Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TB2 Origins and Value of Human Life

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing the origins and value of human life.

(a)State what is meant by evolution.(1)

(b)State what is meant by the sanctity of life.(1)

(c)State what is meant by being made in the image of God (imago Dei).(1)

(d)State what is meant by khalifah, in Islam.(1)

(e)State what is meant by human dignity.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about the scientific theory of evolution.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings about the origin of human life. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting beliefs, religious and/or non-religious, about the origin of human life. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about religious and non-religious perspectives on the value of human life. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question: parts (a) to (d) are worth 12 marks; part (e) is the 12-mark evaluation.

(a)State what is meant by quality of life.(1)

(b)Give two reasons why religious believers consider human life to have special value.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about the value of human life. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting beliefs, religious and/or non-religious, about what gives human life its value. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority or another source in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Only a religious believer can truly value human life.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two non-religious arguments about the value of human life. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three reasons why some people believe evolution and belief in God as creator can both be true.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TB2 Origins and Value of Human Life

Question 1

(a) B1 the scientific theory that species, including humans, have developed gradually over millions of years through natural selection, oe
(a) Answer: The scientific theory that species have developed gradually over millions of years through natural selection.
(b) B1 the belief that human life is sacred/holy because it is created by God, oe
(b) Answer: The belief that human life is sacred because it is created by God.
(c) B1 the Christian belief that human beings reflect something of God's own nature, giving them special worth and dignity, oe
(c) Answer: The Christian belief that human beings reflect something of God's own nature, giving them special worth.
(d) B1 a steward/trustee/vicegerent; the role given by Allah to human beings to look after the earth and other creation, oe
(d) Answer: A steward or trustee; the role given by Allah to human beings to look after the earth.
(e) B1 the belief that every human being has inherent worth and deserves respect, oe
(e) Answer: The belief that every human being has inherent worth and deserves respect.

Question 2

B1 it states that all species, including humans, share common ancestors, oe
B1 it states that small genetic variations are passed from one generation to the next, oe
B1 it states that natural selection means organisms better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, oe
Answer: Any three: common ancestry of species; genetic variation passed between generations; natural selection favouring better-suited organisms.

Question 3

B1 point 1: many Christians believe God created the first human beings directly, forming them from the earth, oe
B1 development: Genesis 2:7 teaches that God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into him, oe
B1 point 2: many Muslims believe Allah created the first human being, Adam, and shaped him before giving him life, oe
B1 development: the Qur'an teaches that Allah fashioned the human being and breathed into him something of his own spirit (Qur'an 32:9), oe
Answer: E.g. God forming the first human from dust and breathing life into him (Genesis 2:7); Allah fashioning Adam and breathing his spirit into him (Qur'an 32:9).

Question 4

B1 belief 1: some Christians and Muslims interpret their scriptures literally, believing God directly and specially created the first humans, distinct from other animals, oe
B1 development: on this view, Genesis 2:7 and the Qur'an's account of Adam describe an actual, historical special creation of the first human being, oe
B1 belief 2: many non-religious people, and some religious believers, accept the scientific theory of evolution, believing humans developed gradually from earlier species over millions of years, oe
B1 development: on this view, the fossil and genetic evidence for common ancestry with other species is the best explanation for how human life began, without needing a special, separate act of creation, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: literal special creation of the first humans (Genesis 2:7) vs the scientific theory of evolution from earlier species.

