Christian views on abortion, IVF and animal research.

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Sanctity of Life

This is the idea that life is sacred or special. is an idea that many people would agree with. It is also partly supported by the law in the country. For example it is illegal to take the life of another human being, either deliberately or accidentally. However why is life considered to be so special?

1. The Bible teaches Christians that human life is special because man is made in the image of God. This is found in passages such as:

• “Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our own image, according to our likeness”. (Genesis 1:26)

• “When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God”. (Genesis 5:1)

2. The bible also says that because human life is special it should not be destroyed. The Bible says “Do not commit murder”. (Exodus 20:13)

3. Man is also said to be special. This comes from the following passages:

• “If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord”. (Romans 14:8)

 Roman Catholics believe that man is not made fully in God’s image. This is because in the story of the Adam and Eve it says that they were both sent out of heaven for breaking God’s commands. When mankind was sent out of the Garden of Eden its supernatural endowments or bits (similitudo dei) were lost. However mans reason and free will, which were the non-supernatural bits (image dei), were not changed and therefore mankind still partially exists in God’s image.

Abortion

The Abortion Act in 1967 made it legal in Britain. The 1967 abortion Act says that an abortion may be performed legally if two or more doctors agree that:

1. The mental or physical health of the woman or her existing children will suffer if the pregnancy continues,

OR

2. The child, if born, would be seriously physically or mentally handicapped.

Some Christians are against abortion

1. There are teachings in the Bible on life being special.. This means that abortion is wrong because it is not making life special and it is breaking one of the 10 Commandments not to kill (“Do not commit murder”

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Exodus 20:13).

2. The Roman Catholic documents Humanae Vitae that abortion is wrong because it is killing human lives. This is based on the idea that from the moment of conception the embryo is human.

3. The Roman Catholic Church also says that once conception has taken place the embryo should be “treated as a person”. This means that any abortion is wrong because it is murder.

However other churches say that abortion is generally wrong but can be a good thing sometimes because:

1. The teachings of Jesus stress love. Some Christians consider an abortion to be the ...

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