Abortion -
Both Christians and Jews have split decisions on whether abortion is acceptable or not look at the tables below to see the different views -
Christian -
Only if the mothers health is at riskThis view is shared by evangelical protestants and Catholics :
- Catholics believe life begins at conception and therefore abortion is seen as murder " thou shall not kill " - The quote " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you " - The sanctity of life suggests only God should be able to end a pregnancy not humans - The doctrine of double effect gives a reason why we should allow an abortion if it could save the mothers life |
Allowed in limited circumstancesThis View is shared by other liberal christians -
- "Love thy neighbour" suggests sometimes its the most loving thing to do for the mother - The sanctity of life is broken in just war so why would it be any different for abortion - Other christians believe that life doesn't start at conception so therefore its just a ball of cells - We should also try to use our medical technological advances |
Jewish -
Never- Life is believed by some Jews to start at conception therefore its seen as murder "thou shall not kill"
- The sanctity of life suggests only God should have the power to end a life not humans |
Only if mothers healths at risk- The doctrine of double effect could justify an abortion if the mother could die
- The torah allows killing in self defence an this could be seen as the mothers self defence |
Accepted when the UK law is followed- Some Jews don't believe life starts until the foetus can survive on its own so its not killing
- The torah also says that we should prevent unnecessary suffering which is what they are doing |
Now plan / try this exam question -
" All religious people should disagree with abortion "
Do you agree and why
Why might some people disagree with you
Make sure to include religious views as well as at least one of you own as the first argument
" All religious people should disagree with abortion "
Do you agree and why
Why might some people disagree with you
Make sure to include religious views as well as at least one of you own as the first argument
Euthanasia
There are also different views about euthanasia within different religions -
Christian -
Never acceptable- The sanctity of life may be broken
- The bible bans suicide - Euthanasia could be seen as murder "thou shall not kill" teaches against this |
Can remove extraordinary treatment / turn off life machines- The sanctity of life means no assisted suicide
- God may have already taken the person if their brain dead - Some pain killers may shorten the life but aren't seen as euthanasia |
Limited euthanisa acceptable- With new medicine we can no longer tell what Gods wishes are
- "love thy neighbour" : the most loving thing to do could be to allow death to stop suffering - We have human rights |
Jewish -
Never acceptable- "Thou shall not kill" - Euthanasia could be seen as killing
- Torah says that suicide is wrong as will be punished by God - Sanctity of life means only God should give or take life |
Can remove extraordinary treatment / turn off life machines- Some rabbis have said its acceptable
- If someone is brain dead and being kept alive by life support God has already taken their life -Striving to keep someone alive is stopping God from taking their soul |
Media issues
Some people agree and some disagree with people being able to criticise religious views on the media here a table showing for and against being able to criticise religious view points -
For- We all have freedom of expression
- Religious leaders critique governments ideas so the same should be allowed the other way - Its a multi faith society - They are important issues to everyone |
Against- It could stir up racial hatred
- Could cause blasphemy -God is above human critique - Could offend some Christians |