The Sanctity of Human life

Christians believe that God created us, this means that all people are special and important to

God.

All people deserve respect and to be

cared for.

No one should take life or deny it.

Write out in your own words

Religious teachings on the sanctity of life

Christianity• God is interested and

involved in each human life• Life is sacred and a gift from

God• Only God should take life

away• Jesus showed in his

teaching that all life should be valued

Islam• Every soul has been created

by Allah• Allah had a plan for each

life• No one has the right to take

their own of anyone else’s life

The Case Studies

Jodie and Mary

Jodie and Mary were conjoined twins, born in Manchester in 2000. Doctors predicted that, if no

intervention occurred, Jodie and Mary would both die in around three months. They also said that if you separated

them, one of the twins would certainly die, while the other twin would probably live.

Baby Theresa"Baby Theresa," was born in Florida in 1992. She effectively had "no brain", and doctors predicted that she would die within two weeks. Her parents asked the doctors to use her organs to save other lives if possible.The doctors were prevented from taking organs from Baby Theresa by Florida law. Doing so would involve killing Baby Theresa, which would be illegal. Baby Theresa died at 9 days old. By this stage, her organs were no longer of any use.

Diane PrettyDiane Pretty was a terminally ill British woman who fought a legal battle to allow her husband to help her commit suicide

SianSian is 18, and is working. She has done well since leaving school. She hopes to continue and get promotion. She has a steady boy friend, David. They hope one day to marry. David is at university. He is studying religion and hopes to be a teacher. She is pregnant and thinks she should have an abortion.

Death Row

A man has killed several people and been found guilty. He is on death row in Texas. There is possible evidence which would prove his innocence.