Beginning of Life (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

When does life begin?

• When does human life begin? There are several potential answers to this question:

  • At conception

  • At birth

  • When a person’s heart starts to beat

  • When a person is first aware of their own existence

  • When a person (foetus) can first feel pain

  • When independent life is possible

• There are no definitive answers

• Many religious people consider life to start at the moment of conception, as a new person has been created

  • The embryo or foetus is always a separate life from the mother, never just part of the mother

• Christians who support this view would use teachings such as Jeremiah in the Old Testament to support them:

• The question of when life begins is crucial when considering the issue of abortion

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What is abortion?

• Abortion is the removal of a foetus from the womb before the end of pregnancy, with the intention of destroying it

• Abortion is legal in the UK, but there are strict guidelines relating to when an abortion is permitted

• There are many reasons why someone might consider getting an abortion. These include situations when:

  • The foetus has inherited a genetic condition that would cause it to suffer greatly 

  • The mother is too young to care for a baby

  • A woman has become pregnant as a result of rape or incest

  • A woman requires medical treatment that will end the pregnancy, e.g. chemotherapy

  • The pregnancy was unplanned, and the mother does not want children

  • The father does not want to be involved, and the mother does not feel she can cope alone

Abortion and the law

• The Abortion Act 1967 allows the termination of a pregnancy by a registered medical practitioner, subject to certain conditions

  • This law applies to England, Scotland and Wales

• Under the Act, an abortion must be carried out in a hospital or specially licensed clinic

• Before a legally induced abortion can take place, two doctors must agree that one of the following applies:

  • The mother's life is at risk

  • The mother's mental or physical health is at risk

  • The wellbeing of existing children was at risk

  • The foetus would be born with a severe disability

• An abortion cannot take place after 24 weeks, unless the mother's life is at risk or the foetus will be born with a severe disability

• Abortion is legal, even after 24 weeks, if:

  • There is a serious threat to the woman’s health or life 

  • There is a substantial risk that the child will be born with physical or mental abnormalities and have severe disabilities 

The ethics of abortion

• Abortion is a topic that has been widely debated since it became legal in 1967

• Some people are opposed to abortion in all circumstances

  • These people are “pro-life” 

  • They believe that every human has a right to life from the moment of conception; this means they believe embryos have a right to life

• Some people are “pro-choice”

  • This means they believe that the woman who is pregnant has the right to choose what happens to her body 

  • This should include choosing whether to continue with a pregnancy or to have an abortion

• The situation around abortion is complicated

• Many people believe that there are no absolute right or wrong answers

  • The individual situation should be taken into account

Christian attitudes to abortion

• For Christians, human life is sacred and is a gift from God 

• This means that it should be respected and protected

• The Bible teaches that humans are created in the image of God:

• This means that every person reflects something of God in their nature

  • Therefore, life should not be ended by human choice

• The Ten Commandments say, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)

  • Many Christians believe this also applies to abortion

• The Bible teaches that God has a plan for every person’s life

  • Even before birth, a person has a divine purpose:

• Jesus reminded his followers that each person is precious to God, so much so that God has counted every hair on their head

• Christians understand and apply the guiding principle of the sanctity of life to the issue of abortion

  • Some Christians believe that abortion is never justified, while others believe that it is acceptable in certain situations

  • In certain circumstances, some Christians might consider the quality of life of both the unborn child and the mother as the priority

Roman Catholic and Orthodox views on abortion

• The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches teach that abortion is wrong in all circumstances

• They believe that life begins at conception and that every life has equal value and dignity

• Because God alone gives and takes life, humans have no right to end it:

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception

• The early Church document The Didache teaches

• Catholics also believe abortion breaks the commandment “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) because it deliberately ends an innocent human life

• Natural law teaches that the purpose of life is to preserve and protect it, so abortion goes against this purpose

• Pope John Paul II said:

• Abortion is classed as a mortal sin, which separates a person from God unless they seek forgiveness through confession

Anglican views on abortion

• The Church of England teaches that life is sacred and that abortion should never be taken lightly

• The Church of England is strongly opposed to abortion but recognises that there can be exceptional cases

  • These may include situations where the mother’s life is at serious risk or where the pregnancy is the result of rape

  • The Church of England believes that in such cases, abortion may be the lesser of two evils

• The Church of England’s governing body, the General Synod, has said:

• Anglicans believe that compassion is important and that Jesus taught people to love their neighbour and show mercy

  • This means they would encourage support for women facing difficult choices and forgiveness for those who have had an abortion

