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 England teaches that: ‘The life of a foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother’, this teaches Christians that if the life of the mother were in danger, then to consider abortion would be acceptable.
The Bible teaches Christians about the lesser of two evils, the acceptance of an imperfect world. It is sometimes better to have an abortion, than to have an unfit mother and an unhappy child.
The Bible also teaches Christians the greatest commandment: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbour as yourself.' If you wouldn’t want to be brought up in the only circumstances you can provide, then you shouldn’t expect someone else to be brought up in them. You should be able to treat your child, as you would want to be treated.
Christians who argue against abortion have been taught that life begins at conception: ‘You knit me together in my mother’s womb…my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place…your eyes saw my unformed body’ (Psalm 139:13-16). This quote suggests that God created humans, so they should be allowed to grow up the way he wanted. Christians use a number of verses that seem to teach how God knows each and every one of us and plans out the life of us before we are born.
The Bible also contains the Ten Commandments; the sixth being ‘thou shall not kill’ self-explanatory really, Christians are taught that everything is equal and no life should be prematurely ended. Abortion is terminating life prematurely. Christians believe that a foetus is a human, and should be given equal rights and opportunity.
The book of Genesis contains the story of creation and the creation of human beings, ‘created in the image of God’ Christians believe that life is sacred because God gives it, and Christians should respect the things that have been given to them.
Different denominations within the faith are taught different things. Roman Catholics are very strongly opposed to abortion and believe life begins a conception and then it is a human being with human rights. There are never circumstances where abortion should be considered because if the mother cannot support the baby the baby can be adopted.
Many Anglicans and Methodists believe that life begins at viability (the point at which a foetus becomes a baby and could survive independently away from the mother). Abortion is wrong but justifiable if there was a chance of greater harm to the mother, or if the child was an outcome of rape.
The Protestant Church is reluctant to take such a hard line as Catholics and believe it accepts that there are certain circumstances where abortion is an unavoidable consequence of deciding between the lesser of two evils.
Other Christians believe that Abortion should be left to the woman’s own conscience, which will be guided by God. They believe the decision to continue a pregnancy should not be forced upon anyone.