'Abortion is never justified'. Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer.

Essay by ihaveabigbuttHigh School, 12th gradeA, January 2005

download word file, 6 pages 5.0

Downloaded 25 times

I neither agree, nor disagree with the statement. I belive that having an abortion depends on a number of different factors, each contributing equally to whether a woman may or may not choose to have an abortion. Taking into account the knowledge of Christian teachings that I have acquired I still feel that abortion is justifiable in some cases and unjust in others. It depends on the religion, the beliefs and the situation the mother is in.

In the UK, abortion became illegal in the 19th century. If an abortion was carried out the sentence was life imprisonment. Women trying to escape the burden of an unwanted baby were forced to use unreliable and dangerous methods. In some cases knitting needles and poisonous drugs were used and also blows to the abdominal area to try and damage the foetus so that a miscarriage would occur. Many people were appalled, but some were not surprised at the amount of women suffering and dying as a result of illegal abortion.

Pressure for reform resulted in the Abortion Act becoming law on the 27th October 1967. The Abortion Act stated that abortion could be carried out up until 28 weeks of pregnancy. During the 1960's and 1970's many governments relaxed their abortion laws and made it easier for women to terminate unwanted pregnancies. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act amended the 1967 abortion act in 1990. It stated that abortions could be carried out until 24 weeks of pregnancy because advances in medicine meant that it was now possible to keep some babies alive, born after about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Today, abortion is illegal in very few countries, even those with strong religious beliefs and traditions. In a few countries such as the Soviet Union abortion is turned to as a method...