Question 5

(a) B1 a judgement about how enjoyable or worthwhile a person's life is/would be, oe
(a) Answer: A judgement about how enjoyable or worthwhile a life is.
(b) B1 human life is created by God, so it belongs to God and should be respected/protected, oe
(b) B1 human beings are made in God's image, or given a special role as steward/khalifah, giving them a unique status among creation, oe
(b) Answer: E.g. life belongs to and is created by God; humans made in God's image or given a special stewardship role.
(c) B1 point 1: many Christians believe every human life has infinite worth because God knows and values each person individually, even before birth, oe
(c) B1 development: Psalm 139:13 teaches that God 'knit together' the psalmist in his mother's womb, showing God's personal involvement in and valuing of each life, oe
(c) B1 point 2: many Muslims believe human life has great honour and dignity because Allah has specially honoured human beings above other creation, oe
(c) B1 development: the Qur'an teaches that Allah has 'honoured the children of Adam' (Qur'an 17:70), giving human life a special, dignified status, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. life valued because God knits each person together (Psalm 139:13); humans specially honoured by Allah (Qur'an 17:70).
(d) B1 belief 1: many religious believers hold that the value of human life comes from God, since it is God who creates, sustains and gives life its purpose, oe
(d) B1 development: Genesis 1:27 teaches that God created human beings in his own image, giving human life a value that does not depend on ability, health or usefulness, oe
(d) B1 belief 2: many Humanists and other non-religious people hold that the value of human life comes from human qualities themselves, such as the capacity for reason, self-awareness and relationships, rather than from God, oe
(d) B1 development: on this view, human life is precious because of what it is actually like to live it and what a person can experience, achieve and contribute, not because it was created by a deity, oe
(d) B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority or another appropriate source made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: value from God as creator (Genesis 1:27) vs value from human qualities such as reason and relationships (a Humanist view).
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching and/or scripture to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching and/or scripture, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: many religious believers argue that without a creator God, human life has no ultimate source of worth, since a purely material process such as evolution gives no reason why one species' life should matter more than any other.
- Agree: Genesis 1:27 teaches that humans are made in God's image, which some believers argue is the only secure basis for saying every human life has equal, unconditional worth, whatever their abilities or circumstances.
- Agree: some argue that without God, value becomes a matter of personal or social opinion, which could in principle be withdrawn from some people, whereas a value grounded in God cannot be taken away.
- Disagree: many Humanists argue they value human life just as strongly as religious believers, but ground that value in observable human qualities, such as the capacity for reason, love, creativity and suffering, rather than in belief in God.
- Disagree: Humanist and other non-religious ethical traditions, going back to thinkers in the Enlightenment and beyond, have long argued for human dignity and rights on the basis of shared humanity alone, without reference to religion.
- Disagree: in practice, many non-religious people in Britain work in caring professions, campaign for human rights, or otherwise act in ways that show they value human life highly, which suggests valuing life does not require religious belief.
- Disagree: some point out that religious believers themselves disagree about whose life counts and how much (for example historic disputes over slavery or persecution carried out in the name of religion), so religious belief has not always guaranteed that human life is valued in practice.
- A balanced answer might conclude that religious belief offers one well-developed account of why human life is valuable, but is not the only coherent basis for valuing it, since both religious and non-religious traditions in Britain today affirm human worth, even though they explain its source differently.

Question 6

B1 point 1: human life has value because of distinctively human capacities, such as reason, self-awareness and the ability to form relationships, oe
B1 development: Humanists generally argue that these capacities give human life special moral status without needing to appeal to God or an afterlife, oe
B1 point 2: human life has value because of its impact on and connections with other people, such as family, friends and the wider community, oe
B1 development: on this view, a life is valuable partly because of the relationships, contributions and experiences it makes possible in this world, here and now, oe
Answer: E.g. value from distinctively human capacities (reason, self-awareness); value from relationships and contribution to others in this life.

Question 7

B1 they may believe God chose to create human life gradually, through the natural process of evolution, rather than instantaneously, oe
B1 they may believe Genesis and the Qur'an teach why humans exist and their purpose, rather than giving a scientific account of exactly how they developed, oe
B1 they may believe scientific and religious explanations answer different kinds of question, so accepting one does not require rejecting the other, oe
Answer: Any three: God may have used evolution as his method; scripture answers why, not the biological how; science and religion answer different questions.

Origins and Value of Human Life - Worksheets, Questions and Revision