Abortion is the termination of the life of a foetus

Infanticide is the killing of a baby after birth

Abortion on demand is where women are allowed abortions 'no questions asked'

Abortions were made legal in Great Britain by the 1967 Abortion Act.  

This was amended in 1990 to say that no abortion could take place after the 24th week of pregnancy unless there was a risk to the life of the mother.  This is because of advances in technology which see some very premature babies able to survive.  

The crucial question asked by many is when does life begin?

• at conception (when the sperm fertilises the egg)?
• at a definite point during pregnancy (Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosopher, believed that a foetus became a human being when God implanted the soul)?
• when the baby is capable of living outside the womb?

Christianity & Abortion

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart Jeremiah 1:5

Roman Catholics and many Evangelical Protestants believe that all forms of abortion are sinful and should therefore not be allowed.  They are the main organisers of groups such as LIFE and SPUC which campaign for the rights of the foetus.

They base their beliefs on certain religious teachings:

• the sanctity of life and the belief that all life is holy and belongs to God, therefore only God has the right to end a pregnancy
• the belief that life begins at the moment of conception
• the belief that the unborn child is created in the image of God
• the belief that every human has a right to life

Other Protestants, such as the Church of England and the Methodist Church, agree that abortion is evil, but feel that sometimes the lesser of two evils has to be chosen. Many would allow abortion if the pregnancy was a result of rape or where the embryo is handicapped so that to be born would only result in suffering and/or early death.  They might also allow abortion if the life of the mother was threatened or because of social circumstance (for example, poverty).

These Christians base their attitude on the following teachings:

• Jesus told Christians to love their neighbour as themselves and abortion may be the most loving thing
• Christianity is concerned with justice and it would be unjust to ban abortions because it would affect the poor more than the rich
• the sanctity of life can be broken in such things as war when people are killed, so there could be justification for abortion
• the belief that maybe life does not begin at conception

Islam & Abortion

Kill not your children on a plea of want.  We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not nigh to shameful deeds  Surah 6:151

Islam does not allow abortion 'after the foetus is completely formed and has been given a soul' [The Lawful and the Prohibited].  This gives rise to a number of conflicting views regarding abortion in the Islamic faith.

• the majority of Muslims believe that abortion is a great sin, but may be allowed if the life of the mother is threatened.  The Shari'ah says that when there is a choice between the life of the mother and that of the child, the mother's life must take priority.  In this case abortion is viewed as the lesser of two evils for to lose the mother may cause family disruption
• Some Muslims will go so far as to say that abortions cannot be allowed at any time.  This is based on the belief that the soul is given at the moment of conception
• Yet more Muslims will say that abortion can be allowed up to 120 days into the pregnancy.  However, there must be good reasons.  For example, tests would need to show that the foetus is abnormal.  This is based on the belief of some Muslims that the embryo is unformed and soulless up to 120 days old

www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/ocrabortlaw4.asp  Contains testaments from women who've had abortions

www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/  General information from a pro-choice forum

www.faithnet.org.uk/revisionsheet6.htm  Revision sheet on Christianity & abortion

www.coursework.info  A useful site to register with as you can gain valuable insight into the standards required of you

www.islamatschool.org.uk/GC/GCSETopicsPages/Abortion.htm  Amazing page packed with relevant information and the type of questions you can expect to answer in a GCSE paper **Recommended** 

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