Christian Attitudes to Abortion
For Christians there are many sources of authority; leaders of the
church, religious teachers, and even their own conscience. The main
source however is the Bible; it helps guide Christians, and affects
their attitude towards everyday life.
Abortion, the act of terminating the life of a foetus (unborn child)
before it has had a chance to live, was legalised in England in 1967
(The Abortion Act), however many Christians are still undecided on
whether the act is morally correct.
The early Christians regarded fertility as one of Gods greatest
blessings, and the idea of abortion was totally alien to them. The
word abortion is not directly mentioned in the Bible, and no Christian
group actually supports abortion, but some Christians understand that
everyone should have an equal right to choice.
Christians that argue the pro-choice position believe that there are
many instances where teachings from the Bible or another source of
authority can be applied to this situation. The Church of...
Christian Beliefs About Sanctity of Life in Relation to Abortion Christians believe in the sanctity of human life. They believe it is sacred and should not be treated badly or discarded thoughtlessly. Christians believe that God created the world and everything in it. including a man of the same name. They also believe that God created the world for good.
The Divine command theory states that morally right actions are those commanded by God, and any action going against it is morally wrong. People that accept this theory can only consider an act to be right or wrong if God commanded it to be so. Therefore, supporters of this theory have a moral obligation to do and obey whatever God considered to be right without questioning his judgment. Those in favor of this theory should fulfill his will without any hesitation, regardless of its consequences to society. So if God had claimed abortion to be morally right, everyone supporting this theory were to happily accept it. Moreover, this theory suggests that those who act on a moral sense God desires will be rewarded at the end, perhaps in the afterlife;
The Christian view, that we are created in the image of God, formed by Him in the womb making us human upon conception, makes abortion wrong. It shows what abortion truly is, murder. Murder that is the sacrifice of a human life to the ‘god’ of convenience. While abortion may seem to solve immediate problems for some, this act is wrong and has consequences much worse than the consequences, joys, of having and raising a
that matters is that of the woman the rule "life for a life, burn for
life is sacred and was given by God. It is a gift from God. To have an
The Roman Catholic Catechism teaches that at the moment a sperm enters an egg, a life is formed, so, “a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church”). The Church also condemns abortion for any reason, because it is considered murder, a crime, a grave evil, and a mortal sin. Also, elective abortion for personal or social convenience is forbidden by some religious groups, but many religious denominations believe that there are certain circumstances where abortion is justified: “... a pregnancy that threatens the life of the mother or that has come about as the result of rape or incest” ("Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion"). Such a view is sanctioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Episcopal Church; Evangelical Lutheran Church; Hinduism; Islam; and Judaism. Although there is conflict between religious denominations over the issue on what is morally right on abortion, many agree on the importance of the well being of the mother in considering whether or not it is ethically right to
A Christian Response to Abortion or Euthanasia Abortion is the death of the foetus (life) from the mother's womb whether deliberate (operation/termination) or accidental (miscarriage). Christians are divided in their views on abortion. The Roman Catholic Church does not allow abortion. They do not agree on the precise moment in human development when a human person begins to exist.
Whether or not abortion is morally right or wrong, the fact remains that a woman
“Any American born after 1973 is a survivor of legalized abortion” (“Abortion”). This quote struck me because of its frankness. After it was legalized, many women had an option to abort their pregnancy against the Catholic Church’s wishes. Any child that was born after that year could have been aborted. This shows that many of the people that are living today could have been killed simply because the mother did not want them and they were considered to not be living in the womb. Being here today, many people survived the mass murder that is abortion and still continues today. The Church urges every mother to think about the morals and laws that God has sent to us. “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). This includes the fetus in the womb that has been alive since conception. The views of the Church and the views of society fight against each other constantly. Abortion is the killing of a human being and is accepted by modern society despite it being against the teachings of the Church and moral good.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I
Abortion Abortion is an ongoing controversy that affects millions of Americans every year. Abortion is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy (Dictonary.com) -. The law provides and protects the mother's decision. and consent for medical professionals to perform these procedures. There are several factors that are considered in debating whether abortion is morally permissible or wrong.
In examining religious opinions on abortion, one must find common ground on which to form a foundation of comparison. With most of the religions to date, that common ground lies on the argument of whether or not a fetus is an actual person. Some religions protest by saying a fetus isn't a conscious being -- therefore there is no loss in doing away with it. But for those religions that do believe there is a life -- or any spiritual being -- in a fetus, it is clearly a crime to have an abortion.
A Christian Response to Abortion Christians will all respond to the issue of abortion in different ways. Some Christians will follow the teaching of their church and strictly follow the rules that are laid out by that church. Others will look at the bible and see if they can adopt an attitude to abortion which best suits what is written. Other Christians may follow the life example and teachings of Jesus trying to re-live his way of life as Christians believe that Jesus is God, and they would believe that God knows exactly what are the right and wrong things to do. Some Christians may ask their friends and family how they feel about abortion even asking their priest what their opinion maybe.
Nowadays, in this world, there are a lot of problems that can make tremendous conflicts for human beings. They are very complicated and bring a lot of argument and nobody knows what the exact answer is. They also have pros and cons. One of the most complex problems is abortion. This is due to moral and ethical values which we all have. The majority of us are Christians or are brought up in that kind of ambiance which means that as small children we were taught values that are based on the bible such as that famous phrase “Thou shall not kill”. This phrase relates to this topic because an abortion is the murder of a human being.
As stated multiple times; Psalm 139:13-16, speaks of God’s active role in or creation and formation in the womb, therefore this states God makes all fetus/ people for a certain reason and this means God does not want abortion otherwise why would he make them. Exodus 21:22-25, prescribes the same penalty, death, for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as for someone who commits murder, this clearly indicates that God then considers a fetus/ baby in the womb as to be the same as a full-grown adult, this then means God indicates abortion is wrong. Christian’s beliefs of abortion is it not a matter of a woman’s right to choose, it is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27, 9:6. The first argument that fights against the Christian stance on abortion is “What about cases of rape and/or incest?” two wrongs do not make a right. The child who is born of rape/incest could be given in adoption to a loving family and are unable to have children on their own. The baby is innocent therefore should not be punished for the acts of its father. The Roman Catholic Church says abortion is a grave moral wrong. As based on the written word of God and natural law, as they prohibit abortion under any circumstances, "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the new born to perish". As