A Philosophical Point of View - Case Study Example

Religion and Philosophy Order No: 211338 No: of pages: 6 Premium 6530 Introduction: Religion and Philosophy are interlinked with one another and as such go hand in hand. The themes and ideas in both these subjects either agree with each other or are in drastic contrast with each other. This essay is going to examine a few important authors and what they have to say on some of the most striking and important issues of today. Authors taking a religious standpoint look at the issue from a religious angle, whereas authors of Philosophy would look and analyze the issue from a Philosophical point of view. The Sages on Abortion Speaking on the subject of murder, Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Itzhak, 11th century. C.E.) comments that if a person were to strike another and if the victim happens to die, then his action is punishable by law as indicated in the holy book of Torah which does not differentiate between man, woman or child. The death penalty is applied equally to any human being. Passing his views on the Exodus that states, “one who strikes” the Mekhilta of R. Ishamel says that it could also mean a child. To put his argument across he makes use of the verse in the Exodus that clarifies the killing of a human being as a capital offence. The Torah is considered to be God’s statement to man but the Rabbi’s had their own limitations in interpreting it in the correct way. For example in the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishamel, the Rabbi’s discuss about the harm done to the recipient during abortion. According to the Hebrews Ex. 21: 22, “yetza yeldaha” meaning “miscarriage” literally meant “her children coming out”. It is argued that the minimum children have to be two fetuses because it refers to “children.” Quoting the Scriptures that says, ….and yet no harm follows”, could either refer to the woman or her offspring. It also states that “the one who hurt her shall be fined” meaning that the offspring should be compensated. Therefore it becomes rather difficult to make a correct interpretation of the scriptures because the words “and yet no harm follows could only mean “harm to the woman”. The Torah seems to have the most succinct attribution on therapeutic abortion. According to Rav Huna if the pursuer is a minor, then one should save the pursued without any distinction between a minor and an adult. But Rav Hisda objected to what Rav Huna had said pointing out that even if he was a minor, he was still the pursuer. In Rashi’s commentary on Sanhedrin 72b, Rav Huna states that in case a minor was pursuing a victim in order to kill, then the victim should be saved using the life of the pursuer even if he was a minor. But in the Mishnah (Ohalot 7:6) Rav Hisda objects to his statement saying that in case a fetus was endangering its mother’s life in the womb, it should be killed in order to save the mother. In the Gemara the above statement is debated saying that since the child is innocent and his actions are not willful, preference may not be given with regard to the life of the mother over that of the baby. My point of view after taking into consideration all the arguments put forward by the other authors would be in line with the Gemara statement that the fetus is innocent and as such cannot be held in responsibility for the death of its mother. Therefore preference cannot be attributed to the mother’s life over that of the baby. Saint Augustine on Abortion and Resurrection Saint Augustine was a very learned saint in Christianity. He wrote many books about the story of his life and the meanings of different issues that human beings come across in their lives. He tried to find the meaning of man’s sufferings in order that he may live a happy and peaceful life. Speaking on the subject of resurrection, Saint Augustine wants everyone to believe that resurrection is true and we should have no doubt about it. He tells us that just as how Jesus Christ had died and was raised or resurrected into Heaven, so also all we humans have to die but will eventually be resurrected once again. Discussing the subject of abortion, Saint Augustine says though fetuses take birth in their mother’s womb but are never really born still there is a resurrection for them too, provided the fetuses are fully formed. In case a fetus is not fully formed, it is understood that they perish like seeds that do not germinate and in that case they would not be resurrected. But once again he argues that at the end of time when we are all resurrected, then things that were not fully formed or things in nature that were all disfigured would be filled out and whole once again. All the blemishes would fade away with time and things that were adverse or contrary would be rectified or restored. Saint Augustine raises another corollary question to learned people to answer. He wants to know if anyone knew the time when a human being actually takes shape in the mother’s womb. He argues that the fetuses who take birth in their mother’s womb but who are not actually born alive But are taken out of the mother’s womb by cutting them limb by limb – are they eligible for resurrection? He argues that if the dead fetus was not removed but left inside the mother’s womb, it may take its mother’s life too – but this would be too brash in saying so. Augustine argues further to say that if a person is born or begins to live, then he has all the possibility of dying. He poses another argument saying that if death overtook him at some stage of his life, then based on this argument he would definitely be resurrected from the dead. My stand on this argument would be that many people do believe in life after death, but how far this is true no one still knows. The Holy Scriptures of the Christians – The Bible also speaks of redemption on the judgment day; the Hindu scriptures also strongly believe and vouch that there is life after death; so also the Muslims believe in redemption in the next world, therefore there has got to be some truth in this matter. So considering the argument put forward by Saint Augustine, I feel that there is a life after death and after death there is redemption for each one of us. Nelson on Protestantism and Abortion According to Nelson, we humans live in a society that is corrupted and filled with evil. The Christian church deplores evil and tries its best to wear the armor of God by shielding themselves against these evils. Christians have crusaded against evils like drinking, child labor, gambling and obscenity. The church played a major role in helping to put a stop to some of these evils through their organizations. Therefore it is not wrong to say that Christians played an active role in commanding public opinion and influencing the government. In a discussion on the topic of abortion, the American Lutheran Church cannot find that the Bible says “that abortion is morally intolerant.” The church takes the stance that it should take into consideration the health of both the fetus and the mother but at the same time it should take into consideration the other consequences involved in making certain decisions. Though the sanctity of human life is considered a main priority, yet how to honor that decision is yet to be arrived at. The American Baptist Church even as early as 1968 favored the woman’s choice of freely choosing the option of abortion and ignoring government policies on this issue. Black Methodists, the Baptist Church, the Protestants and Lutherans all back conservation in theology and matters that include human life and social legislation. Realistic studies have been undertaken by many on the issue of abortion and many considerations were directed towards the plight of a pregnant woman. At the same time it states that “induced abortion is the willful destruction of the fetus and as such was against Biblical teachings. However the health of the mother can gain more precedence as against the life of the fetus because it is still not fully developed or the fetus is still unformed. But many churches are more broad minded and take a liberal stand in not specifying whether abortion is legal or illegal. The Church of the Brethren agreed with this argument and take a stance where they do not prohibit abortion neither do they grant permission for it. Therefore in looking at the different view points of different people and institutions on this burning issue of abortion I would take the opportunity of saying that abortion should be the last resort and never be undertaken before that. In trying to avoid a painful situation involving abortion certain important steps could be kept firmly in mind such as counseling for the pregnant mother on the subject of child bearing, access to birth control measures, adoption as an option, exercise for pregnant women., freedom to opt for an abortion using the guidance of a physician, recognizing that every child born is legitimate and knowing about cost effective abortion services. All the above points should be kept in mind for this would surely help in curbing the use of abortive methods and guiding women to be more responsible citizens of the country and helping them to understand that abortion should be undertaken only as a last resort when it becomes life threatening to the pregnant mother. References: Handbook of Faith, Hope, and Love Saint Augustine, Enchiridion. Chapter XXIII – The Reality of Resurrection and Abortion. J. Robert Nelson. New Perspectives on Human Abortion/ The Divided Mind of Protestant Christians. Ed. Hilgers, Horan and Mall (Aletheia Books, Friedrich MD, 81. Read More