Why are Christians generally opposed to abortion?

[Sketcher]

God allows every death. We're not supposed to initiate someone else's death apart from punishing death penalty offenses after a fair trial, or unless it is absolutely necessary to protect others (i.e. someone comes after your kid with a knife).

 

[jayem]

I'm not a Christian, and I'm opposed to elective abortion. It's tragic and very undesirable. But I'm more opposed to using the police power of the state to criminalize it. Terminating a healthy pregnancy is bad, but that's a worse evil.

 

[redleghunter]

I've never fully understood why many Christians are opposed to abortion and why it seems to be a very controversial subject, particularly in the US. What is the "religious" reasoning behind the Christian stance on abortion, and are there any circumstances where Christians would support abortion?

Hey Dave. The following Christian threads may give insight:

The science of abortion: When does life begin?

Theological Considerations of Personhood

 

[St_Worm2]

I'm not a Christian, and I'm opposed to elective abortion. It's tragic and very undesirable. But I'm more opposed to using the police power of the state to criminalize it. Terminating a healthy pregnancy is bad, but that's a worse evil.

Hi Jayem, are you opposed to other kinds of murder being criminalized as well, or just abortion?

 

[redleghunter]

Thanks for the response. Having quoted the Old Testament, how do you justify the deaths of thousands of unborn children in their mothers womb by god in the various incidents of mass murder he perpetrated?

I don't justify such. YHWH God did. As an atheist mindset will not overcome this concept. Not an insult just fact.

As a Christian we know God is Justice, God is Mercy, God is Grace, God is Holy, Holy, Holy. We are the creation and He is the uncreated Creator.
Who are we the lump of clay to pass judgement on the Potter?

That is the Biblically revealed YHWH God Who let His only Son be tortured to death but raised Him three days later.

If one tries to pursue the Mind of God as just a regular dude in our debate group, they will never get out of the starting block.

So frankly perhaps you should stick with the first part of your OP and learn why Christians do not support abortion.

Starting with "since God takes lives as He sees fit, why shouldn't we" is a non-starter. Why? Because we are not God, not the Creator.

I know this may be difficult to accept, but you are an atheist. Your first notion is to look at Christians and say "how can you believe in or follow a God who destroys entire cities, allows babies to die of cancer etc." Then you will get answers, like some already given here, that God made everything perfect and the creation screwed it up. Then your reply will be "why did God let that happen or why didn't He fix it right away and wait thousands of years to torture His own Son to make things right?" Oh the humanity! And right there is the problem.

So if you want to hear Christian views on abortion (they vary) wait for replies.

However, if you are going to go back to square one from atheistic beliefs, then you won't learn much. All that you will accomplish is to be comfortable within your own limited human created worldview.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

I think to consider abortion from a Christian point of view, you have to first have an answer to the question of what happens to the souls of the unborn babies lost in abortion.

 

[redleghunter]

A better question is: why are so many Christians opposed to comprehensive sex education and easily available birth control, since studies prove those are the most effective ways to reduce the rate of abortions?

Perhaps it has something to do with God's design for sexual relations (Matthew 19).

However, in our nation seculars can have their children sit through those classes and hear all about the birds, bees and other sexual practices.

For Christians we should be instructing our children on sexual relations and what God's design is and how we honor Him.

Or we can just do what most do and let pop culture teach our kids and throw them a Teen Vogue magazine :

‘Piece of trash’: Activist mom burns Teen Vogue for pushing anal sex

 

[Strathos]

Perhaps it has something to do with God's design for sexual relations (Matthew 19).

However, in our nation seculars can have their children sit through those classes and hear all about the birds, bees and other sexual practices.

For Christians we should be instructing our children on sexual relations and what God's design is and how we honor Him.

Or we can just do what most do and let pop culture teach our kids and throw them a Teen Vogue magazine :

‘Piece of trash’: Activist mom burns Teen Vogue for pushing anal sex

It's an unavoidable fact that, no matter what they are taught, teenagers are going to experiment. So, at least in my view, it's better that the know the facts about how to do so safely, to minimize risk.

 

[redleghunter]

Leading up to and immediately after Roe, many Christian denominations were not theologically tied to a life-starts-at-conception-abortion-is-murder stance.

Possibly because it was illegal in most states.

One does not become a reactionary if there is nothing to react to. Abortion was illegal in most states and where legal there were strict restrictions. Christians viewed getting an abortion before Roe as any illegal activity.

Plus in fairness to Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Evangelicals (non mainline Protestants) all of the above were quite vocal against abortion during the Counterculture debates. No one really knows this unless they are Catholic, Orthodox or Evangelical.
Don't buy the revisionist history on the matter.

The pro life movement has its roots in New Deal Democrats and not sweaty polyester wearing televangelists.

The Pro-Life Movement Before ‘Roe v. Wade’

After Roe when the Democratic Party championed abortion rights the pro life movement moved to the GOP and conservatives. Why? As I said, prior to Roe most who opposed abortion knew it was illegal. Naive to the changing culture.

