Sanctity of life: abortion, euthanasia and the afterlife

Theme B3 covers the most contested bioethical issues in AQA Religious Studies: abortion, euthanasia, and religious/secular beliefs about death and what (if anything) follows.

Abortion

Abortion = the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. In the UK, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks (Abortion Act 1967, amended 1990). After 24 weeks, only permitted in exceptional circumstances (e.g. serious foetal abnormality).

Key ethical question: When does morally significant life begin?

• Conception — a unique human organism exists from fertilisation; has full moral status.
• Viability (~22–24 weeks) — when the foetus can survive outside the womb.
• Birth — the being becomes a person at birth.
• Sentience — when the foetus can feel pain/pleasure (around 20 weeks for basic responses).

Christian views:

• Catholic: abortion is gravely wrong from conception (Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II, 1995). Every embryo is imago Dei. No exceptions — not for rape, incest, or foetal abnormality.
• Church of England: abortion is morally serious but sometimes the lesser evil; permits it in limited circumstances (rape, severe foetal disability, threat to mother's life). "All human life, including life developing in the womb, is created by God."
• Evangelical/conservative Protestant: generally oppose abortion; many allow exceptions for rape or threat to mother's life.
• Liberal Protestant: a woman's autonomy and conscience are paramount; abortion can be a responsible choice.

Islamic views:

• The soul (ruh) is "breathed into" the foetus at 120 days (4 months) according to the predominant Hadith (Bukhari/Muslim). Some scholars say 40 days.
• Before ensoulment, abortion is generally discouraged but more readily permitted for serious reasons (rape, health, severe disability).
• After ensoulment, abortion is treated similarly to taking a life and is only permitted in extreme circumstances (e.g. risk to the mother's life).
• Most Muslim scholars agree that necessity (darura) can justify exceptions.

Humanist views:

• A woman has the right to choose what happens to her body.
• The foetus does not have the same moral status as a person; early abortion is morally acceptable.
• Emphasis on compassion, wellbeing and quality of life — not potential life's sanctity.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia = deliberately ending a life to relieve suffering. Types:

Type	Description
Voluntary	Patient requests death
Non-voluntary	Patient cannot consent (e.g. in a coma)
Involuntary	Against patient's wishes (always illegal)
Active	A direct act to end life (e.g. lethal injection)
Passive	Withdrawing/withholding treatment
Assisted suicide	Patient self-administers; someone provides means

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in the UK. Dignitas (Switzerland) and Oregon's Death with Dignity Act (1997) are key legal cases.

Christian views:

• Catholic: euthanasia is always gravely wrong — directly violates the sanctity of life. Only God decides when life ends (Evangelium Vitae §65). Palliative care (hospice movement, pioneered by Dame Cicely Saunders, a Christian) is the alternative.
• Church of England: opposes assisted dying but supports good palliative care. Some individual Anglicans advocate voluntary euthanasia when suffering is extreme.
• Conservative Protestant: opposes; life is God's gift.

Islamic views:

• Euthanasia and assisted suicide are haram (forbidden). Life belongs to Allah.
• Qur'an 6:151 — "Do not take a life which Allah has made sacred, except by right."
• However, withdrawing futile treatment (passive) is more accepted — "letting die" is different from killing.
• Pain relief that may incidentally hasten death is generally permitted (double effect).

Humanist views:

• Voluntary euthanasia is a compassionate choice; autonomy and quality of life matter more than biological survival.
• Suffering without purpose is meaningless; a dignified death should be a human right.
• Peter Singer advocates active euthanasia for patients with no quality of life.

Death and the afterlife

Religion	Belief
Christianity	Resurrection of the body; judgement; heaven, hell (purgatory — Catholic)
Islam	Barzakh (intermediate state); Day of Judgement; Jannah (paradise) or Jahannam (hell)
Humanism	No afterlife — death is the end; consciousness ceases

Christianity: The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christian hope in bodily resurrection. "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25).

Islam: After death, the soul enters barzakh (a waiting state). On the Day of Judgement (Yawm al-Qiyama), all will be raised and judged by Allah. The balance of deeds (mizan) determines whether one enters Jannah (paradise — described with gardens, rivers, peace) or Jahannam (hell — fire and punishment).

Humanism: Death is the natural end of a life. Since consciousness depends on the brain, it ceases at death. The best response is to live fully and ethically now. Meaning is found in relationships, achievement and contributing to humanity.

Examiner tips

• Always distinguish Catholic from other Christian views on abortion (no exceptions vs limited exceptions).
• For euthanasia, distinguish active from passive, and voluntary from non-voluntary.
• Cite Evangelium Vitae for Catholic teaching; Qur'an 6:151 for Islam; Abortion Act 1967 for UK law.