2. Many people see the birth of a new child as the greatest moment of their lives. DNA is set and a potential human life has begun to form Life is a gift and it should be respected

3.  All religions teach that life is special and precious, this idea is known as the sanctity of life.  Christians, Jews and Muslims believe that life is sacred or holy because it comes from God.  As life is God-given and precious, it should be valued and cherished, not destroyed. God gave life and only God has the right to take it away.

4.  Conception – When the Sperm meets the egg. DNA is fixed and uniqueness has begun – CATHOLIC BELIEF  At the development of the spinal column / back bone. This houses the nervous system and happens in the 3 rd week.

5.  When the heart starts beating  When the foetus is viable – it can live outside the mother womb (around 24 weeks)  Muslims believe at 120 days the foetus will have a soul  Birth

6.  Quality of life is related to a person’s physical and mental well – being. What will /is their life like:  Disability – poor quality of life?  Unwanted  Poverty

7.  In 1990 the laws changed previously a woman could only get an up to 24 weeks and if 1. The mother’s life was endangered 2. There is a substantial risk of the baby being born with severe mental or physical disabilities

8. 3. There is a risk to the woman’s mental or physical health 4. There is a risk to the physical or mental health of her existing children (Not enough money or space for a new born)

9.  The woman: 1. A right to choice 2. A right to safety 3. A right to education / opportunities  The Foetus 1. A right to life – at what stage? Viability?

10.  The Father’s rights?  Under the UK law the father has no right to force the woman to keep the child or to have an abortion. She does not even have to tell him that she is pregnant

11.  The woman carries the baby so she has a right to choose what happens to her body  Life does not begin until the baby is viable or until is born  The risk to the mother outweighs the rights of the foetus

12.  Rape victims should not have to be reminded of their experience, or a girl should not have to give up her education because she is pregnant  It is cruel to bring a severely disabled child into the world  It stops back street abortions

13.  The unborn child is a separate human being from conception with its own unique DNA  Depression and guilt can follow an abortion  Disabled people can live a full and happy life

14.  Unwanted children can be adopted by people desperate to have a child  Abortion is a selfish way to avoid responsibilities

15.  All Christians share a belief in the sanctity of life. – all life is sacred and a gift from God  Believe that life begins at conception therefore abortion is murder  Abortion is deliberately killing and breaks the commandment “you shall not murder”  Only God has the right to take away life

16.  All Christians share a belief in the sanctity of life. – so not all abortions are allowed under protestant teaching  Protestants recognise that abortion is a complicated issue so under certain circumstances they think it is understandable.  An example is if the mother’s physical or mental health are in danger or rape

17.  Muslims also believe life is precious and a gift from Allah – people will suffer on the Day of Judgment if they sin against Allah  Therefore abortion is only usually acceptable in extreme circumstances.

18.  Muslims believe that the soul is implanted at 120 days, up until this point the mothers rights outweigh that of the foetus  Muslims do not agree with abortion due to poverty

19.  Adoption – Placed with another family permanently. At 18 the child is entitled to their original birth certificate.  Most religions follow the laws of the country. Muslims believe that blood ties are very strong so even though they may raise the child they will not formally adopt them – it is more like long term fostering

20.  Fostering is when the child is placed in temporary foster care until the parent is in a position to take the child back. Foster parents are paid by the government to look after the child