Some Christians believe that human life is sacred. Explain how this belief influences their attitude to abortion and euthanasia, showing that you understand other points of view

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Some Christians believe that human life is sacred. Explain how this belief influences their attitude to abortion and euthanasia, showing that you understand other points of view

It is a fact that some Christians consider life to be sacred. They believe that God created life and only God has the power to take it away. This tints their vision on such issues as abortion and euthanasia. Strict Christians would be against abortion and euthanasia for many reasons, which I will explain fully in this essay. Others are less strong in their views about life and death and therefore would find certain forms if not all abortion and euthanasia acceptable. I will also explain fully their views on both issues.

There are many quotes in the bible that although are not directly aimed at abortion and euthanasia can be used against both actions. Probably the most common quote used is in the Genesis Creation story where God created life. The point being made is that if God created life then it should be sacred and none of us have the power to take it away. God created us in his image and to destroy that image would be to destroy God himself. In Ecclesiastes 11:5 the point is made also that God has a plan for our lives even when we are in the womb and many would say that this shows the wrong doing of those who condone abortion. Of course abortion and euthanasia were never heard of at the time of the Bible being written but the views can be transferred to argue against modern day events.

Abortion simply is the termination of human life, not much more and not much less. The procedure is simple, quick and every year carried out more often than the year before. Abortion can be carried out in many ways, which include a pill, a hormone injection or the manual removal of the foetus itself. The question however is whether the extraction of the foetus from the womb can be classed as a form of murder. To determine this I will explain the possibilities for when life begins. Many people believe that a child's life begins upon conception. Once an egg has been fertilised the embryo will eventually be born it is recognised that the termination of the foetus thereby preventing its birth would be murder. People who believe this would more often than not be totally against abortion because it would be linked to murder, an incredibly severe offence. Others however would not consider abortion to be murder at all because they believe that life begins at birth, as soon as the child does not depend on its mother and is recognised as a separate citizen. People who follow this belief would not compare abortion to murder and would possibly have a less restricting view on abortion as a whole. Another view is that life begins at a certain point between conception and birth. Such points could be when the heart starts beating or when the child could survive if born early. Whether these people think abortion is murder depends upon when these people think life starts.
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The different Christian churches also have differing views on abortion, which I will now go into.

The Roman Catholic Church always has been totally against abortion. This also however includes any forms of contraception. Being very old fashioned (some would say) in their beliefs the RC Church believe that life begins at conception and that God has a plan for us from the very first moment we are conceived. The Roman Catholic Church will only take abortion if it follows the doctrine of the 'double effect'. Under the double effect the foetus in the womb would die ...

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