Religious attitudes to

abortion
Complete the Sikhism and Hinduism tasks from this slide and then
complete the Islam worksheet
 Sikhism and Abortion
Abortion is prominent in the Sikh
community in India: there is a
growing trend of aborting female
embryos due to a cultural
preference to having boys. Cultural
attitudes are a part of religious
attitudes.
Abortion interferes in the
creative work of God – who
created everything and is
present in everything.
Quality of life- Allowed in
cases of rape and if mother’s
life is in danger
Are these attitudes The Sikh code of conduct
pro-life or pro-choice? does not deal with The Sanctity of Life
Note them and make abortion (or indeed
a note of whether many other bioethical
they are for or against issues).
According to Gurbani the soul dwells in the mother’s
womb for 10 (Indian) months.
‘In the first watch of “The Lord created the body from sperm (of the
the night.. You were father), and protected it in the fire pit (in the mother’s
cast into the womb.’ womb). For ten months He preserved you in your
(Guru Granth Sahib mother’s womb, and then, after you were born, (as
74) result of forgetting God) you became attached to
Maya. ||1||”
(Ang 481)
 Hindu Attitudes to Abortion.
Copy and say which are FOR or
AGAINST?
Some Hindus accept abortion in
cases of rape, extreme poverty, or
if a serious disability is detected in
the unborn child.
for
‘He is God, hidden in all beings,
their inmost soul who is in all.’
Sveta
forsvatara Upanishad 6.11
for

Hindu Scriptures state that all life Abortion is legal in Britain and in
is sacred. India
for agains

Hindu belief in reincarnation

The Atharva Veda (6.113) lists the
means that abortion can be
fetus slayer among the greatest of
allowed as it only deprives the
sinners.
atman of one of its many births
for
agains.
Now complete the Islam
worksheet