Christian Perspective on Infant Termination

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Christian Perspective on Infant Termination

Introduction

In the contemporary society the rights of all human beings are considered the most significant components of the society. Even though the fundamental attributes of the human society has been the collaboration and the unification factor, the modern society has been developed on highly individualized and self aware principles. Human beings have realized that they are all different in their cognitive functions and the psychological abilities, and it is due to these differences they all have the right to choose their own lifestyles. In the contemporary society the factors such as individual lifestyles and unmarried adults have risen drastically, as people are growing highly aware of their own needs rather than the cumulative needs of the family institution. In this environment the question regarding the treatment of unborn fetuses and the termination of impaired infants has become a highly contentious and controversial factor (Engelhardt, 1987). The liberals in the contemporary society hold the view that the individual should have the final choice on the treatment of their unborn child, as they have to bear the responsibility of raising it. On the other hand the Christian belief holds the view that all life must be valued, and the society must seek to fulfill the rights of the unborn and impaired infants.

Thesis Statement

In the Christian perspective the soul is the most important component of the human life; hence infant termination cannot be justified in the religious context. The society has to play a significant role in fulfilling the rights of the infants.

Discussion

In the Christina belief God has placed a responsibility among all human beings to respect life in general, and not to kill unjustly. In this perspective the activity of infanticide, where the impaired infants are terminated, cannot be justified. However in the contemporary society the individuals have the right to choose their own lifestyles, and live according to their ideologies. The liberal perspective on the other hand states that the individual person has the most important right to decide how he would live his own life. The religious or moral factor should not influence this decision, as the person has to make a significant change in to the life due to the decision. If the child is born with an excessive impairment, the parent would have to make a drastic sacrifice in the life, as he would have to focus all of the efforts on raising the child. The parent's own life would be jeopardized, as he would have to fulfill the needs of the impaired child. Even though the liberal society has given a significant amount of importance towards the parents' choice and point of view regarding the birth of their child; there are certain legal ramifications that safeguard the rights of the unborn or born infant (Post, 1990). As per the laws of majority of the developed countries, the pregnant individual or parents cannot decide to seek abortion after a given time frame, after which the fetus ...