Explain carefully why Christians believe that human life is precious.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Austin Finnegan – Homework

Past Paper Question

1) Explain carefully why Christians believe that human life is precious.

Some Christians believe that human life is precious because God created us. They think we are precious because God created us with a responsibility. This responsibility should be fulfilled for God and this is mentioned in the bible where God said:

“…Let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26-27

Some Christians hold the view that we are precious because we were created in the image of God and that God was intimately involved in each and every birth. This image is individual and unique and therefore the person has been set apart. These Christians hold this view because in the bible it says that God created man from the very first:

“You created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

Some Christians believe that human life is precious because God will not tolerate those who take a life. If a life were not precious then there would be no problem in taking one, as they are not significant. As it says in the bible that God does not tolerate those who take lives then they must have a meaning and special role.

2) Why might Christians disagree about the advice they would give to an unmarried teenager who wanted an abortion?

There are many different sections to Christianity for example Protestant, Roman Catholic and Methodist etcetera. Although they are part of the Christian network, they all have different views and teachings, however they are close. So therefore a religion such as Christianity may disagree on views within itself.

In the present day, the Roman Catholic Church is the only Christian Church to give an absolute view on abortion. IT IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT IF THERE IS A GRAVE ...

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2) Why might Christians disagree about the advice they would give to an unmarried teenager who wanted an abortion?

In the present day, the Roman Catholic Church is the only Christian Church to give an absolute view on abortion. IT IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT IF THERE IS A GRAVE RISK TO THE MOTHER’S LIFE. The Roman Catholic Church holds the view that a developing foetus is a person who is sacred and should not be deliberately destroyed. They go by Casti Connubii who in 1930 said:

“It is against the voice of nature and the command of God.”

The Church of England is against abortion also though there are three exceptions. These are:

There is grave risk to mother
There is grave risk that the child will suffer a handicap
The pregnancy is the result of rape

Any other reason and abortion is strictly wrong. They think that every human created is unique and that this life is inaliable. They believe that abortion is a great evil and the “right choice” is sometimes the lesser of two evils – General Synod 1988. Nevertheless others may believe that is up to the conscience of the individual and some back up their views this the Golden rule, that we should treat other, as we would want to be treated ourselves.

There are four main groups which back the previously stated views. These are:

Absolute Pro-Life
Moderate Pro-Life
Moderate Pro-Choice
Absolute Pro Choice

Absolute Pro-Life believe is supported by many Christians especially Roman Catholics and they campaign for the rights of the unborn child. They believe and campaign for the banning of abortion under all circumstances. On the other extreme, the minority of Christians supports absolute pro-choice and they campaign on abortion on demand. They hold the view that the mother’s rights are more important and precious than the foetuses. In the middle of these views are the moderate pro-life and moderate pro-choice. Moderate Pro-Choice is supported by many Christians and they believe that an abortion is the lesser of two evils. They try to support both the foetus and the mother and they only disagree with late and social abortions. Moderate Pro-Choice are supported by a minority of Christians and they believe that a woman should make their own choice and that God will forgive them. They want to see better contraception advice and support for women’s choices.

As you can see, a religion such as Christianity has many views on subjects and it is easy for them to disagree on a subject similar to abortion.

3) Abortion is not a moral issue it is a practical one. Do you agree? Show that you have thought of different points of view.

I believe that an abortion is a practical decision not a moral decision. I hold the view that the mother’s or existing child’s life is more important than the embryo and future child. I am in favour of the existing families rights. If a family cannot afford to keep a child then why let the family and child live in poverty when you could easily terminate the pregnancy in the early stages. I do believe that it is terminating a pregnancy and not murder. I also think that a person’s human rights should be taken into account. I think that a mothers right to choose should come over the potential human rights of a foetus.

Others may believe that an abortion is a moral decision. They hold the view that a foetus has the DNA in which could take the foetus into life and give them everything including human rights and so when aborting a pregnancy you are taking away a potential life. Others may also think that, as we are precious and individually made, then our life is inaliable and therefore it should only be the creator (God) who should take the life away.

Nevertheless, I still believe that I am right in thinking that an abortion is a practical decision because at week 23, the baby can survive outside the womb and therefore up until that time it is not a fully functional human being. As this is the case, it is not wrong to abort, as there is not life at that point.