Theme B — Religion and Life
What's covered
Key facts
Abortion — Including Risk to the Mother
The 1967 Act permits abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy when two doctors agree that continuing would risk physical or mental harm — and beyond 24 weeks for serious foetal abnormality or grave risk to the woman.
Beliefs About Death and the Afterlife
Catholic teaching includes purgatory — a state of purification after death for those destined for heaven but not yet fully prepared.
Ethical Arguments About Abortion
The ethics of abortion involves balancing the rights of the mother (autonomy, life, health) against the rights of the foetus (life, future).
Sources of Wisdom and Authority — Key Quotes
Jeremiah 1:5 ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you") is cited to argue that human life has value and is known by God from before birth — a pro-life proof text on foetal status.
Euthanasia
Ending one's own life with medical help is called assisted dying.
Origins of Human Life — Religious Teachings and Evolution
Most mainstream Christians (Catholic, Anglican, mainline Protestant) accept evolution as compatible with the Christian doctrine of creation.
Origins of the Universe — Religious Teachings and the Big Bang
The Big Bang is the prevailing scientific theory of the origin of the universe — that it expanded from an extremely hot, dense initial state about 13.8 billion years ago.
Sanctity of Life and Quality of Life
Christians value sanctity of life because humans are made in God's image (imago Dei, Genesis 1:27), and so possess inherent worth.
Use and Abuse of Animals
Hindu non-violence to all living beings is called ahimsa.
Use and Abuse of the Environment
A typical Christian response to environmental damage is repentance, behavioural change, and care for creation — what Laudato Si' calls "ecological conversion".
Sample questions
A taste of the 119 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What does the UK Abortion Act 1967 permit (in England, Scotland and Wales)?
- •Abortion at any age without any restriction
- •Abortion only for women over the age of 30
- •Abortion only if both parents agree fully
- ✓Abortion up to 24 weeks under certain conditions
What is the 'Day of Judgement' in Christian belief?
- ✓When God judges everyone's life
- •When Jesus returns to earth only
- •When science replaces all religion
- •When souls are reincarnated instead
What is the sanctity-of-life argument against abortion?
- ✓All human life is sacred from conception
- •Life depends on family wealth and influence
- •Life only really matters after the first year
- •Life value is set by the government each year
What is involuntary euthanasia?
- •Ending life only of healthy young people
- •Ending life with no medical involvement at all
- •Ending life with the patient's full request
- ✓Ending life without the person's consent
What does Christian creationism teach about human origins?
- ✓Adam and Eve created directly by God
- •Humans actually created the universe themselves
- •Humans are merely illusions, not real beings
- •Humans evolved from rocks and air slowly
What scientific theory explains the universe's beginning?
- ✓the Big Bang theory
- •the Multiverse theory
- •the Steady State theory
- •the String theory
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