Is it right to preserve the sanctity of life at the expense of quality of life?
Starter Sanctity of Life
Quality of Life
• Life should be defined in biological terms. • Life is only worth living if there is hope. • Life should be preserved at all costs. • Relationships are the most important thing in life. • No-one should have the right to refuse medical treatment to extend their life. • A short happy life is better than a long, mediocre one. • Life should be defined in terms of quality. • Any medical advances that can make us live longer should be welcomed.
Half the statements represent the viewpoint that biological life is sacred – or has sanctity – while the other half are more representative of a quality of life perspective. Can you identify which fit into each category? Can you identify which viewpoint is closer to your own opinion?
Definitions From the statements you have discussed and from your
own knowledge, try to come up with a group definition of what is meant by ‘quality of life’ and ‘sanctity of life.’ Work in groups to list the strengths and dangers of an
extreme interpretation of this particular viewpoint.
Activation Ill baby 'should not be revived' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3723656.stm • What evidence do you see in the article of the two viewpoints?
• Do you think the fact that the parents are Christians affects their viewpoint? • Do you agree with the judge’s verdict? • Where would you place his response on the quality / sanctity of life continuum? • What would you have done in his position? • Do you think there is a right or wrong response? Is there anything you like or dislike about the judge’s words? The judge too is a Christian (he is president of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship – see www.lawcf.org for more details). Does this surprise you? Do they think it strange that his verdict is different to the parents' view?
Christian View
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” said Jesus What do you think his opinion of what life in all its fullness is?
Christians see life as sacred, very special to God and therefore should be respected.
Quotes: “Do not commit murder” Exodus 20:13 “You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead 32When
Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35Jesus wept. 36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?“ 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.“ 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go.“
These passages give us an idea of what Jesus taught about life – that it is to be
characterised by both quality and sanctity. His teaching and actions seem to hold the two views of life in tension and reflect the Christian worldview that it is in a relationship with Jesus that life has its deepest meaning and ‘fullness’. However, the qualities of security, relationship, love etc, are qualities that most human beings value in life, whether they are Christian or not.
Demonstration PLENARY/ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING ď‚— Divide the class into pairs or groups of three and
distribute copies of the worksheet. Ask them to formulate three responses to the scenarios representing a) An extreme quality of life stance b) An extreme sanctity of life stance c) Your own viewpoint (they may wish to do this individually
Pleanary ď‚— Now compare results with others in the class. ď‚— Is it easy to judge quality against sanctity?