Biblical Answer

The Sacredness of Human Life

The Christian view of human life is that it is sacred because it bears the image of God. This is stated in Genesis 1:27, where it says, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." This means that human life has a unique value and dignity that is not found in other creatures. The sacredness of human life is an extremely important principle in God's scheme of things, and it is reflected in the fact that murder was prohibited in the early biblical accounts, with the reason given being that humans were made in the image of God (Gen 9:5-6).

The Sanctity of Human Life

The sanctity of human life is not just a matter of human value, but also of divine authority. The biblical account in Genesis 9:5-6 states that both animals and humans will be held accountable for taking a human life. This means that human life has a higher sanctity than animal life, and that taking a human life is a serious offense against God. This is reflected in the fact that the penalty for murder is not just a matter of human judgment, but also of divine judgment. The biblical account in Deuteronomy 12:16-23 and Numbers 35:16-21 also reflects the importance of human life, with the prohibition on taking human life being connected with the idea that, since life is sacred and is the gift of God, the human givers of life are to be treated with respect.

The Significance of Human Life

The significance of human life is that it is a critical value for the continued pursuit of other values. As the biblical account in Genesis 1:27 says, human life bears the image of God, and this gives it a unique value and dignity. The value of life is probably the watershed issue for any society, and it is reflected in the fact that murder, killing, and racism are all serious offenses against human life and dignity. The Christian view of human life is that it is sacred because it bears the image of God, and this is reflected in the importance of respecting human life and treating it with dignity and value. This is a critical principle in God's scheme of things, and it is reflected in the biblical account of human life and its significance.