Christians' Views on Abortion and Euthanasia

Christians' Views on Abortion and Euthanasia

Abortion is a major issue to Christians each denomination has its own

teachings on abortion. Abortion is to end a pregnancy deliberately

because the child is not wanted for some reason. "Thou shall not

kill." (Exodus 20:13). There are different views on abortion, some

people believe that abortion is wrong because the foetus is still

alive, but others believe that abortion is needed for instance if the

mother's life was in danger, it would be better to kill the foetus and

save the mother, this means to choose the 'lesser of two evils.'

Abortion has been legal since 1967, because many women had been going

to illegal 'back-street abortionists.' Abortion was only legal if two

doctors agreed it was necessary and the foetus is not viable before 28

weeks. In the 1990 act abortion has been moved from 28 weeks to 24

weeks. This is because of newer technology that can keep the baby

alive.

Christians who are in favour of abortion think that the woman has the

right to choose what is best for her and her family, if the women is

raped and becomes pregnant, the women discovers the unborn baby is

handicapped, if a women life is at risk during the pregnancy and that

she should be saved because she may have children already. These are

the main factors why abortion is legal, the bible teaches that we

should live "in abundance," this means a mentally handicapped child

can't have that kind of life. "You created every part of me; you put

me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13) God has given

everyone the right to free will, to choose, does this law have the

right to take that freewill away from...

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...kes an oath to preserve

life; all life is sacred and should be preserved.

Christian churches have their own views on euthanasia; the Roman

Catholic Church is against euthanasia because it is seen as murder,

"That to cause death in this way was 'a grave violation of the law of

God'." (Pope) but the church allows a large dose of painkillers to

ease the patient. The Church of England is very similar but states

that people should not be kept alive at any cost. The Anglican Church

is against making euthanasia legal because they think the old and the

sick will be vulnerable and must be protected. Although the churches

are against euthanasia, they encourage people to go to hospices where

they can die with dignity.

I think abortion and euthanasia should be decided by the patient and

their families, not by their belief.