Explain How Christian Belief, Including the Bible, Affects the Christian Attitude To Abortion.

* Genesis 1:27 "So God created human beings, making them to be like himself". Humans are special as we were made in God's image. Human life is special to God and it is not our place to end life. Only God has the authority.

* Exodus 20:14 "Do not commit murder". Abortion is murder, and murder goes against God's laws.

There is a special meeting held annually by senior clergymen from the Anglican Church. In 1993 abortion was one of their major issues, and they produced a booklet named 'Abortion and the Church: What are the Issues?' They were concerned about the number of abortions taking place in the UK. Anglicans say that if abortion has to be carried out then it should be done as early on in the pregnancy as possible. They say that the Church has a duty to offer moral and practical support to those who will be parents under difficult circumstances such as rape, teenage pregnancies, and single mothers. Anglicans believe that although the foetus is to be specially protected and respected, the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of its mother.

Other Protestant churches, such as Methodists, Baptists and Quakers, argue that under certain exceptional circumstances, abortion is permissible, particularly when the mother's life is in danger. They nevertheless believe in the sanctity of life. This view is based on the fact that God gives is free will and therefore some Christians leave it to individuals to decide whether abortion is right or wrong for them.

Louise Dockery 11L

The Bible

2. i) Explain how Christian belief, including the Bible, affects the Christian attitude to wealth and poverty.

When a rich man asked Jesus what he had to do to enter the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told him that he had to sell all he had and give the money to the poor. Jesus wasn't concerned with material wealth or possessions. In the story of the widow's mite (Luke 21: 1-4) Jesus praised the woman because although she gave little in comparison to the others, it was a lot to her because it was all that she had. In Matthew 19: 24 Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Jesus realised that some people are wealthy, but he was concerned with how they used their money. In 1 Timothy 6: 6-10 Paul writes "for the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil". The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is about the responsibilities that the rich have towards the poor.

The distribution of the world's resources is unequal as 75% of the population use only 25 % of the resources and vice versa. There are many aid agencies in the world whose main function is to provide long and short term aid in developing countries. In Britain the main Christian agencies are CAFOD, Christian Aid, and Tear Fund. Long term aid charities help the poor provide for themselves until they no longer need the charity, whereas short term aid is usually emergency aid necessary when natural disasters hit a country.

Catholics believe that the needs and rights of the poor are given special attention in God's eyes. They say that all resources should be shared equally and everyone's rights should be upheld. In 1995 Anglicans stated that the British economy should be restructured to address the needs of the poor in the UK and abroad. Methodists recognise that Christians have obligations to give relief to those in need and to assist in basic development so people can become responsible for their own futures. In the 90's they pressed the government to increase the amount of overseas aid. Christians should help those in need because Jesus did. They have a responsibility to help those in need.