Abortion

[Spookypig]

Is anyone here British and against abortion for religious reasons? I’m just asking out of interest if I’m honest - I live abroad and many people are against abortion because of their religion, but I never encountered anyone with this view in the UK (although the majority of my friends at home are atheists). It seems like most countries have a more even divide re: abortion, but in the UK I’ve only ever met people who are very pro abortion (without limits).

I think abortion is morally okay but I don't want to force anyone to get one. Some of those who disagree with abortion want to stop others from getting one.

I used to be very religious where the religion was pro life but I was always pro choice. As in, I personally wouldn't have one but everything should have a choice.

The question really is, is all life equal? If it is then than at what point do you consider is isn't? As in animals? insects? Parasites? Plants? Bacteria? Cancer? Sperm?

I don't know what value it brings to force people who are possibly not equipped to be a parent, to be forced to give birth. I don't know what value it brings to risk health or permit the birth of a child with significant and possibly lethal conditions to be born. We have a major shortage of foster parents and people able to adopt.

A foetus is entirely dependent on its host/parent for survival, it cannot independently survive outside the parent. 88% of abortions are preformed under 10 weeks. So super early. It's pretty rare for an abortion to happen after 20 weeks except if the foetus life or mothers life was in danger. Only 1.2% of abortions occur over 21 weeks.

Those against it, and considering it "murder" doesn't that mean for surgical abortions or including medical abortions? What about the morning after pill? If all of those are what about all contraception?

Do the friends know you think they shouldn't have been able to get married?

I'm not Christian but some people think marriage is a covenant with God so only man and woman. They don't think it should be done in the church, doesn't necessarily mean they don't support other types of Union

This narrative of 'aha I got you'. People have different opinions on these things and religious people feel just a strongly as people in same sex marriages, were allowed to think differently

I'm British. I'm religious. I wish abortions were never needed, I'd rather no pregnancy was unwanted and no conditions were incompatible with life. But they are. So I advocate for safe, free and easily available abortions for anyone who feels it's the right decision for them.

I know women who were against abortion on religious grounds until their teenage daughter came home pregnant, it was amazing how many changed their minds.

I'm British, Christian, always been pro choice. Not for me to decide what other women do, or don't do with their bodies. They're the ones who have to live with whatever decision they make, as I would have to. From when I was a teenager I always knew that if I were ever raped I wouldn't want to become pregnant (or remain pregnant) as a result of that, so I've always been pro choice.
Was brought up in a fairly evangelical church environment, and remember having some poeple come and talk about abortion (and bring tiny plastic foestuses and show fairly gruesome pictures) to put their point across.... But I'm still in favour of choice.

I don't think they should not have been able to get married. If they were Christian friends( they are not) I might think they had interpreted biblical teaching rather differently to me, but I am also humble enough to know that I am not right about everything all of the time.

Interesting question. I’m from a religious community that is strongly anti abortion. And grew up anti abortion myself as a result. Everyone had 4, 5, 6 kids. Then I had a termination myself as a mid teen, I simply didn’t want a baby at that point in my life. Do I regret it? No, but I do feel very sad and guilty sometimes. I’m not completely okay with it and wouldn’t have another. In general I think it’s better than a neglected or abused child, but I wish women would be more careful with contraception - it’s free and very reliable, so we shouldn’t have the number of abortions happening that we do really.

but I wish women would be more careful with contraception - it’s free and very reliable, so we shouldn’t have the number of abortions happening that we do really.

Why is contraception only the woman's responsibility?

And you do know that contraceptive failures do happen, even if you double up? And you are aware that not all women are able to use all forms of contraception?

Your last sentence drips misogyny.

Oh blah ‘misogyny’. Reality more like. As women we have far more contraceptive choices that are safer than condoms. Take the implant. It’s free, you can’t use it incorrectly, forget it in the heat of the moment etc. Better sex without mucking around with condoms. Yes men should take responsibility if they don’t want a surprise baby, but I don’t think 200,000 abortions a year are down to contraceptive failures alone.

I'm pregnant and have had an abortion in the past.

I've also spent this pregnancy advocating for women who have been struggling to conceive and I've been part of a campaign called sister supporter who were so bloody successful in creating a legal buffer zone outside of our local abortion clinic, that the government have just copied what we did and have rolled it out nationwide.

Abortion is a human rights issue. When women and girls are free, everyone wins.

Pregnancy is beautiful and sacred if you want it. But it is also a huge physical and mental toll on you and it changes you forever. To force that onto an unwilling woman or girl is a form of torture and slavery and has no place in the world.

I will fight for women and girls to have complete freedom and autonomy. Otherwise we are nothing but cattle.

Reminder that many abortions occur even when the pregnancy is wanted. Due to ill health of the woman or the fetus.

