Why is abortion a religious issue?

Question

It seems like pro-life is associated with Fundamental Christianity, why is this?

"Thou shalt not kill" seems to be in creeds other than Christianity. Atheists don't believe killing is right.

Answer 1

Christianity and the Catholic Church believe that your soul is given to you the moment of conception and that therefore a fetus or embryo is a human being, and therefore killing of that would be murder.

Answer 2

I don't think of it as a religious issue. I would be pro-life no matter what religion I was simply because an unborn baby is a unique human life that from the beginning has its own DNA, blood type and then in its early stages develops such minute detailed features as finger nails, eyelashes and one to really make you think -- a beating heart.

People need to better understand what abortion does and what a "fetus" consists of. It is a human being. Secular humanists from what I understand believe in the rights of human beings. They should also believe in the rights of those human beings still located in the woom. The only religion that should be for abortion should be a religion that deems murder acceptable -- maybe Satanism? But no rational belief system should go along with abortion.

Answer 3

I am not Christian but I am pro-life. I believe a heart beat signifies life - and to take that away, whether in the womb or not is to take a life. It is the same measure we use for life outside of the womb so why should it be different inside?

The media focuses on Christianity as the pro-life angel because it is the most out spoken. But there are many of us who are not Christian who are pro-life. I have even met atheists that are pro-life, believing the same as I. That a heart beat is a life.

I think religion right now should be taken out of the issue. Abortions will continue to happen regardless of what religion says. We need to set a true standard of what consitutes life and stick by it. Religion or lack there of, only fuels the schism and continues the argument.

Answer 4

Abortion is a religious issue for at least two main reasons. One is the sense that abortion is a form of homicide forbidden by one of the ten commandments, "thou shalt not kill". The other reason is that churches need their pews filled. As a practical matter, any organization needs to keep up its membership.

Answer 5

It is unfortunate that it has become a religious issue...I suspect there are some folks who will take a pro-choice stance basically because they do not wish to be associated with anything they think has even the scent of "fudnamental Christianity" about it.
and even more unfortunate that it is left up to religious people to protect innocent, unborn babies.
It ought to be everyone's concern. After all, we all started out as fetuses...

Answer 6

Because fundamentalists are the loudest most fanatical and most radical about it. Most other types of religious folks also generally are against abortion. However most of us who are more reasonable also do not want to return to back alley coat hanger days when abortions still happened but also permanently ruined women. Also those of us who are religious but not fundamentalists see pro-life as meaning anti-war (unless in totally necessary self-defense) and anti-death penalty. I myself think that if Republicans were really anti-abortion they would remove the severe economic pressures on poor families and single mothers. My experience in my own life and talking to other working class people leads me to believe that economic hardship is the primary motivation for women to choose abortion and I have yet to have met any woman who was happy about having made such a choice. Most felt forced to do it because of economic forces out of their control and that is not hardly a choice at all from their perspective. Fundamentalists unfortunately oversimplify the issue to the point of stupidity and possibly insanity and I wish they would cut it out so that the rest of the world could have meaningful constructive dialog about major problems in our world.

Answer 7

Because many religions believe in certain things, like not taking a life away from a baby ( in this case) or any type of person. And abortion is taking away a life basically and many religious beliefs come into play. So abortion could be a big issue with abortion.

Answer 8

Life was given to each of us from God. God says "THOU SHALT NOT KILL"- abortion takes life. God is the only one that can give or take life- so therefore since life in involved it is from God.

Answer 9

Reasons are historical.

Religions act just like any other self promoting group - they want
to grow in number, and yes, that means they treat every potential
member (even in-utero) as precious.

This is why some religions (e.g. Catholicism) make it a sin to even
try to prevent inception. Indeed, you're supposed to have as
many potential Catholics as you possibly can.

Its not clear to me whether, if by some magic, we could tell during
gestation if the kid was going to be Christian or not, if they would
be as motivated to prevent non-Christian abortions.

There are lots of pro-life people who are not Christian, and there
are lots of pro-choice people who ARE Christian - but, you're
right, the trend is for the reverse.

If you could somehow magically eliminate the element of
self preservation from it, I think the proportions of religious
to non religious would even out.

Answer 10

It is indeed so associated, and the issue turns on the interpretation of "thou shalt not commit murder". If you are a bible thumper, you suppose that the clause prohibits abortion, and that is the end of the story.