Abortion and Religion
Both Anti-Abortion and Pro-Choice advocates love to quote bible passages to support their positions.
What do the Old and New Testament actually say about abortion?
Christian Nationalists, Southern Baptist, Roman Catholics, and Evangelicals infer specific bible versus specifically state that life begins at conception. However, more liberal Christians and most Jews can cite versus which indicate that life begins at birth. Below are articles identifying Biblical verses which support Pro-Choice and Anti-Abortion stances.
I believe everyone needs to be cautious about basing such decisions on inferences from any one specific source. Both the old and New Testament were based on unwritten stories. Stories that are passed along orally are always subject to the societal norms of the narrator. Further, words and phrases can misinterpreted prior to being written. Passing along oral tradition is like playing "whisper down the lane".
The Old Testament was originally written in ancient Aramaic or Hebrew; while the New Testament was written in Koine ("common") Greek (Source: PPT – How the Bible Came to Us. www.slideserve.com). These ancient texts can be misinterpreted. One primary example is the story of Moses. Moses did not cross the Red Sea; he crossed the "Reed" Sea (or sea of reeds) which is further north.
As an aside, it’s virtually undisputed that Jesus spoke or at least understood three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. As Jesus was Jewish he would have spoken Hebrew. He would also have spoken Aramaic as that was the language used in Galilee. https://centerforisrael.com/article/what-language-did-jesus-speak/
Another interesting fact is that the New Testament would have been originally written in either Hebrew or Aramaic and then translated into Greek since Greek had the furthest global reach. https://centerforisrael.com/article/what-language-did-jesus-speak/
Source:
Gateway Center for Israel
What Language Did Jesus Speak?
By: David Blease
https://centerforisrael.com/article/what-language-did-jesus-speak/
Think Christianity Is Anti-Abortion? Think Again
Extremists have sought to use religion as a tool to dominate women’s bodies, but Christians have a long history of being in favor of abortion rights.
The reality is that for as long as it [abortion] has been a wedge issue in America, there has been a compelling Christian argument for abortion care, and Christian leaders who have worked to both advocate for it and help secure it for women inside and outside the flock.
6 Myths About Abortion
This Time Ideas article is about 9 years old. However, the discussion is still pertinent.
The myths are:
1. The Bible forbids abortion.
2. Women are coerced into having abortions
3. Abortion is dangerous
4. There are too many abortions
5. Abortion is racist
6. Abortion opponents would never punish women
Source:
Time / Ideas online
By Katha Pollitt
November 13, 2014 6:03 PM EST
What the Bible actually says about abortion may surprise you
Faith can inform opinions about abortion on both sides of the political debate, but the Bible itself says nothing directly about the topic, a biblical scholar explains.
Source:
Religion News Service
By Melanie A. Howard; July 25, 2022
https://religionnews.com/2022/07/25/what-the-bible-actually-says-about-abortion-may-surprise-you/
Numbers 5:11-31
"Biblical Instructions for Inducing Abortion"
Instructions for inducing an abortion appear in the Bible. In Numbers 5:11-31, God is described as instructing Moses to present “The Test for an Unfaithful Wife” (NIV) – a ritual to be used by priests against women accused by their husbands of unfaithfulness. The ritual involves the drinking of “bitter water,” a potion that will abort any pregnancies that result from “having sexual relations with a man other than your husband.”
Sources:
Numbers 5:11-31 - The Test for an Unfaithful Wife
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+5%3A11-31
Truthout online
News Analysis | Reproductive Rights
By Katie Klabusich, January 22, 2016
The Biblical Basis for Being Pro-Choice
Who is pro-choice and religious? Denominations with official and long-standing pro-choice positions include the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and Reform and Conservative Judaism. These organizations have a diversity of views about abortion and recognize it as a morally complex decision that must be made by the person most affected--the woman.
Among religious groups, the pro-choice position is nuanced, recognizing that most people believe abortion--as well as bearing children-are matters for individual conscience, not government or religious mandate. Pro-choice denominations don't seek to impose their views on others or to make them law.
Source:
Beliefnet
Author not stated.
https://www.beliefnet.com/news/2003/01/the-biblical-basis-forbeing-pro-choice.aspx
Bible Verses about Abortion
This article discusses 25 pro-life Bible verses.
Source:
Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 06/06/2023
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-abortion/