Evangelical Christian views on abortion

• Many Evangelical Christians believe that the Bible is the literal word of God and that abortion is always wrong

  • They argue that sanctity of life and the commandment “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) mean abortion is wrong

  • They believe that abortion destroys a life that God has created and planned a purpose for

• Evangelicals often campaign against abortion and work to support alternatives such as adoption or practical help for mothers in crisis

• Some evangelicals may also be influenced by Jesus’s teachings to show love and compassion, but they still hold that abortion is morally wrong

Muslim attitudes to abortion

• Muslim teachings about the sanctity of life apply to the topic of abortion

• Many Muslims do not agree with abortion because they believe that all life is sacred and is a gift from Allah, and this would include the unborn child

• Only Allah creates life, and only Allah has the right to take it away:

• The Qur’an does not mention abortion directly but gives clear guidance on related issues, such as protecting life:

• Killing an unborn child would be regarded as a serious sin

• Muslims believe in the concept of ensoulment

  • This is the point 120 days after conception when the soul enters the body

  • This is explained in the Hadith

• Most Muslims believe abortion is haram (forbidden) but may be permitted in certain cases before ensoulment

• Muslims might allow an abortion to happen before ensoulment in certain circumstances

  • If the mother’s health is at risk during the pregnancy, her life is more important than her unborn child’s, and so abortion would be acceptable

  • If the foetus has a severe abnormality, which means it would not survive after birth

• These are seen as examples of choosing the lesser of two evils, which is an accepted idea in Shari’ah law

• After ensoulment at 120 days, Sunni Muslims would forbid abortion to preserve the sanctity of life

  • The only exception would be if the mother’s life is in serious danger 

• Some Muslims would also agree with abortion if a couple expecting a child had a change of circumstances, which would make it difficult for them to raise the child

  • This is because of the teaching in the Qur’an that “God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear” (Qur’an 2:286)

• However, the Qur’an also teaches that the couple should not have an abortion because of financial issues

  • Instead, they should continue with the pregnancy and trust that Allah will provide what they need:

• There are differences between schools of Islamic law

  • Some permit abortion up to seven weeks

  • Others allow it up to 16 weeks

  • All agree that abortion later in pregnancy is a greater wrong

• Some Muslim women would argue that it is their choice what to do with their bodies 

  • This means they might have different views about whether and when an abortion should be allowed

• The Qur’an and Hadith teach that a child who has been aborted without just cause will have the right to ask why on the Day of Judgement

Humanist attitudes to abortion

• Humanists value happiness, compassion and informed choice over following absolute rules

  • There is no single Humanist rule about abortion – it depends on the circumstances

• Humanists and other non-religious people usually take a pro-choice position on abortion

• Humanists have campaigned for legalised abortion

• They believe that abortion can be a moral choice depending on the situation

• They do not believe that life is sacred in a religious sense, and so the focus should be on the mother’s rights as a living individual

  • The rights of the mother are more important than the rights of the unborn child

  • The mother should choose what happens since it is her body

• The British Humanist Association (now Humanists UK) has issued a pro-choice statement about abortion, saying:

• Humanists believe that:

  • Abortion is a personal decision; it is the woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body

  • The rights and wellbeing of the mother are more important than those of the unborn foetus, especially early in pregnancy

  • Parents should not be forced to continue with a pregnancy if they are not ready or cannot provide a good quality of life for the child

  • Abortion is acceptable if the mother’s life is at risk or if the child would be born with severe disabilities

  • It may also be justified if the pregnancy resulted from rape or would cause serious physical or mental harm

• Many Humanists argue that a foetus does not become a person with feelings and rights until later in development, so early abortion does not end the life of a “person”

Situation ethics and moral reasoning

• Humanists often apply situation ethics, which means finding the most loving or least harmful course of action in each situation

  • Many Christians and Muslims also apply this ethical system to abortion 

• In the case of abortion, there is much to consider when thinking about what the most loving action would be

  • If the mother’s life is at risk, if her mental and/or physical health would be greatly affected by giving birth, if she has been raped or if she feels incapable of giving the baby a good life, what is the most loving thing to do for her? 

  • If the child is likely to be physically or mentally disabled or if it will be born into poverty, what is the most loving thing to do for the baby?

• In these difficult situations, perhaps the most loving act towards both the mother and the unborn child would be to allow an abortion

• Abortion can be a morally acceptable choice if it prevents greater suffering for the mother, child or family

• This is a personal choice, which should be made in an informed fashion, considering both the long-term and short-term effects