Many religious traditions have taken a stance on abortion, and these stances span a broad spectrum from acceptance to rejection.^[1]

Buddhism

There is no single Buddhist view concerning abortion.^[2] 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.^[3] Many Buddhists also subscribe to this view.^[4][2]

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."^[5]

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.^[3] 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 fetus.^[3] While traditional sources do not seem to be aware of the possibility of abortion as relevant to the health of the pregnant woman, modern Buddhist teachers from many traditions – and abortion laws in many Buddhist countries – recognize a threat to the life or physical health of the woman 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.^[3]

Christianity

There is no mention in the Christian Bible about abortion and at different times early Christians held different beliefs about abortion. Many traditional Christian churches are pro-life. ^[6][7][8] Most Christian denominations have nuanced positions, thoughts and teachings concerning abortion, especially in extenuating circumstances.

The Catholic Church opposes abortion in every situation, but permits acts which will indirectly result in the death of the baby in the case where the woman's life is threatened ^[9]. The Catholic Church regards the moment of conception as the start of life and therefore regards all types of abortion as equivalent to murder. Most Southern Baptists agree with the Catholic Church's teaching about abortion. ^[10] More generally, some Christian traditions can be considered pro-life while others may be considered pro-choice.

Hinduism

Individual Hindus hold varying stances on abortion however according to the BBC, traditional Hindu texts and teachings condemn elective abortions.^[11][12] Hindus generally tend to support abortion in cases where the woman's life is at risk or when the fetus has a severe developmental abnormality. Hindu scholars and women's rights advocates have supported bans on Sex-selective Abortions.^[13][14] A minority of Hindu theologians believe personhood begins at 3 months and therefore considering any abortion past the third month to be destruction of the soul's current incarnate body.^[15] Some Hindus have argued that contraception such as emergency contraceptives are a major step towards women's empowerment and the prevention of abortions.^[16]

Islam

Among Muslims, abortion is Haram or forbidden in most cases but is acceptable depending on the circumstances around the pregnancy. In the case where the woman's life is threatened by the pregnancy, Muslim jurists agree that abortion is allowed based on the principle that "the greater evil [the woman's death] should be warded off by the lesser evil [abortion]." In these cases the physician is considered a better judge than the scholar.^[17]

Although 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 four months – the point at which, in Islam, a fetus is thought to become a living soul – is not permissible.^[4] Many Islamic thinkers contend that in cases prior to four months of gestation, abortion should be permissible only in instances in which the woman's life is in danger or in cases of rape.^[4]

Judaism

Traditional Jewish teachings sanction abortion only as a means of safeguarding the life of the woman.^[18][19] 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.^[4]

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.^[20] Generally speaking, orthodox Jews oppose abortion, with few health-related exceptions, and reform and conservative Jews tend to allow greater latitude for abortion.^[21]

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. ^[22]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.^[22]

See also

• Abortion debate
• Abortion Law
• Religious views on birth control
• List of religions
• Christianity and abortion
• Judaism and abortion
• Roman Catholic Pro-life movement

References

External links

• The BBC's Ethics:Abortion page contains an overview of positions on abortion from different religious perspectives.
• Patheos [1] offers a resource for collected religious views on abortion from religious leadership, lay leaders, and practitioners.