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
pro-life or pro-choice?
Note them and make
a note of whether
they are for or against
‘In the first watch of
the night.. You were
cast into the womb.’
(Guru Granth Sahib
74)
The Sikh code of conduct
does not deal with The Sanctity of Life
abortion (or indeed
many other bioethical
issues).
According to Gurbani the soul dwells in the mother’s
womb for 10 (Indian) months.
“The Lord created the body from sperm (of the father),
and protected it in the fire pit (in the mother’s womb).
For ten months He preserved you in your mother’s
womb, and then, after you were born, (as 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 ‘He is God, hidden in all beings,

cases of rape, extreme poverty, or their inmost soul who is in all.’
if a serious disability is detected in Svetasvatara Upanishad 6.11
the unborn child.

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

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.
Now complete the Islam
worksheet