Abortion I. Introduction Abortion is the final outcome of one out of every three pregnancies in the United States; it divides our country, our religions, our families, our society and even our politics. The practice of abortion, dates back to ancient times. Pregnancies were terminated through a number of methods, including the administration of herbs, the use of sharpened implements, and other techniques. Abortion laws and their enforcement have fluctuated in various eras. In the western nations during the 20th century various women’s rights groups, doctors and social reformers worked to have abortion bans repealed while abortion remain legal in most of western nations, this legality is regularly challenged. Life at any stage is life, abortions take the ability “to be” away because it goes against modern religious beliefs, can have horrible mental and physical consequences and even though in situations like rape there are still options that allow for an unborn child to live. II. Body A. First Reason
Modern religions dictate that one should be against abortion. Within religion and the bible various examples points to the idea that abortion is murder. One of the Ten Commandments say “Thou shall not kill” kill referring to murder- a premeditated and deliberate act of taking someone’s life. God has different laws regarding different sorts of death. But he continually opposes to and speaks against murder, especially of the innocent. “Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land and atonement cannot be made for the land on which the blood has been shed, except by blood of who shed it. Do not defile the land where you live” (Numbers 35:33-34). God hates the killing of young lives like the life that lives within the women’s womb. In creating every soul god knows the importance of every person’s life. God knows man even before they become known by society. God knows every man before he was born. As he was forming in his mother’s womb giving him a personality, talents, and temperament preparing their soul for a physical life. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nation” (Jeremiah 1:5). If Jeremiah’s mother would’ve gotten abortion Jeremiah wouldn’t have become a mighty prophet and prophesized god’s word across the nation. B. Second Reason
In addition, abortion can have horrible mental and physical consequences. Over the last two decades, one aspect of this controversy has focused on the claim that abortion has negative effects on women’s health. According to the website afterabortion.org, women’s health declines after an abortion. “National statistics on abortion show that 10% of women undergoing induced abortion suffer from immediate complications, of which one-fifth (2%) were considered major” (After Abortion). A large percentage of women are affected every day when taking the decision to undergo abortion. Women all over the world run not just physical risks but severe mental risks when terminating a pregnancy. Planned Parenthood Federation of New York reported in May 2000 that there are psychological risks that surround abortion. “ The prevailing interpretation of post- abortion grief, depression, guilt, anger and anxiety in abortion clinics and research studies in North America is that they are due, not to the procedure, but to a woman's pre-existing disposition to psychological problems” (Women’s Health After Abortion). Ending a pregnancy deteriorates women both physically and mentally. C. Third Reason
Finally, in situations like rape there are still options available such as open and closed adoption that allow for an unborn child to live. Open adoption allows a biological mother to have contact with the adoptive parents if she wants. In open adoption, the birth mother, birth father and adoptive parents can exchange identifying information and after the placement you may or may not have