The value of human life with particular reference to the quality of life & self-sacrifice

The value of human life with particular reference to the quality of life & self-sacrifice

1. QUALITY OF LIFE

   • The quality of life refers to the overall welfare of a person, regarding happiness, contentmant, social harmony and fulfiliment, some views underpin that a life with poor quality may not be worth living. To a Christian, quality of life judgements are irrelevant, because each individual is created in the image of God, and each human life is sacred and has intrinsic value.
   • Christians believe that ensuring people with a disability have a maximum quality of life is very important because they are still human like all of us, but that their dignity and social well-being should not be downgraded because of a disability.
   • The quality of life is regarded as an issue when concerning euthanasia.

2. SELF-SACRIFICE

   • Christians are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Many religious teachings state or imply that in some situations, Christians should be willing to sacrifice their lives.

3. Intro

   • In Christianity, the value of human life is believed to be sacred, 'the sanctity of life' where by life is scared and each individual is made in the image of God. In all situations, human life has the quality assurance of God, including those with disabilities, terminal illness' and the oppressed, it is the duty of a human being to act positively towards human life. Christians also believe that human life should be self-sacrificial and exercise Jesus' example of agape in his ressurection.

4. Christians see their role in preserving creation very important because they believe all mankind has the responsibility to act as the servants of God and to practise the idea of stewardship. Stewardship is the Christian belief that you should act responsibly; man cannot do as he likes-he must respect life and life has been created by God and is therefore sacred. The ten commandments show that man has a duty to God, e.g. do not kill shows that life has a value and no man has the right to take it. It shows that no life is disposable and everyone has a value and purpose.