Faced with the issues of abortion and euthanasia, explain the different ways Christians might respond.

A number of Christians would believe that when it comes to abortion every woman should have the fundamental right to choose once she is aware of all her options as it is her body and therefore her own decision. Also the baby is just seen as a collection of cells which can’t survive by themselves and so why should the mother be forced to carry the child if it is not wanted by her. The mother could also question the justification of bringing a disabled baby into the world, especially now there are more and more tests that can determine early on if a child will be disabled. A Christians could respond to that by saying that many Christians feel that it is their responsibility to provide support and help for pregnant women who have to deal with these problems.

Some Christians may believe that even if abortions are illegal many women could not go through having to give birth to the baby and so they would go through a risk of putting their own life in danger if forced to go to a back street clinic, which are not fully reliable.

When it comes to rape many Christians could come to terms with abortion as they could recognise the pain the mother could be reminded of the attack when looking at the child and also might fear that the child could have violent traits. On the other hand Christians could argue that the child is totally innocent and so doesn’t disserve to be harmed, as it is God’s child just like every other human being.

In relation to euthanasia some Christians may believe in miracles or treatments may work and so doctors could be proved wrong. Voluntary euthanasia can also be showing mercy and therefore a doctors promise to save a life can’t be carried out. Suffering can be thought of as a way of strengthening your faith in God and can also be part of God’s plan for us. Another belief some Christians may have is that nursing the sick is a way of helping Jesus, as he was often portraying healing in parables. If family or friends can’t provide care hospices are in operation to care for sick and elderly people, therefore again euthanasia should not have to be an option if the care is available.

Some Christians would believe that if suffering becomes to much, the person should have a right to decide when to die as they can have total healing in heaven and say that death is just an event in life, not the end of life. The pain and suffering can not only effect the patient but friends and family as well and so why should the suffering continue when the patient could just die with dignity while he or she can? Some Christians would believe that a happy death is a better way to leave the world than a painless one.

But in some cases a person may say they want to die in a moment of extreme agony but not really mean it. Christians would strongly disagree if euthanasia was legalised here due to the fact that many elderly people would then fear going into a hospital and many elderly could be pressurized by family members to ‘take the easy way out’. Euthanasia can sometimes also be thought of as a lazy and unloving way to get rid of the problem of pain and old age. A Christian who believes with this view could respond to euthanasia by saying only God gives life, and only God had the right to take it away.