 

[redleghunter]

“Protestant theology generally takes Genesis 2:7 as a statement that the soul is formed at breath, not with conception,” Dehoney said

Frankly that's baloney.

 

[redleghunter]

God has not murdered or commanded anyone to be murdered.

Good "luck" starting that theological discussion here. Lol but as indicated I agree with you.

 

[redleghunter]

It's an unavoidable fact that, no matter what they are taught, teenagers are going to experiment. So, at least in my view, it's better that the know the facts about how to do so safely, to minimize risk.

Then have the NRA come in and teach firearm safety the same day PP comes in to teach safe sex. Teens are just going to experiment with firearms and explosives too.

 

[redleghunter]

I think to consider abortion from a Christian point of view, you have to first have an answer to the question of what happens to the souls of the unborn babies lost in abortion.

What do you think happens to aborted baby souls?

 

[Ygrene Imref]

Abortion has an evolution from deep history in sacrifice.


It is considered a women's health issue today - ignoring the activity of promiscuity, or sex with someone who one doesn't love as a problem itself. And, it isn't only a female issue: the men who participate in the fornication that would drive one to dissolve potential life within them are equally responsible.

 

[Strathos]

Then have the NRA come in and teach firearm safety the same day PP comes in to teach safe sex. Teens are just going to experiment with firearms and explosives too.

I'm completely in favor of comprehensive gun safety courses being a requirement for gun owners.

 

[Dave RP]

I don't justify such. YHWH God did. As an atheist mindset will not overcome this concept. Not an insult just fact.

As a Christian we know God is Justice, God is Mercy, God is Grace, God is Holy, Holy, Holy. We are the creation and He is the uncreated Creator.
Who are we the lump of clay to pass judgement on the Potter?

That is the Biblically revealed YHWH God Who let His only Son be tortured to death but raised Him three days later.

If one tries to pursue the Mind of God as just a regular dude in our debate group, they will never get out of the starting block.

So frankly perhaps you should stick with the first part of your OP and learn why Christians do not support abortion.

Starting with "since God takes lives as He sees fit, why shouldn't we" is a non-starter. Why? Because we are not God, not the Creator.

I know this may be difficult to accept, but you are an atheist. Your first notion is to look at Christians and say "how can you believe in or follow a God who destroys entire cities, allows babies to die of cancer etc." Then you will get answers, like some already given here, that God made everything perfect and the creation screwed it up. Then your reply will be "why did God let that happen or why didn't He fix it right away and wait thousands of years to torture His own Son to make things right?" Oh the humanity! And right there is the problem.

So if you want to hear Christian views on abortion (they vary) wait for replies.

However, if you are going to go back to square one from atheistic beliefs, then you won't learn much. All that you will accomplish is to be comfortable within your own limited human created worldview.

Hope this helps.

Yes thank you it does. I suppose it depends on when you believe the fetus is "life" does it, for example some women will take the "morning after pill" if they have had sex and are concerned they might be pregnant, in that case IF they were pregnant the pill will abort the fetus which will be a matter of days old and the woman would experience nothing more than a heavy period. Would some Christians say this is wrong and will some say it is not I wonder?

After all, a large number of pregnancies fail in the early stages, and the woman might not have known she was pregnant, the morning after pill does the same thing, potentially. Often it is just precautionary.

 

[Dave RP]

I think to consider abortion from a Christian point of view, you have to first have an answer to the question of what happens to the souls of the unborn babies lost in abortion.

What does the Catholic Church and other churches teach in this situation? For example if an atheist woman (therefore heading to hell) got pregnant would that babies soul be heading to heaven if it died as an aborted fetus, a still born, a child death? Is there a consensus on this?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I've never fully understood why many Christians are opposed to abortion and why it seems to be a very controversial subject, particularly in the US. What is the "religious" reasoning behind the Christian stance on abortion, and are there any circumstances where Christians would support abortion?

I read somewhere that god had allowed the death of thousands or possibly millions of unborn babies, for example in Noahs flood and at Sodom/ Gomorrah (if you believe the bible) as there must have been many pregnant women killed in those incidents, does this affect the thinking of Christians in the modern world when abortion is discussed?

Even a lot of Christians do not understand, so that's no surprise.
God says He hides the TRUTH from unbelievers and from those opposed to Him,
not that He helps them to understand while they are opposed to Him.
God is opposed to abortion according to His Word and Spirit.
That is accepted simply by faith by all those who dwell with and seek God and His Kingdom.
That is opposed by God's enemy, and by multitudes of wicked or deceived people.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

What do you think happens to aborted baby souls?

I would imagine the same thing that happens to the souls of infants or young children when they die.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

What does the Catholic Church and other churches teach in this situation? For example if an atheist woman (therefore heading to hell) got pregnant would that babies soul be heading to heaven if it died as an aborted fetus, a still born, a child death? Is there a consensus on this?

I would hope the faith of the mother has nothing to do with the destination of the childs soul.
The Catholic Church used to teach that Limbo was the destination of such souls, but I'm not sure if they still hold to that.