Religion and Early Life Revision

Development of a foetus

2 weeks (14 days) Eyes, ears & nose are forming

2.5 weeks (18 days) Heart starts beating

4 weeks (28 days) The sex organs have begun to develop

5 weeks (35 days) The baby’s nervous system is developed

6 weeks (42 days) Brain waves can be measured

8 weeks (56 days) All organs present & functioning

12 weeks (84 days) The brain is fully formed

13 weeks (91 days) Hair begins to grow

17 weeks (120 days) Ensoulment takes places (Muslim Belief)

20 weeks (140 days) The foetus could possibly survive if born

40 weeks (280 days) The normal length of a pregnancy

The Law…

In the UK a woman can get an abortion if:• The Pregnancy has not gone past 24 weeks.• Continuing with the pregnancy would affect

the physical or mental health of the woman.• Continuing the pregnancy would risk the life

of the woman.• There is a high risk the child would suffer

from physical or mental abnormalities.Two doctors have to agree on the above

factors.Abortion was only made legal in 1967.

The 1967 Act said that the latest date for an abortion was to be 28 weeks.

In 1990 the date for abortions was reduced to 24 weeks. Some people believe that it should be much lower than this because medical techniques are much more advanced now and it is possible for a baby to survive if born earlier than this if it has the proper medical attention.

There is no limit to the date at which an abortion can be carried out if the baby might be handicapped or if the pregnancy threatens the health of the mother.

In my opinion .

..

Erm …

Jesus taught …

Can I just say …

Buddha taught …

I think …

In my professional opinion …

WHO has a right to an opinion?

Arguments FOR abortionIt is the woman’s choice No contraception is 100% reliable so abortion

needs to be available People can’t agree when life begins so the few

should not force their views upon the majority. Women who don’t want children

should not be forced to have them. Abortion stops children being

unwanted and uncared for. It is more upsetting to give your child

up for adoption then to have an abortion.

Arguments AGAINST abortion

The unborn child is a separate being from the moment of conception.

The unborn child has the right not to be killed. People with disabilities can lead very happy and

creative lives and should have the opportunity to do so. Abortions can go badly wrong and can mentally and physically scar women who have them.

Abortion is murder. There is emotional and financial

support available to enable women to keep their babies – abortion is not an option!

Alternatives to Abortion: Keep it Risk your own

lifeFostering Adoption

Bring the child up yourself

Continue the pregnancy even

though your health/life might

be at risk

Give birth to the baby, but

someone else looks after it

Give birth to the baby, but someone

else becomes its legal parent/s.

There is usually no contact unless the

child wants to contact its biological

parents.Pros – the

child has its natural mother

Pros – child might still be born and live

Pros – has a life with a mother

Pros – has a life with a loving family

Cons – may resent the

child, unable to really look

after it

Cons – The child may have a seriously ill

mother, or no mother

Cons – self-esteem of the child may be

affected, confusing.

Cons – may be difficult to give up the child, feeling of abandonment for

the child.

Organisation FOR Abortion

PCA - Pro-Choice Alliance (FOR)• PCA believes that it should be the woman’s

choice to have an abortion. They believe that she should be able to decide to have an abortion without having to convince anyone, up to the 14th week of pregnancy. It is open to all religions and it campaigns to make abortion easier to have. They believe it is wrong for women to have to explain their personal reasons for wanting an abortion to a doctor and then leave it up to him or her to decide. They see this as an invasion of her privacy.

Organisation AGINST Abortion

SPUC – Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (Against)

• SPUC is a non-Christian organisation that argues that abortion takes away one of the most basic human rights; the right to life. Its members believe that life begins at the moment of conception (when the egg and sperm join) and that all human life is equally valued. Whether a foetus is healthy or not, to destroy an unhealthy foetus is seen as discriminating against disabled people. SPUC fund raise to produce advertising material for their view and organise protests. They also write to MP’s to try and influence their vote in parliament when abortion law is debated.

Buddhist View on Abortion• Life is special and needs to be protected• Help, do not harm others (First Precept)• Life begins at conception• Practice compassion (loving kindness) and

ahimsa (non-violence) • Karma is based on Right Intention (Eightfold

Path)

Rebirth - Aborting a foetus, might be taking away a person’s chance of paying back bad karma

They recognise that at times, less suffering can be had through an abortion than letting the pregnancy go full term.

Christian Beliefs into ActionActions Christians might take to show their beliefe for

or against abortion• They might show that they are strongly against abortion

when talking to other people.• They might join a ‘pro-life’ organisation like SPUC (Society

for the Protection of the Unborn child)• They might join a ‘pro-choice’ organisation like the All-Party

Parliamentary Pro-Choice group• They might take part in protests against abortion.• They might pray about the problem of abortion.• They might support sex education campaigns in schools.• They might join a group which campaigns for the right to

choose abortion.• They might support an organisation which offers

counselling for people who have had abortions.

Why do YOU think these are the most effective?

Christian View on Abortion• Life is sacred• All humans were made in the image of God• God gives and takes away life• Do not kill• God has planned for the life of every single

one of us

Roman Catholic – Life must be protected from the moment of conception.

Urgent medical treatment, which could end in the death of the foetus, which is accepted – its not considered to be a n abortion.

Protestant – abortion is sometimes a ‘necessary evil’ (an evil act but saves someone from suffering more e.g. through rape

1. What is adoption? (1 mark)2. Give two situations in which abortion is legal in

Britain. (2 marks)3. ‘Children are a gift.’ What do you think? Explain

your opinion. (3 marks)4. Explain why some religious believers are

against abortion. Refer to religious teaching in your answer. (6 marks)

5. ‘A woman should have an abortion if she knows that her baby will have a poor quality of life.’

Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. (6 marks)

Example Exam Qns

Example Exam Qns1. What does the term ‘abortion’ mean? (2)2. Explain two pro-life arguments. (2)3. Explain two pro-choice arguments. (2)4. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Explain how a Christian could use this biblical passage in an argument on abortion. (4)

5. ‘The main factor in the right or wrong of anything is intention.’Explain how a Buddhist could use this teaching in an argument on abortion, (4)

6. Explain briefly the law on abortion. (4)7. Explain briefly the quality of life argument. (4)8. ‘The rights of the foetus are the most important.’ (6)

Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view, including the two religious views you have studied.

9. ‘The father should always be consulted about abortion.’ (6)Do you agree? Give reasons and explain your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view, including the two religious views you have studied.