Another reminder that ALL unwanted pregnancies are as a result of irresponsibly placed ejaculations. Which are 100% caused by men.

Oh come on that’s such bull.

I’m definitely not of the ‘her body her problem’ variety, if a baby is conceived then the man must step up and support/pay no matter what the contraceptive situation.

But when we have the luxury of a choice of free and highly effective contraception that lasts for months to years, the number of abortions is really high. Men only have condoms - they not as effective, they’re not free, you have to remember them, a lot of women don’t like them or are allergic to them.

If a woman wouldn’t mind a baby and one is conceived, then yeah go without female contraception. But if she’s determined she doesn’t want one then having unprotected sex can only lead to one thing if she gets pregnant can’t it?

@Cuppasoupmonster the implant is a form of hormonal contraception, which doesn't work for everyone. It has side effects which can be intolerable. I'm surprised you do not know this. Women do not actually have a choice of many non-hormonal methods.

And what would you rather, 200,000 abortions or 200,000 unwanted babies?

We have:
The combined pill
The progestogen pill
The implant
The IUD (very low hormonal dose)
The IUS
The injection
Contraceptive patch
Female condoms

Men:
Condoms

Unless a case of rape, sex is a consensual act, but women have the overwhelming balance of power when it comes to contraceptive choices and full choice as to what happens in the event of a pregnancy.

6 out of 8 female options are hormonal. The copper coil has its own problems in terms of causing extremely heavy and painful periods. And the majority of women who fall pregnant are using contraception. Yes, ideally there would be fewer abortions. That would be great. But given that we live in the real world, I would rather women were able to access abortion when it is needed than not.

We haven't even gone into the issue of men refusing to use condoms because 'it doesn't feel right'. In LTR when this happens on MN, there will always be those who say the woman should go back on hormonal contraception because 'she has all the power' and if she refuses to have sex, she's the bad guy.

Also, women should hold the majority of the power - they are the ones who have to go through pregnancy and birth, with all the risks attached to that. Let's not forget that abortion is less risky than giving birth.

British, Christian and couldn't have had an abortion myself. If my daughter wanted one however, I would be there supporting her, even if crying for the loss of life. It wouldn't be my decision as it's her body, not mine.

I don't believe in abortion, as I believe it's a life and would never have one. I am also Christian (Catholic)

I had loads of boyfriends when young but when I had sex for the first time with my now husband we had the conversation that if I should ever get pregnant (I was on the pill but recognise accidents happen) I would keep the baby.

I do however accept there should be choice for women and support this, but I would never have one

Mommabear20 · 27/10/2022 11:24
I'm British, live in England, and am an atheist and am against abortion, but with the belief that it should be available for the people that want it. My personal beliefs are mine and I don't think they should be forced on others. I have friends who have had abortions and I can understand their reasons. I think it's much the same as religion, each person has the right to make their own choices on the matter.

Completely agree with this post.

I do feel however, that abortion has been normalised a little too much.

So you changed your mind, that's great. You've definitely said same-sex marriage should not have been legalised on here before but people do change and grow.

Normalised in what way?

@ShodanLives

I read a book a little while ago called ‘Saipan’s’. There was a chapter in there that spoke about what humans used to do when they didn’t want to keep a baby they gave birth to, affectively their way of abortion. I found it very cruel and it really effected me. I told my husband a few days later as it was playing on my mind and he said it’s no morally different to abortion these days and he didn’t see why I had a problem with it if I am pro-choice.

I now feel abortion should be a very last resort. I’ve found myself taking the potential life into consideration and not only the woman’s choice.

So because you somehow only just found out that infanticide is a thing through a pop history book, you now think that abortion - which is a different thing - should only happen if its a last resort? What do you mean by last resort? How would that be enforced?

@ShodanLives

I suppose it just made me think into it more. I’ve grown up with abortion being something that is normal and easily available so hadn’t really given the ethics and philosophy behind it much thought.

I have always held my own personal opinion and it is not something I would ever have done lightly.

But other than for medical reasons (both mother and child) or traumatic reasons (insest,rape etc) I think abortion is a very odd thing that we as the human species have normalised.

last resort to me is more of an unachievable ideology but I suppose it would look something like having an assessment and having to pass a criteria. As stated above, underage pregnancy, pregnancy where a parent is physically unable to care for a child (who wants to abort).

I think that is very unachievable however. women would find themselves seeking alternative ways of ending pregnancies which could be quite dangerous.

I think abortion would sit a lot better with me if the limit was lowered to 8 weeks but that’s just my personal opinion. I don’t for a second think anybody else should conform to mine.

"last resort to me is more of an unachievable ideology but I suppose it would look something like having an assessment and having to pass a criteria. As stated above, underage pregnancy, pregnancy where a parent is physically unable to care for a child (who wants to abort)."

So where a woman is mentally or emotionally unable to care for a child they should just struggle through?