answers (AO2)
For 10-mark evaluation questions, examiners award top marks to structured, two-sided arguments. Always provide:
1. Arguments supporting the statement (with Christian teachings & scripture).
2. Counter-arguments opposing the statement (alternative Christian viewpoints or non-religious points).
3. A justified personal conclusion explaining which view is more convincing and why.