Explain the responsibilities a Christian might have towards those at the beginning of their life.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Question 1

Explain the responsibilities a Christian might have towards those at the beginning of their life.

Christians have many different views on the responsibility they have towards those at the beginning of their life. When does life begin? Many people argue over this question. Some Christians believe that life begins at conception, when the sperm and egg join together to form an embryo, these Christians might believe that abortion is no right because the foetus is a living human. However, other Christians believe when the heart starts to beat, when all the organs are formed, when the foetus can survive outside of the mother’s body, with medical support or when it has been born. These Christians might believe that abortion can only be acceptable before the time they believe the foetus starts to live. Christians have many different views, but the legal age is 24 weeks after conception. Most Christians believe that all life is sacred; this means that all human life is special because god has created it, and in the 10 commandments that God gave to us states ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ These clearly outline what God wanted.

The main issue in this subject is abortion - Termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo or of a foetus. When is it acceptable to have an abortion? Is it acceptable to have an abortion? The bible does not directly say anything about abortion. In a few cases, it refers to birth and the baby in the womb.

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Some Christians believe that abortion is always wrong. This is because in the bible it says in Exodus 22: 22-23 ‘do not ill treat any widow or orphan. If you do I, the lord, will answer them when they cry out to me for help.’ This tells us that we should not take advantage of people who cannot help them selves. Also on the bible it says ‘they made them selves improve by their actions and were unfaithful to God’ in Psalm 106:37-39. This can be interpreted that if you have an abortion to improve your situation you unfaithful to God. For example if a woman wants an abortion because, having the baby will destroy her career, or it will stop her from progressing.

Some Christians believe that abortion is acceptable but only in life-threatening or ghastly circumstances. Some of these are when a young girl has been raped and as a consequence becomes pregnant, or if the mother is going to die giving birth. If the baby it going to be born with a disability, so it will have a poor quality of life. Some people say that life in not worth living if you have no or poor quality of life. For instance, if the baby is going to be born with a severe mental disorder. The quality of the life of the baby is not worth living because it will be suffering and they will not be able to do the simplest things like eating by them selves or walk. Some people believe that it is their responsibility to take care of there baby and to do so abortion is its best interest.

Some Christians believe that abortion is acceptable in all situations. This is because the bible doses not mention anything about abortion.

My opinion is that abortion is immoral in most situations, like because it will interrupt your career, but is acceptable in some like if the mother is going to die or the baby is not going to be able to survive. This is because killing an unborn baby is immoral and is murder. A reason that it is acceptable in some situations is that if the mother dies, the baby will not have a mother and will have to go to foster care. This is unfair on the baby.

In conclusion, Christians have many different views on how they have responsibilities towards those at the beginning of their life. This question cannot be generalised in to one answer because the bible dose not tell us about abortion and Christians have many different views.