Exploration of the Teachings of Christianity Which Might be Used in a Discussion About Abortion
"When does human life begin?" A question many people have been
intrigued by for many years. Ensoulment, when the sperm enters the
body and life has been said to occur in the sperm before conception,
at conception, at the time of the quickening when the mother first
feels the foetus moving inside her, or at birth. Some say it may even
happen later.
Due to the lack of technology early Christians believed human life
starts when the baby starts to move. St. Augustine and St. Thomas
Aquinas believed the foetus has no soul until the time of the
quickening on the grounds that the embryo does not look human. Because
of this belief, they did not consider early term abortion (before
quickening) to be murder.
However, in the seventeenth century when the first microscopes were
used to examine sperm cells they were thought to show a fully formed
human being. It was believed that each sperm cell was a tiny human
being, which would then grow. This scientific idea was a
misinterpretation. However, in 1869 it led the Roman Catholic Church
to declare that if any woman had an abortion at any time, this would
lead to excommunication. All stages of human life are said to be
sacred meaning even contraception is disallowed by the Catholic
Church.
Christians believe human life is sacred and blessed because it was
created by God. This means all humans are God's property; so killing a
person would be like killing a part of god. Humans are said to be
created in gods image. "So god created human beings, making them like
himself." Genesis 1.27
God also said that humans take charge of all the animals meaning they
are the most important. All humans deserve respect from everyone even
if you don't like them. "If your enemy is hungry feed him, if he is
thirsty, give him something to drink." Romans 12.14-21. As well as
showing respect human life should not be destroyed.