| Revision as of 08:51, 23 January 2011 editRoscelese (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers35,788 edits →Christianity: thank you for providing another source. but you appear to be misinterpreting the quote - the synod *reduced* the sentence for makers of drugs. do you think this wording works?← Previous edit | Revision as of 11:23, 23 January 2011 edit undoEsoglou (talk | contribs)31,527 edits →Christianity: for comparison, added more sourced informationNext edit → | ||
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| According to ], early Christians held varying beliefs about whether abortion was wrong and, if so, how it should be punished.<ref name=Luker>{{Cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-SZnZTSQV9EC&pg=PA13 |title=Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood |first=Kristin |last=Luker |publisher=University of California Press |year=1985}}</ref> Robert Nisbet and Michael J. Gorman say that the early Christians declared abortion (according to Evelyn B. Kelly, even before ])<ref></ref> a sin, either on a level with general sexual immorality<ref></ref> or as "an evil no less severe and social than oppression of the poor and needy".<ref></ref> | According to ], early Christians held varying beliefs about whether abortion was wrong and, if so, how it should be punished.<ref name=Luker>{{Cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-SZnZTSQV9EC&pg=PA13 |title=Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood |first=Kristin |last=Luker |publisher=University of California Press |year=1985}}</ref> Robert Nisbet and Michael J. Gorman say that the early Christians declared abortion (according to Evelyn B. Kelly, even before ])<ref></ref> a sin, either on a level with general sexual immorality<ref></ref> or as "an evil no less severe and social than oppression of the poor and needy".<ref></ref> | ||
| In the ], the '']'' explicitly condemned abortion, as did the '']'' in the second century.<ref name="Facts of Life">{{cite book|title=Facts of Life|author=Brian Clowes, PhD|url=http://www.hli.org/index.php/the-facts-of-life/396?task=view|chapter=Chapter 9: Catholic Church Teachings on Abortion: Early Teachings of the Church|publisher=]}}</ref> The early 4th-century ] imposed denial of communion even at the point of death on those who committed the "double crime" of adultery and subsequent abortion,<ref> If a woman conceives by adultery while her husband is away and after that transgression has an abortion, she should not be given communion even at the last, because she has doubled her crime.</ref> and the ] reduced from life to ten years of penance the penalty for manufacturers of abortion drugs and for women aborting what they conceived by fornication.<ref> Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived, or who are employed in making drugs for abortion, a former decree excluded them until the hour of death, and to this some have assented. Nevertheless, being desirous to use somewhat greater lenity, we have ordained that they fulfil ten years , according to the prescribed degrees.</ref> |
In the ], the '']'' explicitly condemned abortion, as did the '']'' in the second century.<ref name="Facts of Life">{{cite book|title=Facts of Life|author=Brian Clowes, PhD|url=http://www.hli.org/index.php/the-facts-of-life/396?task=view|chapter=Chapter 9: Catholic Church Teachings on Abortion: Early Teachings of the Church|publisher=]}}</ref> The early 4th-century ] imposed denial of communion even at the point of death on those who committed the "double crime" of adultery and subsequent abortion,<ref> If a woman conceives by adultery while her husband is away and after that transgression has an abortion, she should not be given communion even at the last, because she has doubled her crime.</ref> and the ] reduced from life to ten years of penance the penalty for manufacturers of abortion drugs and for women aborting what they conceived by fornication.<ref> Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived, or who are employed in making drugs for abortion, a former decree excluded them until the hour of death, and to this some have assented. Nevertheless, being desirous to use somewhat greater lenity, we have ordained that they fulfil ten years , according to the prescribed degrees.</ref> That exclusion from communion for ten years (reduced from life exclusion) was considerably greater than the two or three years that was normal in the 4th to 6th century for grave sins, but it was less than the twenty or thirty years that in that period was the maximum;<ref></ref> however, the ten-year exclusion was imposed by ] (330-379) on any woman who purposely destroyed her unborn child, even if unformed.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | ||
| For other early Christian declarations on abortion, see | For other early Christian declarations on abortion, see | ||
Revision as of 11:23, 23 January 2011
Many religious traditions have taken a stance on abortion, and these stances span a broad spectrum from acceptance to rejection.
