Christian Attitudes to Abortion and Euthanasia

Christian Attitudes to Abortion and Euthanasia

Christian Attitudes:

Christians have different views about abortion and euthanasia, but

they all take the issues very seriously. They are part of the

discussion about the Sanctity of Life. Christians believe that all

life is sacred and was given by God. It is a gift from God. To have an

abortion or to accept euthanasia are very serious decisions and

Christians believe that they should not be encouraged for social

reasons. E.g. Abortion is not another form of contraception. It should

only be considered in the most serious circumstances.

Abortion:

Abortion can be spontaneous and is then regarded as a miscarriage or

it can be an operation, which causes the premature expulsion of the

foetus from the womb. An operation to terminate a pregnancy can

legally take place in Britain before the foetus is viable; that means

capable of living independently of its mother. Legal abortion is

usually safe and relatively uncomplicated.

Jesus did not teach his followers about abortion. It was not an issue

in his day. However, those who oppose abortion look for guidance in

Biblical passages, which speak of the sanctity of life. They also

consult teachings of the Church.

The Bible says, in the Ten Commandments:

‘You shall not murder’. (Exodus 20:13)

Some Christians believe that abortion is murder because it ends the

life of the unborn child.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 tells Christians that the body is God’s temple:

‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s

Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy

him; for God’s temple is sacr...

... middle of paper ...

...h1: 5 says:

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart.’

Those who are against euthanasia say that these passages from the Old

Testament show that God knows life from the beginning. Ending life at

any stage is murder.

As with abortion, those Christians who are willing to accept

euthanasia under certain circumstances do so out of compassion. Jesus

taught that people should love others as much as they love themselves.

This is Christian love (agape) or compassion. Some Christians might

argue that in sometimes, the most loving thing to do is to allow a

person to die.

Christians usually prefer the alternative of the hospice movement.

Hospices are residential homes for the terminally ill. Their aim is to

allow people to die with dignity and in as little pain as possible.