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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Fatema R. Mawji 11A                                                          R.S Coursework

  1. 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 generally believed that human life is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, including the unborn, the aged, the mentally handicapped, and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from conception to the grave. In the world today the sanctity of human life is being challenged on many sides. To many religious people all over the world, human life is considered to be a sacred and important gift from God, and one of infinite value. Their religious beliefs can often be the foundation of their opinion on controversial and hotly debated issues such as Abortion and Euthanasia.

Among and within the different Christian sects and Churches there are many different viewpoints on the decisions of life and living. However they all share the view on the sanctity and mystery of life, and the right to life of all human persons. They all condemn the growing practice in many countries of actions such as abortion on grounds of mere convenience, and believe that human life should not be treated in a casual way. Generally most Christian Churches look to the teachings in the Bible which stress that human life is sacred and is a gift from God:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created him”                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (Genesis 1:27)

By this we understand therefore that the taking of human life is regarded by God to be the gravest of sins as we are made in His image. Many Christians believe that we have an impartation of God’s nature and likeness within each one of us and a deposit of His life and spirit.

“ You created every part of me; you out me together in my mother’s womb.”                                                                                        (Psalm 139:13)

By performing abortion or euthanasia many Christians believe that you are rejecting this consecrated gift of life from your Lord. God regards human life as sacred. He desires that each person should have a life of communion with him: a continuity of life from His heart, imparted into a human body and received back to him through death. To violate that relationship and that life is to violate God Himself.

“ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?"                                                                                                                                                                           (I Corinthians 6:9)

Many Christians look to the Bible for guidance on moral issues. God’s word is very clear:

“Thou shalt not kill”                                                                                                                ( Exodus 20:13)

This belief is the fifth commandment of God. Here he is clearly instructing that to kill is a sin, completely ruling out abortion and euthanasia. Jesus as the Son of God, plays a central role in Christianity. He reaffirms this Commandment when he answers the rich young man’s question:

“ Jesus answered, ‘ Do not commit murder………..’ ”                                                                                                        (Matthew 19:18)

Abortion is,

 “ the premature expulsion of the foetus from the mother’s womb through natural causes or an operation to achieve this.”

Most Christians oppose Abortion because of their religious beliefs. Their attitude and behaviour towards it is influenced y their faith, and as a result many are part of anti-abortion organisations. These organisations profess their astound beliefs that abortion is murder and that it is a breach of human rights on behalf of the child. Many Christians believe that in certain circumstances such as rape, abortions are morally justifiable. However they do not believe that abortion should ever be seen as a method of birth control. All Christians do not see eye to eye on the issue of abortion as many denominations differ on their beliefs.

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The Roman Catholic Church believes that life begins at the moment of conception and that everyone has a right to life. To them abortion is considered as murder and it breaks the sixth commandment. In practice they officially oppose abortion and believe that it is not only morally and ethically wrong but religiously too.

'By the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his successors, and in communion with the bishops of the Catholic Church, I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral.'                                                                                                  (Papal Encyclical 1995)

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