Buddhism
Main article: Buddhism and abortionThere is no single Buddhist view concerning abortion. Traditional sources, such as the Buddhist monastic code, hold that life begins at conception and that abortion, which would then involve the deliberate destruction of life, should be rejected. Many Buddhists also subscribe to this view. Complicating the issue is the Buddhist belief that "life is a continuum with no discernible starting point".
The Dalai Lama has said that abortion is "negative," but there are exceptions. He said, "I think abortion should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance."
Inducing or otherwise causing an abortion is regarded as a serious matter in the monastic rules followed by both Theravada and Vajrayana monks; monks can be expelled for assisting a woman in procuring an abortion. Traditional sources do not recognize a distinction between early- and late-term abortion, but in Sri Lanka and Thailand the "moral stigma" associated with an abortion grows with the development of the foetus. While traditional sources do not seem to be aware of the possibility of abortion as relevant to the health of the mother, modern Buddhist teachers from many traditions – and abortion laws in many Buddhist countries – recognize a threat to the life or physical health of the mother as an acceptable justification for abortion as a practical matter, though it may still be seen as a deed with negative moral or karmic consequences.
Christianity
Main article: Christianity and abortionAccording to Kristin Luker, early Christians held varying beliefs about whether abortion was wrong and, if so, how it should be punished. Robert Nisbet and Michael J. Gorman say that the early Christians declared abortion (according to Evelyn B. Kelly, even before ensoulment) a sin, either on a level with general sexual immorality or as "an evil no less severe and social than oppression of the poor and needy".
In the first century A.D., the Didache explicitly condemned abortion, as did the Apocalypse of Peter in the second century. The early 4th-century Synod of Elvira imposed denial of communion even at the point of death on those who committed the "double crime" of adultery and subsequent abortion, and the Synod of Ancyra reduced from life to ten years of penance the penalty for manufacturers of abortion drugs and for women aborting what they conceived by fornication. That exclusion from communion for ten years (reduced from life exclusion) was considerably greater than the two or three years that was normal in the 4th to 6th century for grave sins, but it was less than the twenty or thirty years that in that period was the maximum; however, the ten-year exclusion was imposed by Basil the Great (330-379) on any woman who purposely destroyed her unborn child, even if unformed.
For other early Christian declarations on abortion, see Wikiquote.
Many Christian denominations condemn abortion today, such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Southern Baptist Convention, among others. However, other denominations have a nuanced or accepting view of abortion, such as the Episcopal Church and Presbyterian Church, among others. Additionally, there are sizable minorities in all denominations that disagree with their denomination's stance on abortion.
Hinduism
Main article: Hinduism and abortionIndividual Hindus hold varying stances on abortion, although traditional Hindu texts and teachings condemn elective abortions. The British Broadcasting Corporation writes, "When considering abortion, the Hindu way is to choose the action that will do least harm to all involved: the mother and father, the foetus and society... Classical Hindu texts are strongly opposed to abortion." The BBC goes on to state, "In practice, however, abortion is practiced in Hindu culture in India, because the religious ban on abortion is sometimes overruled by the cultural preference for sons. This can lead to abortion to prevent the birth of girl babies, which is called 'female foeticide'." Hindu scholars and women's rights advocates have supported bans on sex-selective abortions. Hindus generally tend to support abortion in cases where the mother's life is at risk or when the fetus has a life threatening developmental anomaly. Some Hindu theologians believe personhood begins at three months and develops through to five months of gestation, possibly implying permitting abortion up to the third month and considering any abortion past the third month to be destruction of the soul's current incarnate body.
Islam
Main article: Islam and abortionAlthough there are different opinions among Islamic scholars about when life begins and when abortion is permissible, most agree that the termination of a pregnancy after 120 days – the point at which, in Islam, a fetus is thought to become a living soul – is not permissible. Many Islamic thinkers contend that in cases prior to four months of gestation, abortion should be permissible only in instances in which the mother's life is in danger or in cases of rape.
Judaism
Main article: Judaism and abortionOrthodox Jewish teachings sanction abortion as a means of safeguarding the life of the woman. While the Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative movements openly advocate for the right to a safe and accessible abortion, the Orthodox movement is less unified on the issue.
