GCSE Religious Studies: Religion and Life – Abortion, Euthanasia and the Afterlife

This material covers the second half of the religion and life theme set out in the DfE subject content for GCSE Religious Studies (for example, the section on the origins and value of human life in AQA's Theme B). It is about the questions that come up in almost every paper on this theme: where human life comes from, why it has value, and what follows for abortion, euthanasia and beliefs about death.

It starts with the origins of human life: Genesis 1 and 2, the idea that humans are made in the image of God, and Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. You see why some Christians reject evolution while the Catholic Church and the Church of England accept it, and how humanists explain human life without a creator.

The central ideas are the sanctity of life and the quality of life. You learn the scripture most often used for the sanctity of life, such as Psalm 139:13, and practise applying both ideas to real cases.

On abortion, the material sets out the law in England, Wales and Scotland under the Abortion Act 1967 and compares religious positions: the Catholic teaching that life begins at conception and the doctrine of double effect; the Church of England's view that abortion may, in strictly limited circumstances, be the lesser of two evils; Muslim beliefs about ensoulment; and the humanist emphasis on a woman's right to choose.

On euthanasia you learn to tell voluntary from non-voluntary and active from passive euthanasia, what the law in the UK allows, the arguments from autonomy and compassion, the religious objections, and the place of hospice care. The last part compares beliefs about death and the afterlife in Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and humanism, and asks how each shapes the value placed on this life.

The material offers a quiz with an explanation for every answer, flashcards for the key terms, a printable written sheet of explain-and-evaluate tasks with reference answers, and an oral practice exam in which the examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

Religious and non-religious views are presented accurately and neutrally, including the disagreements inside each tradition. Use it to learn the arguments and then to practise weighing them towards a justified conclusion.

• Compare Genesis 1–2 and the theory of evolution and explain why many believers accept both
• Explain the sanctity of life and the quality of life, using scripture
• Describe the law on abortion in Great Britain and compare Catholic, Anglican, Muslim and humanist views
• Distinguish voluntary, non-voluntary, active and passive euthanasia and explain arguments for and against
• Explain the role of hospice care as an alternative to euthanasia
• Explain how beliefs about the afterlife affect the value placed on human life

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE religious studies subject content (theme: religion and life) and, for example, AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) Theme B: the origins and value of human life.