Mini-Lesson

Issues of Life and Death

This mini-lesson works through the Eduqas theme Issues of Life and Death: the origins of the universe and life, evolution, the sanctity of life, abortion and euthanasia, death and the afterlife, and animal rights and stewardship. You'll compare a genuine range of religious and non-religious (Humanist / atheist) views.

Work through each screen, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. These are sensitive issues where people hold sincere, differing views. Press Start when you're ready.

Origins

Origins of the universe

Where did the universe come from? Religious and scientific accounts are given, and many people combine them.

Religious view: many believers hold that God created the universe (Genesis 1; the Qur'an describes Allah creating the heavens and earth).
Scientific view: the Big Bang describes the universe expanding from an extremely hot, dense point about 13.8 billion years ago.
Compatibility: many religious believers accept the Big Bang and evolution, seeing science as describing how and religion why. Some read Genesis literally instead.

Non-religious view: Humanists and atheists usually accept the scientific account and see no need for a creator God.

Origins

Origins of life and evolution

Evolution is the scientific theory that living things have changed gradually over millions of years through natural selection (Darwin).

Many religious believers accept evolution as the process God used to bring about life.
Some believers (creationists) prefer a literal reading of scripture, e.g. creation in six days.
Non-religious view: Humanists accept evolution as the well-evidenced explanation for the diversity of life.

Stewardship idea: whether life came about by God's design or by natural processes, many people agree humans have a responsibility to care for the natural world.

Quick check

Science and religion

?Which statement best describes how many religious believers relate the Big Bang to their faith?

Value of life

The sanctity of life

Many religious believers hold that life is sacred (the sanctity of life) — a gift from God with special value.

Christianity & Islam: humans are made "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27); the Qur'an teaches that saving one life is like saving all humanity.
Because life is God's gift, many believers say only God should give and take life.
Non-religious view: Humanists reject the idea that life is "sacred" in a religious sense, but they still value human life highly and stress quality of life and personal autonomy.

Key contrast: "sanctity of life" (life is sacred and God-given) vs "quality of life" (how good or bearable a life is). These ideas shape views on abortion and euthanasia.

Abortion

Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy. It is one of the most debated ethical issues, with a genuine range of views.

More traditional religious view: because life is sacred from conception, many believers oppose abortion (e.g. official Roman Catholic teaching).
More liberal religious view: some believers accept abortion in certain cases, such as risk to the mother's life, out of compassion.
Non-religious view: Humanists generally support a woman's right to choose, focusing on quality of life, the woman's wellbeing and the situation.

Respectful note: present abortion as a serious question on which sincere people disagree — give reasons on more than one side.

Match up

Term → meaning

Tap a term on the left, then its meaning on the right.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia means ending someone's life, usually to relieve suffering from a terminal illness. Views differ:

More traditional religious view: many believers oppose euthanasia because life is sacred and only God should decide when it ends; they often support hospices and palliative care instead.
More liberal religious view: some believers argue compassion can justify allowing a peaceful death in extreme suffering.
Non-religious view: many Humanists support the right to a dignified assisted death, provided there are strong safeguards and clear consent.

Care first: across many views, there is strong support for good end-of-life care that reduces suffering.

Quick check

Sanctity of life

?What does the sanctity of life mean?

Afterlife

Death and the afterlife

What happens after death? Beliefs vary between and within traditions:

Christianity: belief in resurrection and judgement, with hope of eternal life (heaven); many Christians point to Jesus' resurrection.
Islam: belief in akhirah — resurrection, the Day of Judgement, and Jannah (paradise) or Jahannam (hell).
Non-religious view: many Humanists and atheists believe there is no afterlife; a person lives on in memories and in the good they did.

Why it matters: beliefs about the afterlife influence how people cope with death and how they live now.

Animals & nature

Animal rights and stewardship

How should humans treat animals and the environment?

Stewardship: many believers teach that God gave humans responsibility to care for creation (Genesis 2:15); in Islam, humans are khalifah (stewards) of the earth.
Dominion vs stewardship: "dominion" (Genesis 1:28) is usually understood as caring authority, not the right to exploit.
Animals: many believers support kind treatment of animals; views differ on eating meat, animal experiments and rights.
Non-religious view: many Humanists strongly support animal welfare and protecting the environment on ethical grounds.

Quick check

Views on euthanasia

?Many believers who oppose euthanasia support which alternative for the dying?

Sort it

Whose view?

Tap a view, then tap whether it is best described as a religious-based or a non-religious (Humanist) view.

✝️☪️ Religious-based

🌍 Non-religious

Sort it

Name the concept

Read each description, then tap the correct term.

Quick check

Evolution

?What is the scientific theory of evolution?

Quick check

Stewardship

?In religious teaching, what does stewardship of the earth mean?

Recap

What to know

Origins: God as Creator (Genesis / Qur'an); the Big Bang and evolution — often accepted alongside faith.

Sanctity of life: life is sacred and God-given; contrast with quality of life and Humanist autonomy.

Abortion: a range of views — from opposition (life from conception) to acceptance in some cases and pro-choice.

Euthanasia: many oppose it and support hospices; some accept it out of compassion; Humanists often back safeguarded assisted dying.

Afterlife: Christian resurrection/heaven; Muslim akhirah; many non-religious people believe there is no afterlife.

Animals & nature: stewardship / khalifah — caring for creation; range of views on animal rights.

Range: give religious AND non-religious views, and show believers disagree among themselves.

You've covered the Eduqas theme Issues of Life and Death. Press Finish to see your score.

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