Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework - page 2
Keywords: Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework GCSE Religious Studies Education RS RE R.E. R.S.
By slashwk on 23/11/2006 17:34:37
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 2 of 9 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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 born
However, 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 abortion
Or
• 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 abortion
The 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 20:13
This 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 1:5
This quote explains that God already ‘knows’
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