Biblical Answer

The Christian view of mortal human life is both higher and lower than other creatures. This is because human life bears the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The sacredness of human life is an extremely important principle in God's scheme of things. Even after the fall, murder was prohibited; the reason given was that humans were made in the image of God. This principle is reflected in the biblical teaching that human life is sacred because it is a gift from God, and therefore, human beings are to be treated with respect.

The biblical teaching on human life is reflected in the way God treats human beings. For example, God establishes a system of justice and accountability for taking human life. In Deuteronomy 19:4-6, God establishes a city of refuge and live there safely. When it was murder, the offender was to be put to death. This demonstrates that God takes human life seriously and holds individuals accountable for their actions. Furthermore, God's decision to take on a human nature and live on earth as Jesus Christ demonstrates the value and dignity of human life. This is reflected in the biblical teaching that human life is sacred because it is a gift from God, and therefore, human beings are to be treated with respect.

The sacredness of human life is also reflected in the way God commands humans to treat animals. In Leviticus 17:10-14, God commands humans not to eat the blood of animals, but to drain it from the animal before eating it. This demonstrates that God values animal life as well as human life. However, the sanctity of human life is higher than that of animal life. This is reflected in the biblical teaching that humans are made in the image of God, while animals are not. Therefore, the sacredness of human life is an extremely important principle in God's scheme of things, and human beings are to be treated with respect and dignity.