Issues of human life and death — AQA A-Level Religious Studies

This topic explores religious and ethical perspectives on human life and death, including abortion, euthanasia, and the afterlife. It covers sanctity of life, quality of life, and religious teachings from Christianity and Islam, essential for AQA A-Level Religious Studies.

This topic examines religious and ethical perspectives on the beginning and end of life, focusing on abortion, euthanasia, and the afterlife. It explores key concepts such as the sanctity of life, the quality of life, and the soul, drawing on Christian and Islamic teachings. Students must understand how these concepts apply to moral dilemmas and how different religious traditions interpret them.

The topic is central to Religious Studies because it addresses fundamental questions about human existence and morality. It also connects to ethical theories like natural law, situation ethics, and utilitarianism, which are used to evaluate these issues. Understanding this topic helps students develop critical thinking and empathy, as they engage with diverse viewpoints.

In the AQA A-Level exam, this topic appears in the 'Issues of human life and death' section, often in 10- and 15-mark questions that require explanation and evaluation. Students must be able to articulate religious teachings, apply ethical theories, and construct coherent arguments. Mastery of this topic is essential for achieving top grades.

• →Sanctity of life: The belief that life is holy and given by God, so it must be protected.
• →Quality of life: The idea that life's value depends on its quality, not just existence.
• →Abortion: The deliberate termination of a pregnancy, with religious views ranging from absolute opposition to conditional acceptance.
• →Euthanasia: The intentional ending of a life to relieve suffering, with distinctions between voluntary, non-voluntary, active, and passive.
• →Afterlife: Beliefs about what happens after death, including resurrection, judgement, and heaven/hell, which influence views on the value of earthly life.

• Application of Natural Moral Law to human life and death issues
• Application of Situation Ethics to human life and death issues
• Application of Virtue Ethics to human life and death issues
• Understanding of the principle of double effect
• Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the specified ethical theories in moral decision-making
• Comparison of different approaches to moral decision-making

• 💡Ensure you can clearly distinguish between the deontological, teleological, and character-based approaches
• 💡Practice applying each theory to every listed issue (e.g., how would a Virtue Ethicist view capital punishment?)
• 💡Use specialist terminology accurately
• 💡Structure AO2 responses to critically evaluate the theories rather than just describing them
• 💡Always define key terms like 'sanctity of life' and 'quality of life' in your answers to show understanding.
• 💡Use specific religious quotes or teachings (e.g., 'You shall not murder' Exodus 20:13) to support your points.
• 💡For evaluation questions, present both sides and reach a justified conclusion, using ethical theories to strengthen your argument.

• Confusing the application of different ethical theories
• Failing to link the application of theories to the specific issues of human life and death
• Neglecting to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the theories
• Misunderstanding the principle of double effect within Natural Moral Law
• Misconception: All Christians oppose abortion absolutely. Correction: While the Catholic Church and many evangelicals do, other denominations (e.g., Church of England) allow abortion in some circumstances, such as risk to the mother's life.
• Misconception: Euthanasia is the same as suicide. Correction: Euthanasia involves a third party (e.g., a doctor) ending a patient's life, whereas suicide is self-inflicted; they have different ethical and legal implications.
• Misconception: The sanctity of life means life must be preserved at all costs. Correction: Many religious believers accept that life can be ended in self-defence or war, and some allow withdrawal of treatment if it is futile, showing that sanctity is not absolute.

1. 1Week 1: Learn the core concepts (sanctity of life, quality of life) and religious teachings on abortion and euthanasia. Create flashcards for key quotes.
2. 2Week 2: Practice applying ethical theories to these issues. Write short paragraphs on each perspective.
3. 3Week 3: Attempt past exam questions, focusing on 10- and 15-mark questions. Review mark schemes to understand what examiners look for.
4. 4Week 4: Revise the afterlife and its link to ethical issues. Use active recall to test yourself on key points.

• 📋Explain questions (e.g., 'Explain Christian teachings on abortion') – focus on accurate description of beliefs and teachings.
• 📋Evaluate questions (e.g., 'Evaluate the view that euthanasia is morally acceptable') – present arguments for and against, and reach a reasoned conclusion.
• 📋Compare questions (e.g., 'Compare Christian and Muslim views on abortion') – highlight similarities and differences.
• 📋Source-based questions (e.g., 'Analyse a given text on the sanctity of life') – interpret the source and apply it to the issue.