Aii] What biblical and church teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

There are several teachings a Christian may use in a discussion about abortion. Both biblical and church. One of them and probably the most obvious is the 6th commandment:

“Do not Kill”, Exodus 20.

A lot of Christians see abortion as murder, as it is the taking of an innocent life, or at least a potential one. The teaching above backs up this statement. Abortion being the equivalent of murder is mainly seen by Roman Catholics as they are against abortion all together, even contraception is seen as stopping a life developing.. Although some people argue an embryo is not a life until it has been born, or when it can live outside the mothers body. Another teaching which might be used about abortion being the same as murder is:

“Thou shalt not kill the fruit of the womb”.

The Bible teaches Agape. Agape is the Christian term for love and affection. Many famous Christians have portrayed Agape, such as Mother Teresa, who spent her life tending to the poor and sick, (she was against abortion). Parables such as the Good Samaritan and the story of The Rich man And The Beggar help teach Christians agape. The story of the Rich man and the Beggar is about how a wealthy man did not show agape to another less fortunate person, therefore he was punished because he didn’t show love and care. The story of the Good Samaritan is about how two people from two different rival religions meet, one is lying injured in the road while the other helps him, despite their differences. Both these stories show agape and have a lot of moral issues Christians can learn from. Christians put agape into action by dissuading women to have abortions to show love and care to the unborn child and to help them cope if they get depressed or cannot cope. They may also show agape if the woman does have an abortion, by showing support and offer counselling advice. A biblical teaching which could link in with agape is:

‘Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them from the hand of the wicked’ (Psalm 82:4).

Agape can be used in an discussion for abortion also. Agape can be shown in whatever circumstance, as long as it is a caring love for another human being as the teaching illustrates below-

'Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.' Luke 6:37-38

The term “rescue the weak”, which was shown in a passage several lines above, could be referred to as the defenceless embryo inside the woman’s womb. “Wicked”, could be referring to the idea of abortion, or the mother who is considering having an abortion. Weak could also be referring to the mother, who is weak and desperate. This passage suggests to Christians they should go and help the “weak mother” to become strong and to stop her killing her child.

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Some Christians believe that life starts at fertilisation, therefore Gods spirit is dwelling in even tiny embryos and foetuses. If that embryo is destroyed you are destroying Gods temple, and as a result he will destroy you. Some Christians believe even embryos have souls, and therefore should be valued greatly as life. Christians use this teaching to back up there ideas on life starting at fertilisation:

‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy ...

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‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple’ (1Cor. 3:16:17).

Reflectively there are some Christians that believe life does not start at fertilisation. Thomas Aquinas, who was a medieval Roman Catholic Philosopher argued that the foetus became a human life when the soul is implanted. He claimed this happened to boys 40 days after conception and 90 days after conception for girls.

Another view on life beginning at conception is one from Dee Wells. He quoted in a book Causing Death and Saving Lives: “I do not believe that a fertilised ovum is a human life in the common sense meaning of the term. I believe human life begins at birth. Or, more technically, when the foetus is sufficiently developed to be capable of living if removed from the mothers womb”. Both of these quotes would be very useful in a discussion for abortion, as one of the quotes is from a Roman Catholic philosopher.

Some passages in the Bible suggest that God has in mind a life someone will live before they are even born. The Bible quotes:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you (Jeremiah 1:5)

Christians may use this quote to say that God loves and knows every life or potential life, he planned for them to live, and maybe even do great things such as find a cure for cancer. Therefore taking that potential life away is murder and therefore should be seen as murder.

Christians believe in the “Sanctity Of Human Life”. This is a belief that life is a gift from God, and is therefore precious and sacred. Men and women where created in “Gods Image”, and as a result have a unique resemblance to him, that no other life forms have. Christians also believe God values human life greatly and he showed this by sending Jesus to die for us. The Bible quotes:

“You have made him (man) a little lower than heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour”, “Since man is given dominion over all other forms of life” (Psalm 8 Verses 5-8).

There is also another teaching that link in with the Sanctity Of Life and backs up that life is a gift from God:

“You created me in my mothers womb” (Psalm 139:13)

These quotes suggest that man is superior over all life forms. The main responsibility of man is to respect all forms of life. Especially human life as it was “Created in Gods image”. Therefore it should protected and loved, not killed and rejected through abortion.

Situation Ethics links in with abortion. It is a Christian theory and is used in many ethical discussions. It basically means in a certain situation its okay to do what’s ethically right. For example if you or someone you love if being harmed then it is ethically okay to defend yourself maybe even to the extent of death or manslaughter. This links in with abortion because if the woman has become pregnant against her free will (rape), or she suffers with a physical or mental disability then some Christians may accept the fact that abortion may be the only answer. Except Roman Catholics who believe abortion is wrong under all circumstances, and try their best to dissuade anyone who is or thinks about having an abortion, and shuns anyone who does.

