Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework
Religious Studies: Abortion CourseworkWhat is meant by the word ‘abortion’? Abortion is defined as the ‘premature death of a baby inside the womb and its expulsion from the mother’s body’. The word comes from the Latin word ‘aboriri’ which means ‘to fail to be born’. Sometimes a baby dies and departs from the womb due to natural causes- this is known as a ‘miscarriage’. A ‘procured abortion’ is what most people mean when they talk about abortion, and is the term given to the deliberate ending of a pregnancy.An abortion involves the administering of a general anaesthetic in order to dilate the neck of the uterus. Then a suction device is used to remove the entire contents of the womb and larger parts, such as the head, are crushed and drawn out with the use of forceps. In late abortions, a lethal injection is given to the foetus before prostaglandin (labour inducing hormone) is supplied to the mother, and the dead foetus is delivered normally via the vagina. In both cases, special care is taken to ensure that no foetal tissue remains within the uterus of the woman, as it can cause infection, and ultimately: death. An abortion activating pill, RU486, is also available to be taken within the first ten weeks of pregnancy and is given under specialist care in hospitals.Abortion is an unpleasant and gruesome procedure, so why would anyone consider having an abortion? Abortion would be considered an attractive option for many different reasons:• The pregnancy may occur at a time when the woman is young, in full time education, or at crucial stages of her career- if she takes time out, it could be difficult to carry on where she left off• The woman might not be in a stable relationship at the time, and she doesn’t want to risk ultimately raising a child on her own• The pregnancy could jeopardise the health of the woman if it were to continue• The child may be likely to have health problems (which can be tested for via ultrasound scanning and amniocentesis)• The woman could be pregnant as a consequence of rapeA woman could choose to have an abortion due to any one of the above reasons, or she may decide that she just does not want the child even if it isn’t a serious burden.Such a matter as abortion has strict laws due to its divisive moral and ethical state of affairs. In Britain, up until 1967, abortion was considered a serious crime- in Ireland and some other countries it remains to be severely punishable. The Abortion Act, which was amended in 1990, states that an abortion may take place, at any stage of the pregnancy, in the following circumstances if two doctors agree that:• continuation of the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother• continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk of permanent injury (physical or mental) to the health of the woman• there is a considerable risk that the child would suffer from ‘such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped’ if it were bornHowever, a pregnancy can be terminated up until the end of the 24th week of pregnancy if two doctors agree that:• continuation of the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s mental or physical health greater than the risks involved with abortionOr• continuation of the pregnancy poses a risk to the children of the pregnant woman’s mental or physical health greater than the risks involved with abortionThe ground as to why the 24th week is the boundary for having an abortion is because after 24 weeks the foetus is ‘viable’. This means that the child can survive outside the womb with the help of specialist medical care. What biblical and Church teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion?The Bible does not have any specific teachings regarding abortion due to the fact that abortion was not commonplace during the time at which it was written. This was mainly due to women being married at a young age and did not have any career as such, so a pregnancy was usually welcomed. The Bible does not use the word ‘abortion’ so Christians have to try
and interpret different parts of the Bible in order to receive guidance and validate their opinions.The first piece of evidence that a Christian would use is the sixth commandment:‘Thou shall not murder’ Exodus 20:13This commandment instructs Christians that it is a sin to take life; therefore, a Christian using this teaching would be opposed to such a thing as abortion. However, is a foetus actually alive? If it were not alive, then how could one ‘murder’ it? The Bible has the following to say about when life actually begins:‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you ...
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and interpret different parts of the Bible in order to receive guidance and validate their opinions.The first piece of evidence that a Christian would use is the sixth commandment:‘Thou shall not murder’ Exodus 20:13This commandment instructs Christians that it is a sin to take life; therefore, a Christian using this teaching would be opposed to such a thing as abortion. However, is a foetus actually alive? If it were not alive, then how could one ‘murder’ it? The Bible has the following to say about when life actually begins:‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’ Jeremiah 1:5This quote explains that God already ‘knows’ the child and has already made His plan for them before the child is even in the womb, therefore it would be a breach of God’s plan to prevent the birth via abortion, or even the use of contraception. This view of the child’s life being sacrosanct is also highlighted elsewhere in the Bible:‘If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth, for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise’ Exodus 21:22-25I interpret this passage to indicate that if the child is born prematurely and it lives as normal, the offender must be fined for the troubles of the mother (due to her anxiety over the matter), however, if the baby is born with disability or injury the offender must be punished severely for the atrocity he has committed against the baby, as it is considered an entire human life, even in the womb. On the other hand, St Augustine (354-430CE) believed that the human soul could not be encapsulated in an unformed body. He used Aristotle’s teaching of ‘delayed ensoulment’ to justify this belief, and concluded that abortion was not murder as no soul could be destroyed due to the fact that it wasn’t present in the premature foetus. This view is not accepted in recent times for the reason that it is supported by an undeveloped understanding of science.Separate Churches also have various teachings and interpretations on the subject of abortion which have been influenced by the Bible. None of the Churches openly encourage abortion; however, some do believe