Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework - page 9
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: 9 of 9 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
in the case of rape or severe disability by explaining that:
‘Existence is characterized by suffering and does not bring satisfaction’
The Four Noble Truths
This fundamental idea elucidates that the whole point of life is that it is exigent, and that the goal of life is not to seek refuge in pleasures, but to liberate oneself from the continual cycle of rebirth. Each person’s life is governed by the actions of their previous life (karma) and if they suffer in their present life, they can only persevere and build up a good karma for their next life.
Islam does not permit abortion unless there is a grave danger to the mother’s life. Some Muslims believe that the mother has greater rights than the foetus up until the end of the fourth month, after which they both have equal rights. They believe that the later the abortion takes place, the worse it is. In Islam, like in Christianity, abortion was not a great concern at the time that the scriptures were written, but the Qu’ran teaches the following:
‘Kill not your offspring for fear of poverty, it is We who provide for them and for you. Surely, killing them is a great sin’ Surah 17:32
To conclude, I believe that abortion can never be justified because I believe that nobody has the right to take another’s life, whereas a Christian would argue that abortion is a great sin, however, every case is different, and abortion can be the more loving thing to do. A Muslim would agree with a Christian, but explain that they believe that the mother’s life is only of more value than the child’s up until the end of the fourth month of pregnancy, and therefore abortion would be justified in that period of time for the benefit of the mother’s life.
Bibliography
GCSE Religious Studies, Christian Perspectives Libby Ahluwalia/Jon Mayled (Hodder and Stoughton, 2001)
Religion in Focus: Christianity in Today’s World Clinton/Lynch/Orchard/Weston/ Wright (John Murray, 1998)
Today’s Issues and Christian Beliefs Simon and Christopher Danes (Lion Educational, 2000)
Contemporary Moral Issues Joe Jenkins (Heinemann, 2002)
Beliefs, Values and Traditions Ann Lovelace and Joy White (Heinemann, 1996)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
http://www.mnzencenter.org/
http://www.bible.com/
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
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