Mother Teresa was a famous Christian figure who was against abortion, and many of her teachings are used in discussions. She speaks about abortion in a very meaningful and powerful way. Her quotes have even been published in The Wall Street Journal. Teachings from this famous religious figure would be a powerful tool in favour of anti-abortion in a discussion:

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

and

"Any country that accepts abortion, is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants." - Both Mother Teresa

Many Christians believe that God has given us life, therefore only God can take it away and no-one else has that right and by doing so you are “Playing God”

This belief could be used as an anti-abortion view on abortion, saying how the doctors who decide on abortion are playing God by deciding whether a potential life should be allowed to grow or be terminated. Here is a teaching which could be used in such a discussion:

“The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up” - Samuel 2:6

The same goes for God can only create human life, this may be why some Christians are against IVF as it is again playing God:

- ‘Then God said ‘let us make humans in out image… so God created human beings in his image… He created them male & female.’- Genesis: 26/7

The Roman Catholic church is totally against abortion, under all circumstances. Anyone who has had abortion or who is helping someone to have one would be made to leave the church the passage below is an example of their beliefs:

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person, among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life” - Catechism of the Catholic Church: The fifth commandment.

One of the main reasons the Catholic Church is against abortion is their belief that life begins conception as shown above, therefore when you kill the foetus you’re killing a soul.

They also believe in the idea of Natural Law which St. Thomas Aquinas taught. It is a belief that God made the world in a certain way, and that it is wrong for humans to interfere. This links in with abortion because abortion is interfering (in this case stopping) the natural process of a new life being born. A life which God had intended to be brought into the world. The Roman Catholic church also disagrees with artificial forms of contraception and encourages people to have intercourse during a woman cycle when she is naturally infertile, because again it is interfering with natural law.

The Methodist and Protestant church are also against abortion but would not like abortion to become illegal again because of 'botched back-street' abortions would make deaths rise, women to become desperate, and for the unwanted children to suffer there mothers alcohol, depression or drug related abuse:

"Some virgins (unmarried women), when they learn they are with child through sin, practice abortion by the use of drugs, frequently they die themselves and are brought before the ruler of lower world guilty of three crimes: suicide, adultery against Christ, and murder of an unborn child." - St. Jerome [c. 340-420], Letter to Eustochium.

“We affirm that every human life, created in the divine image, is unique… and that this holds for each of us, born or yet to be born. We therefore believe that abortion is an evil… and that abortion on demand would be a very great evil. But we also believe to withdraw compassion is the evil, and in circumstances of extreme distress or need, a very great evil…Christians need to face frankly the fact that in an imperfect world the “right” choice is sometimes the lesser of two evils” - Statement by the General Synod of the CofE 1988 in What the churches say on moral issues.

All churches are against abortion, even if they see the need for it, they could use some of these church teachings in a discussion about it:

"You shall not kill an unborn child or murder a newborn infant." - Didache.

"You shall love your neighbour more than your own life. You shall not slay the child by abortion." - Barnabas [c. 70-138], Epistles.

"The hair-splitting difference between formed and unformed makes no difference to us. Whoever deliberately commits abortion is subject to the penalty for homicide." - St. Basil the Great [329- 379], "First Canonical Letter," Three Canonical Letters.

All three of the church teachings above make some sort of link between abortion being the equivalent to murder, and two of them say how the person responsible for the abortion should be punished.

The Parable of the Sheep and Goat may be used in discussion about abortion. Jesus teaches this parable stating “When I was sick you cared for me, when I was thirsty you gave me water…” This parable may encourage some Christians to care for the unborn child and its mother. The mother by helping her cope with her child and the unborn baby by saving it from being terminated.

In the Bible is teaches that children are a blessing and therefore should not be terminated:

“Be fertile and multiply" (Genesis 1:28).

"Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3).

Some people cannot even have children so if you can then it is a “gift” and “reward”. Terminating them through abortion is not only a waste of something other people would do anything to have it is also an insult to God by destroying something he has blessed you with.

Although there are a lot of teachings in the Bible that are linked in with abortion, there are none specifically written about abortion, for or against. There are some passages that contradict the Roman Catholic belief that life begins at birth. According to the Bible life begins when the baby draws its first breath. This conclusion is drawn from Adam in the creation story when God: “…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7

There is proof also that the Bible and maybe even God is not 100% pro-life. When God ordered Moses to massacre 24,000 Israelites:

"Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun." Numbers 25:4-9

There are many passages in the Bible which give this same impression:

“Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.” Hosea 9:14
“They shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.” Isaiah 13:18
“Dash their children, and rip up their women with child.” 2 Kings 8:12