Discussion Points: Sanctity of Life

Religious Studies: OCR A Level, topic 2.5.3

Is 'Sanctity of Life' Meaningful in the 21st Century?

This debate looks at whether the 'sanctity of life' argument has a place in 21st-century society.

The sanctity of life principle is based on the Jewish and Christian biblical belief that life is a gift from God and is on loan to humans.
Genesis says that people are made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27).
This means people are in some way reflections of God.
Christians and Jews make up a large proportion of the UK. In the last census, nearly 50% of people considered themselves to be Christian. For them, the SOL has meaning in medical ethics.

Sanctity of life is a religious concept.
In many parts of Western Europe, people are becoming more secular (less religious). So religious teachings and concepts/laws arguably have less significance and importance.
Peter Singer has strongly argued that it is now time to abandon the sanctity of life principle in favour of the non-religious quality of life argument.

The quality of life principle says that a life is only worthwhile if it can fulfil those things which make life worth living.
There is nothing intrinsically good about being alive besides enabling us to experience those things which are desired.
In other words, human life has to possess certain attributes to have value.

What is the correct quotation from Genesis, suggesting that humans are in some ways reflections of God?