In Judaism, views on abortion draw primarily upon the legal and ethical teachings of the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, the case-by-case decisions of responsa, and other rabbinic literature. In the modern period, moreover, Jewish thinking on abortion has responded both to liberal understandings of personal autonomy as well as Christian opposition to abortion. Generally speaking, orthodox Jews oppose abortion, with few health-related exceptions, and reform and conservative Jews tend to allow greater latitude for abortion. There are rulings that often appear conflicting on the matter. The Talmud states that a fetus is not legally a person until it is delivered, however, if "when men fight and one of them pushes a pregnant woman and a miscarriage results but no other misfortune, the one responsible shall be fined...but if other misfortune ensues, the penalty shall be life (nefesh) for life (nefesh)." (Ex.21:22-25)
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, "Judaism does not forbid abortion, but it does not permit abortion on demand. Abortion is only permitted for serious reasons. Judaism expects every case to be considered on its own merits and the decision to be taken after consultation with a rabbi competent to give advice on such matters."
Sikhism
Although the Sikh code of conduct does not deal directly with abortion (or indeed many other bioethical issues), it is generally forbidden in Sikhism because it interferes in the creative work of God. Despite this theoretical viewpoint, abortion is not uncommon among the Sikh community in India, and there is growing concern that female fetuses are being aborted because of the cultural preference for sons.
See also
References
- BBC "Religion and Ethics" Be aware that these BBC pages do not cover all Protestant, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist beliefs.
- Patheos Public Square Topic Including Buddhist, Muslim, Mormon, and Pagan perspectives in addition to Catholic, Evangelical, Protestant, and Jewish perspectives.
- ^ "Abortion: Buddhism." BBC Religion & Ethics. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
- ^ Harvey, Peter. Introduction to Buddhist Ethics (2000). Cambridge University Press. pg. 311–20
- ^ The Pew Forum. September 30, 2008. Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion, Retrieved on April 29, 2009.
- Buddhism and Abortion on Patheos
- Claudia Dreifus (28 November 1993). "New York Times Interview with the Dalai Lama". New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
- Luker, Kristin (1985). Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood. University of California Press.
- Evelyn B. Kelly, Stem Cells (Greenwood Press 2007 ISBN 0-313-33763-2), p. 86
- [Robert Nisbet, Prejudices: A Philosophical Dictionary (Harvard University Press 1982 ISBN 0-674-70066-X), p. 2
- Michael J. Gorman, Abortion and the Early Church: Christian, Jewish, and Pagan Attitudes (InterVarsity Press 1982 ISBN 087784397X), p. 50
- ^ Brian Clowes, PhD. "Chapter 9: Catholic Church Teachings on Abortion: Early Teachings of the Church". Facts of Life. Human Life International.
- Canon 63. If a woman conceives by adultery while her husband is away and after that transgression has an abortion, she should not be given communion even at the last, because she has doubled her crime.
- Canon 21. Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived, or who are employed in making drugs for abortion, a former decree excluded them until the hour of death, and to this some have assented. Nevertheless, being desirous to use somewhat greater lenity, we have ordained that they fulfil ten years , according to the prescribed degrees.
- Rinaldo Ronzani, Conversion and Reconciliation: The Rite of Penance (Pauline Publications 2007 ISBN 9966-08-234-4), p. 66
- Philip Schaff and Henry Wallace (editors), Basil: Letters and Select Works, p. 225 - Letter 188, to Amphilochius
- Matthew Schwartz, Roman Letters: History from a Personal Point of View (Wayne State University Press 1991 ISBN 0-8143-2023-6), p. 151
- ^ "Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion" Pew Forum
- ^ "Where does God stand on abortion?" USA Today
- BBC "Hinduism and abortion"
- Chapter 1: Dilemmas of Life and Death: Hindu Ethics in a North American Context | Date: 1995 | Author: Crawford, S. Cromwell
- "A warning for doctors doing sex selection". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 July 2009.
- BBC.co.uk
- Judaism and Abortion, BBC (2005-02-08).
- Bank, Richard. The Everything Judaism Book, page 186 (Everything Books, 2002).
- Jakobovits, Sinclair
- Articles published by the Schlesinger institute on abortion in Judaism: articles in English and in Hebrew, and the entry on abortion from the Encyclopedia of Jewish Medical Ethics (Hebrew)
- Jewish Abortion perspective 1 on Patheos
- Jewish Abortion perspective 2 on Patheos
- ^ BBC
External links
- The BBC's Ethics:Abortion page contains an overview of positions on abortion from different religious perspectives.
- Patheos offers a resource for collected religious views on abortion from religious leadership, lay leaders, and practitioners.
