Abortion and Euthanasia
Two of the hardest questions in ethics divide Christians deeply. Weigh the sanctity of life against quality of life, and explore the range of respectful, opposing views on abortion and euthanasia.
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The hardest questions
Few issues divide Christians as deeply as abortion and euthanasia. Believers who share the same faith can reach very different conclusions. This module looks at the key ideas behind those views and treats every side of the debate with respect.
Life-issue words
Four ideas run through this topic:
Two ways to weigh it
Much of the debate comes down to which idea a person puts first.
A holy gift
What does the sanctity of life mean?
- Life is holy and given by God
- Life has no special value
- Only the strong should live
- Life is about gaining wealth
Match each idea to its meaning
- Abortion
- Euthanasia
- Humanae Vitae
- Situation ethics
- Deliberately ending a pregnancy
- Ending a life to relieve suffering
- A Catholic teaching against abortion
- Doing the most loving thing in each case
Christians disagree
Many Christians, following teachings like Humanae Vitae, oppose abortion and euthanasia because life is sacred and only God should end it. Others, moved by compassion, accept them in difficult cases, guided by situation ethics. Some also point to Job, who endured great suffering with faith (Job 2:1-10), as a reason to support people rather than end life.
What shapes the debate
Select the TWO ideas that most shape Christian views on these issues.
- The sanctity of life
- Compassion for those who suffer
- The desire to make money
- The weather that day
How hospice care helps
Put the way hospice care supports someone at the end of life into order.
- A person has a serious, terminal illness
- Hospice care manages their pain and symptoms
- They are supported with dignity and company
- They live their final days as comfortably as possible
Match each view to what it argues
- A pro-life view
- A pro-choice view
- Against euthanasia
- For euthanasia
- Abortion is wrong because life is sacred
- A person should be able to choose in hard cases
- Only God should decide when life ends
- Ending unbearable suffering can be an act of mercy
Care at the end
What is hospice care?
- Care that manages pain and gives dignity at the end of life
- A way of ending a life quickly
- A hospital for major surgery
- A type of prayer service
Life and death in words
Christians believe in the _____ of life, that life is holy and given by God. This leads many to oppose _____, the ending of a pregnancy, and _____, ending a life to relieve suffering. Others, showing _____ in hard cases, may accept them. As an alternative to euthanasia, _____ care manages pain and offers dignity.
Life issues
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- The sanctity of life is the belief that life is holy and given by God.
- Hospice care offers pain relief and dignity as an alternative to euthanasia.
- All Christians agree completely about abortion and euthanasia.
- Euthanasia means the deliberate ending of a pregnancy.
- Quality of life means how holy a life is.
Name the idea
Work out which idea each view is based on.
- A Christian says abortion is wrong because life is sacred from the start. Which idea is this based on?
- A family is offered hospice care for a dying relative, to manage pain and give comfort. What is this an alternative to?
- A Christian argues that the most loving action should be taken in each difficult case. Which approach is this?
Weigh the views
Explain the different views Christians hold about euthanasia, including the sanctity of life and the role of hospice care.
- Explain what the sanctity of life teaches about euthanasia
- Explain why some Christians might accept euthanasia out of compassion
- Describe how hospice care offers an alternative
- Give one non-religious view on the issue