it is acceptable in some circumstances.The Roman Catholic Church believes that abortion, in any circumstance, is a serious sin. It is understood that life begins from conception and that from that point onwards the ‘Sanctity of Life’ principle applies and one and all should give it their protection. Pope Paul VI stressed this fact in the ‘Humanae Vitae’:‘Human life is sacred…all men must recognise that fact’ Humanae Vitae, 1968In the book ‘Didache’, which is only included in the Roman Catholic version of the Bible, a specific teaching regarding abortion is illustrated:‘You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born’ DidacheThis instruction is self explanatory and clear cut for the majority of Roman Catholics, but is overlooked by followers in other denominations as the book ‘Didache’ is not included in their versions of the Bible. The teachings of the Catholic Church are clarified in the ‘Declaration on Procured Abortion’ which was published in 1974. It explained:• All people (even non-Christians) should have respect for human life and human rights• The movement for women’s rights is acceptable when freeing women from injustice, but cannot be used as an excuse for abortion, denying another person the right to live• Although abortion was murder, the reasons as to why people ask for abortions must be taken seriously, and that Christians must do all they can do ‘remedy’ themThe Declaration taught the following about the beginning of human life:‘From the time that a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor of the mother. It is rather the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human already’ Declaration on Procured Abortion, 1974Having said this, the Roman Catholic Church does allow abortion in a certain circumstance and is known as the ‘Principle of Double Effect’. This principle allows procured abortion if it is the unavoidable result of necessary life saving treatment given to the mother.The Roman Catholic Church also has a specific belief that abortion must not be permitted when conception was a result of rape, explaining that the foetus should not have to pay the price for another’s sin. Roman Catholics are encouraged to continue with the pregnancy and have the baby adopted if they really cannot manage to bring the child up as normal.The Church of England, as with most moral and ethical cases, agrees with the Roman Catholic Church in principle, but has more flexibility and an understanding that each and every case is different. In a report in 1984, the Church of England stated the following:‘The foetus is to be specially respected and protected…nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother’ Church of England 1984This view corresponds to that of the Roman Catholic Church in the sense that they both put the mother’s health first. The Church of England permits abortion in the following circumstances:• If there is a serious risk to the mother’s life• If conception was a result of rape• If there is a grave risk that the baby would be born disabledThe Church of England provides the following justification for these beliefs:‘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 that to withhold compassion is evil and in circumstances of extreme distress or need…Christians need to face frankly the fact that in an imperfect world the ‘right’ choice is sometimes the acceptance of the lesser of two evils’ Church of EnglandWe can clearly see that the Church of England uses ‘Situation Ethics’ to justify the use of abortion. ‘Situation Ethics’ is the making of a decision which would be the more ‘loving’ thing to do. Therefore, the Church of England understands that sometimes people are put in the position of deciding whether it is more ‘loving’, for example, to:1. Allow the mother to live via the use of abortionOR2. Carry through with the pregnancy which poses a risk to the mother’s life as well as that of the babyEach case can be justified, via the use of Biblical and Church teaching, to be some form of evil, however one can be considered ‘less’ evil than another.The Salvation Army carries similar views to those of the Church of England and believes in the ‘Sanctity of Life’ from the moment of conception, however, also believes that abortion is justifiable in very few cases including: a threat to the life of the mother, or if the baby would be born abnormal to the extent that it would only survive for a period lasting only a few days.The Church of Scotland has vies more similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church and stated that in most cases:‘Abortion has no moral justification and represents the unwarranted destruction of human life that is made in the image of God’ Church of Scotland’s Board of Social Responsibility, 1987In conclusion, all Churches including the Roman Catholic Church, Church of England, Church of Scotland, and Salvation Army believe that abortion is an evil and a sin; however, they all have specific circumstances under which an abortion may be justified. The level of leniency ranges from that of the Church of England to that of the Roman Catholic Church.Explain how Christians might put their beliefs about abortion into action.In the previous section the validations for various different stances are illustrated and explained. If a Christian is particularly passionate about their views on abortion, they will want to act upon their beliefs. There are various ways in which a Christian can go about doing such a thing.A very simple thing an anti-abortion Christian would be likely to do is help the foetuses of pregnant women via the use of prayer. They could ask God for guidance as to how to help those who are contemplating abortion, or even ask God to help them directly. Another simple action they would be willing to take is to vote in favour of a parliamentary candidate with similar views on abortion, possibly promising to make abortions harder to obtain.A Christian would feel obliged to cut down on the number of pregnancies occurring in the first place via the use of education. They may volunteer themselves to give special talks to youngsters explaining the situation regarding abortion, and persuading them to take the necessary precautions so that they do not find themselves in a situation as such. They could explain that God intended humans reproduce in the first place and that having children in itself is not sinful but part of his plan:‘God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase.’ Genesis 1:27If they want to get even more involved, they may decide that it is necessary for them to offer their services and time to children of parents who are finding it hard to cope. They could possibly baby-sit, offer to do the shopping, or do the domestic chores around the house so that a single parent has more time to deal with the other issues in their life. Christians may feel that they should provide advice for those who are considering abortion, and convince them that adoption would be a more acceptable thing to do. They could explain that there are many couples who cannot have children themselves and are desperate to adopt a child for them. A further, and more long-term, act of belief would be for a Christian to act as a foster carer for a child, or to permanently adopt a child themselves. A particularly passionate anti-abortion Christian would consider joining and supporting an agency such as SPUC (the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child). They could choose a career within the organisation, and would feel compelled to protest against abortion via letters to newspapers or MPs, as well as taking part in demonstrations against abortion. SPUC was formed in 1967 to educate people against abortion and although it is not a Christian organisation, many Christians choose to support it. This is due to the fact that the organisation holds many of the Christian beliefs regarding abortion, such as the belief that life begins at the moment of conception. They additionally believe that every foetus is equally valuable, whether in good health or not, and that allowing the abortion of disabled foetuses discriminates against the disabled- suggesting that they should not be permitted to life and that they are substandard forms of life. SPUC advocates their point of view via the use of protest and education- they write to MPs, supply materials to be used in schools, and also explain to young people the situation regarding abortion and try to persuade them not to opt for it. Christians would support this organisation due to the fact that they believe in the Sanctity of Life, and are taught in the Bible:‘Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked’Psalm 82:4Those Christians who support abortion may also want to take action upon their beliefs. Like the anti-abortionists, they may simply pray in order to receive guidance from God, or may decide it is crucial for them to educate the youth of today so that there are less unwanted pregnancies in the future. Another option is for them to offer counselling or support a group that provides counselling for those who have opted to have an abortion, because even though they chose abortion to relieve them of a burden, a greater psychological one often generates. This is illustrated in the Bible:‘So the Lord answers ‘Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore?’ Isaiah 49:15-16They may explain to people why the option of abortion can be justified as being the most ‘loving’ thing to do, and convince people to stop criticising women who have chosen to have abortions. Similar to the anti-abortionist who joins SPUC, a pro-abortion Christian may join a group in order to act upon their views. The Pro-Choice Alliance (PCA) campaigns for women to have abortions ‘on-demand’ up until the 14th week of pregnancy and attempts to make abortions easier to obtain. They believe it should be a woman’s right to choose whether she wants an abortion or not and that forcing her to justify herself to others demeans a woman. Christians could see this as a breach of the Bible’s teaching that men and women are equal, whereas other Christians would consider supporting the PCA because they believe it is unloving to cause a woman suffering by forcing her to continue with a pregnancy.In conclusion, there are many different ways a Christian can act upon their views on abortion, ranging from prayer to joining a group specific to their thinking; however their actions may vary depending on their viewpoint, commitments, and how strong their beliefs are.‘Abortion is never justified’ do you agree?I believe that conception is the point at which a foetus becomes ‘alive’. I believe there is no point within a pregnancy at which the baby is ‘suddenly’ considered to be alive, or is given a soul to signify its existence as a human being (primarily as I do not believe in souls). As I believe this, abortion at any stage of the pregnancy would be ‘killing’ a being. As a Buddhist, I am instructed:‘Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami’ (I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures)Pañca-sila (The Five Precepts)Therefore, I cannot condone such a thing as abortion, because it is an unconcealed disregard for life. There is no circumstance under which the precept above can be ‘broken’, and therefore there is no justification for abortion. We have already discussed that some forms of Christianity would argue that it is uncompassionate to force a woman to carry through with a pregnancy if it poses a risk to her life, if the conception was a result of rape, or if the baby would be born severely handicapped:‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ Matthew 19:19However a Buddhist would argue that the mother’s death is inevitable as one of the ‘Three Facts of Existence’: Impermanence. The harsh truth of this may be hard for Westerners to grasp, but Buddhists believe that it is a universal truth that holds true in all situations. Buddhists would justify their belief that abortion cannot be justified even in the case of rape or severe disability by explaining that:‘Existence is characterized by suffering and does not bring satisfaction’The Four Noble TruthsThis fundamental idea elucidates that the whole point of life is that it is exigent, and that the goal of life is not to seek refuge in pleasures, but to liberate oneself from the continual cycle of rebirth. Each person’s life is governed by the actions of their previous life (karma) and if they suffer in their present life, they can only persevere and build up a good karma for their next life.Islam does not permit abortion unless there is a grave danger to the mother’s life. Some Muslims believe that the mother has greater rights than the foetus up until the end of the fourth month, after which they both have equal rights. They believe that the later the abortion takes place, the worse it is. In Islam, like in Christianity, abortion was not a great concern at the time that the scriptures were written, but the Qu’ran teaches the following:‘Kill not your offspring for fear of poverty, it is We who provide for them and for you. Surely, killing them is a great sin’ Surah 17:32To conclude, I believe that abortion can never be justified because I believe that nobody has the right to take another’s life, whereas a Christian would argue that abortion is a great sin, however, every case is different, and abortion can be the more loving thing to do. A Muslim would agree with a Christian, but explain that they believe that the mother’s life is only of more value than the child’s up until the end of the fourth month of pregnancy, and therefore abortion would be justified in that period of time for the benefit of the mother’s life.
