Abortion stance of Christians?

Question

One thing I'm having trouble understanding is that abortion is wrong from the Christian viewpoint. Do most Christians believe that abortion is wrong no matter what the circumstances? Say if the woman was raped and hasn't the means to care for a child or simply doesn't want to endure 9 months of pregnancy after already being stripped of her dignity? Or what if the mothers life is in jeopardy due to it? Do any of us have authority to tell her she has to risk her life for the unborn baby if she doesn't want to? But....my actual question is how can Christians use their religious views as the basis for their "Abortion is never ok" stance when the god of their bible uses it as a means of punishment and revenge on people who upset him. Are we to believe that abortion to save the mother is wrong, abortion if a woman was raped is wrong, but abortion out of revenge or punishment is perfectly fine?? I'm just trying to understand the reasoning behind this?

gracefully_saved: You did a very good job of demonstrating the viewpoint I'm trying to understand? I don't seem to comprehend how a worshipper of a "loving" god can basically say god is god so he can do whatever he wants including ripping open the bellies of pregnant women for revenge, and then say well that woman has to risk dying so the embryo or fetus inside her has a chance at life

trueblue: You are obviously a very open and honest Christian, thanks for your response.

Answer 1

I am Catholic, and I am a firm believer in a "consistent ethic of life." Given that, I believe that an abortion can be considered if pregnancy would cause a woman and possibly her other children to go into deep material poverty. I also believe that rape victims, particularly young women who would normally not be having a child at that age, can consider abortion for psychological reasons. For the most part, however, I do think abortion is wrong, and all other alternatives presented should be examined before considering abortion. I do not blame anyone who had an abortion because they were ignorant of the alternatives. I, personally, would never consider abortion unless it was to save my own life. I also believe that abortion is a social sin that should not be placed solely on the woman receiving the abortion. Most women that have had abortions have been failed by society, whether they were raped, not educated about sex, and/or not given the material goods or family/community support to have a child.

Answer 2

Let's set some perspectives. How many cases of abortions are REALLY due to extenuating circumstances like rape or medical emergencies? Millions of babies are aborted each year, and they are done so for convenience and to abdicate responsibility for bad moral choices. I hope most, if not all, would consider such abortions as wrong. Medical emergencies are in a separate class of their own. If only one life can be saved, then the choice has to be made with all the facts known. There is no right or wrong in such instances. Now we talk about rape. Rape is an ordeal, a most terrible one. But how many rape victims eventually get pregnant? Now for those who are made pregnant, to simply rip the baby out of the womb is an emotional reaction to the ordeal just suffered. But a life is a life is a life. The heart cannot override the senses and morality. Just because the rapist has done violence to you does not mean you should take it out on the baby, who has NO PART in the violence. Justice should be sought out on the rapist, not on the unborn child. Difficult as it may be, family members and concerned friends ought to give support to the victim, to help her come out stronger from this unfortunate event. Bring up the child in the ways of the Lord, to stand up for injustice, and to right the wrongs. And if hardship is faced, then allow the child to be looked after by others till such time as she is able to cope. There are always other options besides abortion, which has tremendous emotional impact on the mother. There is no need to add on guilt upon guilt. Having said that, if someone I know is contemplating abortion because of being raped, I would offer to adopt the baby and raise him up, in addition to the three kids I already have.

Answer 3

Abortion is wrong in every case.

If the mother's life is truly endangered by carrying a baby to term, then a choice must be made, and the mother gets to make it.

That said, it's still wrong to terminate the existence of another innocent human being, especially one made of your own flesh and blood.

Poverty, inconvenience, peace of mind, rape, ignorance, immaturity, or personal beliefs are not sufficient reasons to take an innocent life.

Apply any of those conditions to yourself and see if they would ever keep you from saving the life of someone you love.

Answer 4

God is God....He can kill or create any living thing He chooses to. It is His right to decide that. If He begins to create a life in a womb and someone else ends that, it is not God's doing.

I am pro-choice Before pregnancy, Pro-Life Afterward.

In the case of rape, there is the option of adoption, and some have done this. There are some who even raised the child, loved it and didn't blame the child for what it's (so-called father) did.
If a mother's life is in danger, seems to me she would risk her life for her child. If she loves it, and trusts God, she will be okay!!!
Abortion is NEVER OK!!!!

Answer 5

Abortion - state of KILLING an unborn child while in the mother's womb. the seperation/cutting of the baby's hands, legs and HEAD for it not to live


rape is WRONG! abortion is WRONG!

abortion is murder...it is a crime...they want to save the mother but then the child has to suffer?

the mother is selfish if she just wants to save her life and not her own flesh and blood which lives within her...i understand if she cannot take care of the child but that is not a reason to KILL the child...is it? give the child up for adoption to make another family happy and give them the joy which you were SUPPOSE to have...

Answer 6

Rape and Abortion:
http://www.deathroe.com/Pro-life_Answers/Answers.cfm?ID=31
http://www.afterabortion.info/Victims/index.htm
http://www.family.org/fofmag/sl/a0039249.cfm
http://www.afterabortion.info/PAR/V2/n1/RAPESUM.htm

Is Abortion Ever Necessary to Save the Life of the Mother?
http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10682
http://www.advocatesfortheinnocent.com/motherslife.html

Biblical Perspectives on Abortion:
http://www.epm.org/articles/aborbibl.html
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aig-bibleandabortion.html
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-abortioninthebible.html
http://www.crusadeforlife.org/prolife_scriptures.htm

Answer 7

Abortion when a woman has been raped is allowed ! Abortion because the woman simply does not want the child, is MURDER. To all women who claim that their body is "theirs" and should have the right as they please...Let us not forget the prostitutes. Should they not be allowed to "rent" their bodies ? After all, it's their bodies -

Answer 8

i can provide you biblical quotes that state god views human life as being created "sometime between conception and birth", as well as numerous passages that suggest ancient christians did not consider an unborn baby to be a life (the plant, the fruit), but rather a precursor to life (the seed)

but non-christians would rather be set in their beliefs, and christians would just accuse me of misinterpreting scripture, so i don't bother

Answer 9

i dont think abortion in all situations is wrong. but most cases of abortion excluding like 2 percent of the rape cases, are for selfish reasons. i think if the birth will kill the mother, u should save the mother. in the case of rape, is the baby an object for you to murder? or is he/she a living being? its not your choice. period

Answer 10

I think everyone should have a choice. Unless you are a christian planning to raise a christian baby. Then, you should be forced to have an abortion and the parents should be euthanized.