How Christians Apply Their Beliefs to Abortion and Euthanasia
Christians apply many different beliefs about abortion and euthanasia,
although they may have many different points of view, it is
understandable to why they hold certain beliefs and apply them in
Christianity.
Euthanasia and abortion are two very sensitive issues of which there
are strong arguments for and against. Some Christians believe that
these two practices are totally wrong and should never be carried out
while other Christians, for varying reasons believe euthanasia and
abortion are acceptable and even in some cases, the right thing to
do.
There are many different ways that Christianity applies its beliefs on
abortion, here are some of them:
The different views/beliefs of abortion
The Roman Catholic belief is that even while the baby is still very
tiny and still hardly developed the baby growing in the womb is the
beginning of a human life, and another human being should not end any
life created by God at any stage of its development. All life is
precious as the psalm quote below states that:
Another human being should not end any life created by God at any
stage of its development. All life is precious as the psalmist says
‘you created every part of me, you put me together in my Mothers womb…
When I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there, you saw
me before I was born’. (Psalm 139:13)
There is something also known as the double effect, whereby if the
mother has cancer in the womb and needs to remove it in order to keep
the mother alive and the baby dies as a result of it. Many of the
churches accept this as not being a ...
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...ly examine statements by
politicians. They advise on living wills and are legal in the court of
law. They promote euthanasia and advise legal acceptance of
euthanasia.
Most Christians do not think euthanasia is right thing to do, because
nearly all denominations of Christianity do not support it. The Roman
Catholic Church absolutely condemns it and in 1975 The Church of
England produced a report “On Dying Well” which opposed euthanasia.
The Methodist Church does not promote euthanasia either, but it is
debatable as to whether Christians should follow the beliefs of their
church. Different denominational beliefs about euthanasia have arisen
from the leaders and is therefore very much a matter of opinion-as the
Bible does not refer to it Christianity as a whole cannot say whether
it is religiously wrong or right.
Both Islam and Catholicism can be considered two major religions in the world. Ninian Smart’s seven dimensions of religion define key element in a religion. Despite the fact that the two religions are different, there are some factors which are similar between the two religions. Catholicism and Islam can be compared and contrasted through Smart’s Doctrinal and Ethical Dimensions, the history of these faith traditions in Australia and a contemporary issue of euthanasia. Through the evaluation of the Doctrinal and Ethical dimensions of religion, history and the perspectives on euthanasia, it will become clear that Catholicism and Islam are able to be compared and contrasted.
high death rates. For instance, many mothers would die while giving birth leaving the father to
Christian's Beliefs in the Sanctity of Life Christians believe in the sanctity of life. This means that God
aspect of it has to be the loving thing to do then it is possibly
Abortion is very cruel to the baby and even harms the mother. It is murder!There are many different procedures for abortions, all gruesome and pain inflicting on the baby. Suction Aspiration (vacuum curettage) makes up for 98% of first trimester abortions. The cervix is first dilated. Then a suction tube with a sharp cutting edge is inserted which rips the baby to pieces. It then sucks out all the remains.
a baby ranging from low birth weight and abnormalities to death. There are a few government
Those who advocate euthanasia have capitalized on people's confusion, ambivalence, and even fear about the use of modern life-prolonging technologies. Further, borrowing language from the abortion debate, they insist that the "right to choose" must prevail over all other considerations. Being able to choose the time and manner of one's death, without regard to what is chosen, is presented as the ultimate freedom. A decision to take one's life or to allow a physician to kill a suffering patient, however, is very different from a decision to refuse extraordinary or disproportionately burdensome treatment.
of existence. This is written in Psalm 139:13-16: 13For you created me in my inmost being; you knit me together in my
A Christian Response to Abortion or Euthanasia Abortion is the death of the foetus (life) from the mother's womb whether deliberate (operation/termination) or accidental (miscarriage). Christians are divided in their views on abortion. The Roman Catholic Church does not allow abortion. They do not agree on the precise moment in human development when a human person begins to exist.
that an abortion can be preformed up to the end of the 24th week of
Euthanasia, Abortion and the Church The Catholic Church has consistently taught that respect for human life is one of the most essential aspects of our faith. Life includes love, respect, community, and family. Each person is entitled their right to life, a responsibility to God, to live out their life from natural birth to natural death. Unfortunately, there have been horrifying incidents where people commit murders, assault and manipulate other people. One of the Ten Commandments clearly states
should not have the right to an abortion if it is at the expense of
Euthanasia and Religion Euthanasia is the inducement of a gentle and easy death. It is considered to be a form of suicide. Yet the procedure requires the assistance of a third party, due to the potential incapacity of the individual requesting this procedure be carried out. The case could then be turned into one of homicide. As a result of this, it is incredibly difficult to find an individual who is willing to aid in the conduct of euthanasia, as they could face prosecution in a criminal court on the charge of murder.
Christianity and Abortion The Christian belief in the sanctity of life is based on the teachings. of famous Christians and on what they read in the bible, the teachings. of Jesus. A quote from the Bible which seems to support the view that abortion is wrong is from Psalm 139:13, verses 15-16. “You created every part of me.
A Christian Response to Abortion Christians will all respond to the issue of abortion in different ways. Some Christians will follow the teaching of their church and strictly follow the rules that are laid out by that church. Others will look at the bible and see if they can adopt an attitude to abortion which best suits what is written. Other Christians may follow the life example and teachings of Jesus trying to re-live his way of life as Christians believe that Jesus is God, and they would believe that God knows exactly what are the right and wrong things to do. Some Christians may ask their friends and family how they feel about abortion even asking their priest what their opinion maybe.