The Big Bang and creation

Scientists explain the origin of the universe with the Big Bang theory: around 13.8 billion years ago all matter and energy expanded from a single point, and the universe has been expanding ever since. Religious believers give a further explanation: God is the Creator.

• Many Christians read Genesis 1 as teaching that God created the universe, and see the Big Bang as how God did it — science and faith answering different questions.
• Many Muslims believe Allah created the universe and point to Qur'anic verses describing the heavens and earth being "joined together" then parted, which some see as fitting the Big Bang.
• Some Christians and Muslims are creationists who read the creation accounts more literally and reject parts of the scientific account.

Evolution and creation

The theory of evolution, developed by Charles Darwin, explains that species change over time through natural selection: those best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their features. This is the scientific account of the origins of life's diversity.

• Many Christians and Muslims accept evolution as the method God used to create living things — God set the process going.
• Some believers reject evolution and hold to special creation — that God created living things in their present forms.
• For many, humans still have a special status as made "in the image of God" (Christian) or given a soul by Allah (Muslim), whatever the biological process.

Key point: a common exam mistake is to say science and religion must contradict each other. Many religious believers accept both — do not present them as necessarily opposed.

Science and religion on origins

Dominion and stewardship

Many religions teach that the world is valuable because it is created by God, and that humans have a duty to care for it. Two key ideas come from Genesis:

• Dominion — humans are given authority over the earth (Genesis 1:28), but this is widely understood as responsible rule, not the right to exploit.
• Stewardship — humans are trustees who look after creation for God and future generations (Genesis 2:15: "to work it and take care of it").

In Islam, humans are khalifah (stewards/vicegerents) accountable to Allah for how they treat the natural world.

Resources, pollution and animals

Human activity can use or abuse creation. Using up natural resources, causing pollution and damaging the environment are seen by many believers as failing in stewardship. Reducing waste, recycling and protecting the planet are seen as religious duties.

• Natural resources — believers may argue we should use resources wisely and sustainably, not greedily.
• Animals for food — many Christians and Muslims accept eating meat; some Christians choose vegetarianism. In Islam meat should be halal and slaughter should avoid cruelty.
• Animal experimentation — some accept it where it reduces human suffering; others oppose cruelty. Most traditions forbid causing needless suffering to animals.

Balance: most religious views permit the humane use of animals but reject cruelty. Positions on experimentation and vegetarianism vary within and between religions.

Key term → meaning

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Sanctity of life vs quality of life

Two key ideas frame this debate. The sanctity of life is the belief that life is holy and God-given, so it must be protected. Quality of life arguments weigh a person's wellbeing and circumstances. In the UK, abortion is generally permitted up to 24 weeks under conditions set by the Abortion Act, and later if the mother's life is at serious risk.

• Roman Catholic Church: opposes abortion, teaching that life begins at conception and must be protected.
• Some Christians and Muslims: accept abortion in certain circumstances, e.g. serious risk to the mother's life. Many Muslim scholars regard it as more serious after ensoulment (often taken as 120 days), permitting it before then only for serious reasons.
• Humanists: generally support a woman's right to choose, weighing wellbeing and circumstances rather than a fixed rule.

Views on abortion

Ending life: sanctity vs compassion

Euthanasia means bringing about a gentle death to end suffering. Key distinctions:

• Voluntary — at the person's own request; non-voluntary — the person cannot ask (e.g. in a coma).
• Active — deliberately doing something to end life; passive — withdrawing or withholding burdensome treatment.

Euthanasia is currently illegal in the UK. Religious and non-religious people debate it:

• Many Christians and Muslims: uphold the sanctity of life and oppose deliberately ending a life, though many accept withdrawing burdensome treatment and giving good palliative care.
• Humanists: tend to weigh a person's autonomy and their suffering, and some support assisted dying with safeguards.

How belief in an afterlife shapes value of life

Belief about what happens after death affects how people value this life. Christians and Muslims believe in life after death and judgement, which many say makes this life even more precious — a gift from God to be respected and lived well.

• Christians: believe in resurrection and judgement, then heaven or hell; this can strengthen support for the sanctity of life.
• Muslims: believe in Akhirah (the afterlife) and the Day of Judgement, so actions in this life matter greatly.
• Humanists / atheists: generally believe this life is the only one, which for many is a reason to make it count and to reduce suffering.

Link: beliefs about the afterlife feed directly into views on abortion and euthanasia — they shape how sacred a person thinks life is.

Understanding euthanasia

Which view is this?

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Sanctity of life ↔ Quality of life

Tap a statement, then the view it best fits.

Define the term

Religion and the use of animals

The ideas to know

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