All Christians feel a need to follow of the teachings of the Bible. However, this can sometimes be difficult, such as the moral and biblical stance on abortion.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Christian Views on Abortion

All Christians feel a need to follow of the teachings of the Bible. However, this can sometimes be difficult, such as the moral and biblical stance on abortion. For a long time there has been a debate among Christians on what the Bible views as abortion. In this essay we shall examine both sides of evidence.

The main focus point of anti-abortion activist Christians is the 6th commandment ‘You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13). They say the act of abortion violates this commandment which clearly prohibits murder. However, the argument apposing this is when the embryo/fetus does become fully human. This means when they have a mind, a body, and a soul. The Catholic Church teaches that ensoulemnt comes at the moment of conception. Others however, feel that it is not until they can live independently from their mother, i.e. they can breathe by themselves:

‘The lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.’ (Genesis 2:7)

Christians who argue against abortion argue that God has planned the life of a person out before they where born.

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‘The lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.’ (Genesis 2:7)

Christians who argue against abortion argue that God has planned the life of a person out before they where born.

'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be'

(Psalm 139:13-16).

A prophet Jeremiah spoke similar words. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you' (Jeremiah 1:5). Other phrases such as these are present in the Bible, including Mary being told of Jesus by the angel Gabriel.’He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High' (Luke 1:32). This argument ties in with the Catholic view that life begins at conception.

The Protestants are reluctant to take such a hard line as the Catholics, but still feel it is wrong. If the woman has been raped and become pregnant, for example, this situation would allow for an abortion. However, both the Catholic and Protestant churches accept that if the mother’s life is in danger, an abortion is allowed.

Pro-Choice Christians have a variety of reasons for choice on abortion. One of them is that nothing is directly said or taught about abortion in the Bible. They claim that anything in the Bible that can be linked to abortion is aimed at specific people such as King David, the Prophet Jeremiah, and Jesus. Also, pro-choice Christians also say that the pro-life Christians take the verses to seriously, and taking out of context to prove a point. This is almost a fundamentalist approach.

The downfall of the proof texting is however that God at times broke his own commandments and ordered the Israelites to kill without mercy, such as the Canaanites.

However, there is one passage in the Bible which seems to touch on the issue of abortion.

'If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.' (Exodus 21:22-25).

It is interesting to note here that only if the woman dies from her injuries it is called a murder though premature birth was called abortion, and was not condemned by the 6th commandment.

After looking at passages from the Bible, it is clear to me why the situation of abortion is a sticky point morally, ethically, and religiously for all involved. The Catholic society has received critisicscm because it teaches its followers to have children irresponsibly and not care fully. As I mentioned earlier, Christians do allow abortions in expceptional cases, but are take with a heavy heart. Overall, the mothers’ wishes should take high consideration, and no woman should have an abortion if she feels love for the baby growing inside her.