Religion and Medical Ethics - The Sanctity of Life

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Stacey Whittaker                                                                3rd November 2004

        

Coursework, Topic 7 – Religion and Medical Ethnics.

A – Describe the teachings of the religion which you are studying about the Sanctity of Life in relation to abortion or euthanasia.

In this essay I will be describing the views of both Catholic and Protestant Christians on the Sanctity of Life in relation to abortion.  I will include; what the Sanctity of Life is, what abortion is, attitude from Christians of past stages, both Protestant and Catholic views on abortion and the certain circumstances in which it will be permitted.

The Sanctity of Life is a term used by Christians meaning the belief that life is holy or sacred.  Christians believe that God has given us life and he alone has the right to take it away, this is demonstrated in Genesis 1:27 ‘God created human beings making them like himself’, this states that life is God given.  The purpose of life according to Christians is to love, serve God and to treat all people as you would like to be treated yourself, as it says in Mark 12:13 ‘Love thy neighbour as you love yourself’.  In Exodus 20:13 it says that ‘life should not be destroyed’ this means that the taking of another person’s life is a sin against God and is also disobeying the sixth of the Ten Commandments: ‘do not commit murder’.

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Abortion is the termination of a woman’s pregnancy resulting in the immediate death of the unborn foetus.  Up until 27th April 1968, when the Abortion Act of 1967 came into effect, abortion was illegal in Britain.  In 1968, the latest date for a woman to have a termination was set at 28 weeks into the pregnancy however in 1990 this period was reduced to 24 weeks into the pregnancy.  Now there is no longer a time limit due to the risk of damaging the mothers life or health or the baby being born severely handicapped.  The 1968 Abortion Act states ...

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