The Controversy over Abortion - Coursework Example

Research Paper – Religion and Theology The controversy over abortion has captured public debates and forum for decades whereby, policymakers have been compelled to assess the issue from a multifaceted perspective to not only integrate social, cultural and political opinions or beliefs but most importantly respect religious perspectives on the matter when proposing a legal framework under which abortion laws can be implemented. While, this paper acknowledges that the issue of abortion cannot be viewed from an isolated lens and the incorporation of a one-sided perspective to formulate guidelines for abortion would prove to have unfavorable consequences, the discussion which has been conducted for the purposes of this paper focuses on highlighting a key argument with respect to abortion and assessing the case with respect to the religious values that are promoted primarily in Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Thus, the key argument which has been highlighted in this paper questions whether abortion can and should be regarded as a personal choice for women without the intervention of any external parties such as any individual, the state or legislative bodies in the matter. The distinction between the right to abortion and the choice of abortion is important to establish before examining the case. With regard to awarding a woman, the right to abortion, the notion involves the presence of state support and medical assistance if a woman seeks to abortion services. On the contrary, the concept of ‘choice’ as examined by Dresser (2007) involves providing pregnant women with access to necessary information about the state of their health condition, associated risks and relevant options if they are considering to abort the life of an unborn fetus. Moreover, Dresser (2007) postulates that the concept of an ‘informed choice’ with regard to abortion is associated with the protection of women’s rights in order to prohibit the imposition of the state’s values which deem abortion as an act of immorality on a woman’s personal choice. Examining the notion of women’s access to making an informed choice in the light of Islamic teachings, Alamri (2011, p. 1) states that in the light of the Quran and Hadith a critical point of understanding in this case is associated with the religion’s perspective on the necessary time frame that must pass for a fetus to transform into a human, that is, the stage since conception when the “…soul is breathed into the fetus”. Thus, the concept of abortion in Islam basis itself on the Quranic and Hadith references of fetal development in the mother’s womb with scholars establishing the period from conception for the soul to be finally regarded as a human at 120 days (Alamri 2011, p. 1). In this case, Islamic arguments on conception and the extent to which they demonstrate an alignment with providing women an opportunity to make informed choice decisions can be examined from the view if a woman chooses to abort the fetus before the period of 120 days or after the period of 120 days. According to the discussion which has been conducted by Alamri (2011), scholars assert that cases must be assessed by taking into account individual factors for a scenario where abortion is considered before a period of 120 days has passed. These considerations include 1) taking into account whether the pregnancy poses a serious threat to the survival of the mother 2) recognizing any possible discoveries regarding the severe abnormality, deformity or disability of the fetus and 3) granting a woman with the choice to either terminate or continue with the pregnancy if the child has been conceived without her consent, that is in rape cases, such that the termination (if the woman wills) is conducted before the period of 120 days since conception (Alamri, 2011). The examination of the last point postulates that Islamic laws on abortion are associated with the promptness of decision making on the matter whereby, the transition of a fetus into a human is strictly taken into account. Following this discussion, it is important to highlight whether Islamic religious stipulations on abortion move beyond the period of 120 days or adhere to the aforementioned choices. According to Alamri (2011), scholars state that beyond the process of ‘ensoulment’, the permissibility of abortion only exists if the woman is faced with severe health risks in later stages of the pregnancy, that is, if it proves to be fatal. Furthermore, the research of Hedayat, Shooshtarzadeh and Raza (2006) on the case for therapeutic abortion in Islam identifies that the choice of abortion be extended to provide women with a choice to terminate the pregnancy in exceptional circumstances. According to the a report prepared by the BBC (2014a) on the issue of abortion and the Christian perspective on its permissibility with regard to the notion of pro-choice and women’s rights argumentations on the matter, pro-choice Catholics oppose the Vatican’s stance on abortion. Perhaps the most intriguing and insightful argument which supports the pro-choice movement on abortion through the integration of Christian teachings argues that: “…the Church has affirmed the right and the responsibility of each Catholic to follow his or her own conscience on moral matters, even when it conflicts with Church teachings” (BBC, 2014a). The crux of this understanding lies in suggesting the point of view that the decision of abortion is closely associated with the moral values and personal choices of women for not only is it linked with the bodies and lives of expectant mothers but also with their future decisions that can be greatly impacted by the external intervention of a party which could disbar them from seeking an abortion if they wish to. Thus, if a choice of abortion fails to coincide with Christian teachings yet is accepted by a woman on a personal level of morality, conscience and values then her decision can be backed by proceeding with an informed choice to opt for a selection that she deems as acceptable on a personal level. In this case, it can be identified that the availability of choice can be promoted for a woman in the light of Christian teachings. The pro-choice stance in Judaism is also marked by the presence of a range of conditions whereby, abortion is viewed as a permissible choice for securing the wellbeing of the mother, the father, the fetus and also that of the society in general (BBC, 2014b). Moreover, this assessment declares that while; Judaism does not allow women to proceed with the choice of abortion in normal circumstances, the application of varied situations in the case such as choosing abortion to 1) save the mother from death, regardless of the stage of the pregnancy 2) permitting abortion if it is declared that the continuation of the pregnancy would cause the women to resort to taking her own life 3) granting priority to the life of the mother rather than the that of the fetus if the latter poses a severe danger to the former and 4) advocating termination of the pregnancy if the baby is expected to be born with a severe deformity or disability (BBC, 2014b). From the aforementioned analysis it can be suggested that religious teachings of Islam, Christianity and Judaism grant women with the choice to terminate the pregnancy without having to seek approval of external parties however, this decision is subjected to certain restrictions, scenarios or conditions which must be present. Thus, religious boundaries do not offer absolute pro-choice to women with regard to abortion but accept that each scenario is varying and therefore, abortion maybe a suitable option for certain cases. References Alamri, Y. A. (2011). Islam and Abortion. Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, 43(1). BBC (2014a). Religion and Abortion – Christianity. BBC Ethics guide. Retrieved from [14th March, 2014] BBC (2014b). Religion and Abortion – Judaism. BBC Ethics guide. Retrieved from [14th March, 2014] Dresser, R. (2007). From Double Standard to Double Bind: Informed Choice in Abortion Law. Geo. Wash. L. Rev., 76, 1599. Hedayat, K. M., Shooshtarizadeh, P., & Raza, M. (2006). Therapeutic abortion in Islam: contemporary views of Muslim Shiite scholars and effect of recent Iranian legislation. Journal of medical ethics, 32(11), 652-657. Read More