Religion and Early Life
Miracle of Life
the idea that life is wonderful, special or amazing
Blessing
the idea that God has favoured a couple with a child
Conception
when the sperm meets the egg
Viable
the point at which a foetus could survive if it were to be born
Quality of life
Abortion
Pro-choice
a measure of how fulfilling life is
the deliberate termination of a pregnancy usually before the foetus is 24 weeks
and viable
in favour of a womans right to choose an abortion
Pro-life
opposed to abortion; in favour of the life of a foetus
Pressure groups
collections of people outside government who campaign for changes in society
Adoption
the legal process where a person (child) is taken into the family as a son or
daughter
Fostering
the taking of a child from a different family into a family home and bringing them
up with the rest of the new family
The Miracle of Life
The Miracle of Life
Children as a
blessing and gift
Sanctity of Life
- Tiny sperm joins with egg to create unique human being
- Parents often say it is the best moment of their lives
- Joy of parents is shared with other family members
- Some take fertility for granted but of couples have difficulty starting a family
- Human race can continue
- Religious people often mark the birth of a baby with a special ceremony
- Given to them by a loving God
- Buddhists do not see humans as a gift because they do not believe in God. But
they still believe all life is precious.
- Christians believe life is a gift from God. Life should be valued and cherished
Only God has the right to take life away
- Buddhist believe that every life should be valued as each person should have the
chance to build good karma. Life should be preserved
When does life begin?
There are several secular views
(society) of when life begins:
At conception
Development of spinal
column
When the heart beats
When the life is viable
Buddhists believe that life begins
even before conception because
all living things are caught in the
cycle of life, death and rebirth,
therefore there is no point at
which life begins.
Roman Catholic Christians believe
that life begins at conception.
They would speak of an embryo
as a person therefore saying it
has rights.
Quality of Life
This refers to the kind of life that the child will be born into. It can mean both physical and mental
wellbeing of the child and also the circumstances of the family into which it enters. For some reasons
the prospect of having a child does not fill prospective parents with joy, some of these may be:
Severe disability
babies born with a severe disability may have a life full of suffering and pain. This
can place added pressure on the parents and the family.
Unwanted child
there may be a number of reasons why the baby is not wanted, for example if the
mother is young or if the pregnancy is a result of rape.
Poverty
some people cannot afford a child, particularly if they already have a large family
or if they have a low income. Babies can be expensive and some prospective
parents fear that they could not properly meet the needs of a child.
All of the above circumstances are examples of situations in which the quality of the childs life if it
were to be born may in fact justify ending the pregnancy.
Why do people have an abortion?
Unwanted pregnancy / poverty of parents / disability / poor environment / illness / deserted by father /
too young / will interrupt career / large family already / rape / physical effects of pregnancy
Social facts on Abortion The Law
Before 1967 abortion was ILLEGAL in the UK. In 1967 the Abortion Act made it legal for abortions to
take place under certain circumstances.
Abortion is only allowed in the UK if 2 doctors agree on the following: if the mothers health or life is at risk
if the child would be born severely handicapped
another child would cause hardship to existing family members
The 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act set the time of viability to 24 weeks. Abortions in the
UK cannot be carried out after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Some people disagree with the time of viability, some thinking it should be lower and others thinking it
should be higher.
Rights
Rights of the Unborn
Child
Rights of the Mother
Rights of the Father
Right
to
Opportunity
Equal
Foetus is dependent on the Mother but unique in its own way
Pro-Life emphasise the foetus needs protecting as it cant speak for
itself
Deserves a right to live like any other person
If the pregnancy is a result of irresponsible actions the parents take
on the responsibility of maintaining the life of the foetus
Pro-Choice emphasise mothers right to choose whether she wants
and abortion
Abortions are safer than child birth
Legal responsibilities but few rights
Final decisions about abortion are in the mothers hands
Some argue that abortion allows women to have the same
opportunities as men as they can decide whether it is the right time
for a child
If it is not the right time they can still have the same opportunities in
education, jobs and society because they are not having to support a
child at home
Arguments For and Against Abortion
ProChoice
Women should have the right to end the pregnancy if she wishes
The woman is at greater risk during pregnancy and this outweighs the rights of the
baby
The womans circumstances should be considered
The woman can choose an alternative to abortion if she wishes
If the law changed to forbid abortion then women would have dangerous illegal
abortions
It is cruel to bring disabled children into the world
The world is too over crowded therefore why bring unwanted children into life?
Pro-Life
Abortion Rights is a national campaign group that defends safe, legal abortions.
Abortion is murder as a foetus is an individual life
Depression and guilt can follow abortion, leaving physical and mental scars
Disabled children can enjoy happy and fulfilled lives and would choose life over
termination
The United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child states that children need
protection before and after birth
Each person is unique and has something to offer
Abortion can be used to carelessly and selfishly
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) argues against abortion.
Religious Attitudes to Abortion
Christianity
Buddhism
All Christians
share a belief
in the Sanctity
of Life.
Buddhists
believe that
when
conception
occurs life has
already begun
therefore
abortion is
deliberate
taking of life.
Children are
created in the
image of God.
Roman
Catholics and
some other
Christians
believe that life
begins at
conception.
Abortion is
deliberate
killing and
breaks the 6th
commandment
Tibetan
Buddhists say
it is rare to be
reborn in
human form so
human life is
so precious.
If a Buddhist
has an abortion
for selfish
thou shall not
kill.
Some
Christians such
as Methodists
accept
abortion under
circumstances
such as rape.
reasons it
would produce
bad karma.
There are some
circumstances
in which a
Buddhist would
consider
abortion a
compassionate
action.
If the motive of
abortion is
compassion for
others then the
taking of life is
balanced by
good intention.
Alternatives to Abortion
Adoption
Most adoptions take place within the family that the child was born, for example
the grandparents may adopt the child and raise it as their own. Some adoptions
take place with people who cannot have a family of their own or who wish to have
more children.
The law requires the parents circumstances to be fully investigated to check that
they can provide the child with the love and care that they need.
Fostering
This is when a mother places her child in temporary care until she is in a position
to look after the child herself.
Foster parents have government funding to be able to provide for the child. The
length of time a child is in foster care depends on the situation. Sometimes
fostering can lead to adoption.
