Contraception is very popular with the public today as it is cheap, easy to get hold of, people don’t feel embarrassed asking, its effective, reliable and cuts down on abortions. Many people buy contraceptives, as they want to have a pleasurable time without bringing a baby into the world. Many people want casual sex and one night stands or they may not want a baby because they believe that their career is important to them or that a baby should be brought into the world into a married couple who can provide stability. Christians feel that life is a gift from god and that contraception should not be used at all because life should be respected. Because of this many Christians would refuse to use contraceptives because they don’t want to stop the gift. Other Christians may have a different view on this as they believe that contraception should be used as life is a gift from God. They may believe that contraception can be used as it is not as serious and as harmful as abortion. Then again, Christians may feel that they aren’t ready or worthy to receive the gift.
Each Christian church is against contraception, but many Christians may not follow this teaching. Some Christians may think it is a licence to sleep around it they feel they are able to use contraception. The church also believes that sex is for love and commitment and not something to be taken advantage of. Not all Christian churches are against contraception to regulate birth, so long as it is used sensibly in a loving caring relationship.
The Catholic Church is different, as it believes that there is no excuse for the use of contraception in a loving, committed relationship. Other Catholics may think that the church has no right of the church to tell them what they can and can’t do in their sexual behaviour and it should be left to their own free will. The church states that you should follow your conscience in life, so Christians may feel that they can do anything they want and don’t have to follow the churches teachings.
The whole abortion debate depends on when a person believes life begins. Many people, including Christians believe life begins when the egg is fertilised, whilst other people believe it begins when the baby can feel things and sense what is happening around it. Many Christians would believe that abortions can be performed at any time, whether the baby can sense things or not, as it is the mothers decision. The only time when an abortion is acceptable in the Christian Church is when the mothers life is at risk or the mother to be has been a victim of rape. Plenty of Christians will have had abortions because of difficult situations that a couple or a single mother has had to face. These situations may have been financial problems, the couple aren’t yet ready to have a child, the birth of a child may bring problems to other children in the family, the mothers life may be at risk, the child to be born maybe mentally ill or have a long term illness before it is born, the family maybe to young, or simply that a baby is unwanted. The vast majority of abortions are had by women over the age of 25, probably because the women are already married and have children and don’t want the pressure of another child. Some Christians may feel hat they can never support an abortion, but some will feel they can. A Christian may feel that they can support an abortion when the mothers life is at risk or some of the most serious issues encouraging an abortion such as the baby has a serious illness or disability or the mother has been a victim of rape. Other Christians would feel that it is a Christian duty to stand by someone through a difficult time such as an abortion whatever the reason, whilst others will not agree to it all together. If a Christian supports or goes ahead with an abortion, I don’t think that it makes them a bad person, as everybody makes mistakes and God will still be with you in life whatever happens.
The Bible states “if anyone takes human life, they will be punished” and “Do not commit murder” which Christians follow in life. In order to decide what they believe about abortion, they may pray and try to find the relevant passages in the bible, to help them understand the issues surrounding abortion, in order to follow the churches teaching.
Christianity does affect and influence the way Christians behave and the decisions they make. If some Christians do go against the churches teaching, many decisions have to be made and it isn’t always done lightly. It can involve great personal pain and struggling with conscience and anxiety.
