Other Christians argue that whether or not the foetus is a person is irrelevant, as it is a potential person, so we should therefore value its potential. To these people whatever the argument, abortion is about killing.
The two main views of abortion are: ‘A woman’s right to choose’ (pro abortion view) and ‘the right to life’ (anti abortion view). For most Christians there is the difficult question of what to do when the mother’s life is in danger. Clearly, one cannot neglect the mother, so these Christians, who value life, believe the attempt should be to save both.
The common question about ‘if the child is going to be disabled, then abortion is just’ is combated by the Christian viewpoint that everyone has a part to play in God’s plan, therefore no one should be killed.
One of the worst problems is rape. It is very unjust that a woman should have a child to a rapist. Some Christians still wouldn’t change their views, as they would believe two wrongs don’t make a right, however, others would so the decision would be split.
Some arguments in favor of abortion:
A woman should have the right to choose what happens to her body: This coincides with independence rights.
If it becomes more difficult to get legalised abortions, there would be an increase in the number of illegal abortions: Back street abortioning can be dangerous, and why provoke people to break the law.
It is wrong to bring unwanted children into the world. They may be neglected and become problems in society: This is straightforward and although one should not judge a person by their background, in some cases this can be true.
When pregnancy is the result of rape, the woman should not be forced to continue with the pregnancy: This again coincides with independence rights, and the possibility of neglect through resentment towards the child.
Abortion is not murder as it only destroys a collection of cells, which cannot survive outside the womb before the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy: This overlaps with the issue ‘When does life begin’, and depending on what Church she belonged to, or her thoughts on the matter, it is in the mother’s hands on what she makes of this.
A woman who is risking dying should be allowed to abort.
(Abortion Reform Group)
Some arguments against abortion:
The unborn child is alive from the moment of conception and has the right to life. An abortion is child killing (infanticide): This like in the ‘in favor’ section depends on what the mother’s belief is, of when the child is alive.
If abortions are easily obtained, they maybe used as another form of contraception, encouraging people to have a more lax attitude to sex: Some Christians believe that sex should be saved for marriage. If there is a more lax attitude to sex, people are not treating it with the respect some Christians believe it should have.
Many couples would want to adopt an unwanted baby, but the numbers of these have been reduced due to abortion: This point would be countered by a Christian in favor of abortion, ‘As long as there are foster homes, there is an abundance of potential foster children.
The woman afterwards may feel guilty and depressed and may become suicidal: A Christian view would be to get the woman to a councilor, to avoid this happening.
The operation may lead to sterility, or damage the woman for life: A Christian would argue this point.
There would be no need for abortion if there were sufficient provision to help them overcome emotional and financial difficulty: This point epitomizes what many Christians would like in society. If emotional and financial difficulty were overcome, then many abortions would not take place.
(LIFE)
The legal position
For centuries, abortion was not permitted by law except in extreme cases. E.g. the mother’s life at risk. This was changed in 1967 ‘Abortion Act’, and was reviewed in 1990 in the ‘Human Fertilization and Embryology Act’. The law now states that an abortion can be legally performed up to twenty-four weeks if two doctors agree the mother’s health is at risk or if the child will be born abnormal.
The Christian position
The bible doesn’t directly refer to abortion, so Christians have to try to get around the Commandment ‘You shalt not kill’.
Roman Catholics believe life starts at conception therefore abortion is completely wrong. Other Christians, Anglicans, and Methodists, who don’t believe life begins until the baby has a chance of surviving independently of its mother. These Christians believe abortion is an evil to be avoided, unless it meant greater evils were avoided.
The organization Christians for free choice believe the matter should be left to a woman’s conscience, which is seen as a guide from God as to what action to take. Continuing pregnancy therefore should not be forced upon a woman.
Euthanasia
‘Whose life is it anyway?’ is a common question when euthanasia (from the Greek happy death) is discussed. At this point people take different sides.
Humanists believe that everyone owns their own life; while on the other hand Christians believe they belong to God. However, Christians never fail to stress what belonging (in this sense) means. To them it means similar when talking about belonging to your family. E.g., you don’t make a decision without consulting with them; therefore, Christian’s believe God’s will must be accounted for.
The greatest difference between Christianity and non-religious viewpoints is how pain is seen. A non-religious person who believes that there is nothing beyond life, a painful death is meaningless. Through Jesus, Christians believe in the cross and thereby believe suffering is a challenge. To Christians ‘If we overcome suffering as part of our commitment to God, we grow as persons’. They see suffering as a positive experience and a means of spiritual growth.
Some Christians believe all life is sacred, and believe that God wants people to have quality of life and that all life is sacred.
They believe God is love and stopping suffering is a loving thing to do and that The Holy Spirit lives in Christians; Euthanasia destroys God’s temple (Corinthians 3.16-17).
Ellen Wilkie, writer and actress, is a good example of a Christian viewpoint on life, ‘Death is not a full stop, it’s a comma. If you look at the whole of life, death is an activity in the middle. It is not the end’. I think this sums up the Christian viewpoint on life, but not on euthanasia as it is hard to tell if she is pro euthanasia or against it.
Argument’s for euthanasia:
We should be able to choose how we die: Many Christians would sum up both sides of the argument, before coming to an answer. ‘God should choose how everyone dies’, ‘God wants people to have quality of life’.
It lessens pain for the patient: The quality of life quote overlaps with this argument, as if there is no quality of life, then there is no reason in living.
People should not have to live if there is no chance of getting better: Some Christians would say ‘God should choose how everyone dies’, to this argument.
It stops the suffering of relatives watching the patient die a slow and painful death:
Arguments against euthanasia:
Mistakes can happen.
There are painkilling drugs: this is true, but there is no quality of life, while drugged up.
The dying patient might not be in the right state of mind while choosing to die quickly: This mental based problem is tackled by psychiatrists before euthanasia takes place.
Patients could lose faith in doctor’s.
Euthanasia is no better than murder: This is a dubious argument, which can be argued considerably by Christians either way.
If the patient is unable to choose, then who does: This links in with the dilemma, ‘who switches off the life support machine?’ Again, Christians choices would be split down the middle.
The Bible’s/Christian’s view
You shall not murder; God gave everything life, so life should be treated as a gift from God; God helps no matter what and never gives us more suffering than we can take; Finally, only God can decide what will happen to you, not other people.
