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Unlock This CourseThe lesson The Sanctity of Life and Abortion explained that the sanctity of life is the idea that life is precious and should be protected, and that abortion is the ending of a pregnancy before birth. This lesson looks at what Hindus teach about both. Hindus do not all speak with one voice, so the lesson also shows where their views differ.
Hindus give three main reasons why life is sacred:
The lesson Body, Atman and the Three Gunas showed that Hindus believe the atman is the true self. Many Hindus believe that every living thing has an atman, not only humans. This makes all life valuable.
Ahimsa means non-harm, or not hurting any living thing in thought, word or action. It is one of the most important Hindu values. Many Hindus show ahimsa by being vegetarian, by caring for animals and by avoiding violence.
Hindus believe each life is one stage in the soul's long journey through samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Each human life is a chance to build good karma and move towards moksha. Ending a life early could cut short that chance.
This is why many Hindus say that life should be treated with great care at every stage, from before birth to old age.
Key terms:
Many Hindus believe the atman joins the body at the moment of conception. If this is so, a developing baby is already a living being with its own atman and its own place on the journey of samsara. For this reason the traditional Hindu teaching is that abortion is wrong.
Traditional teaching gives two linked reasons:
Some traditional Hindu texts treat the taking of life before birth as a very serious wrong. So in the traditional view, abortion is opposed.
The lessons Samsara, Karma and Reincarnation in Hinduism and Dharma and the Four Ashramas explained karma, the law that actions have results, and dharma, duty and right living. Both matter here.
Many Hindus believe that harming a living being brings bad karma for the person who does it. They believe those who take part in an abortion, such as the parents or those who help, may carry the results of that action. Good karma comes from protecting and caring for life.
A parent's dharma is to protect and care for their children. A doctor's dharma is to heal and to save life. Both duties point towards protecting an unborn baby. But dharma also includes the duty to protect the mother, who is a living person with a family who depend on her.
This is why the traditional teaching has an exception. Most Hindus who oppose abortion accept that it may be allowed when it is needed to save the mother's life. Here two duties meet, and the duty to protect a life that is already fully part of a family is seen as the greater one. Even then, many Hindus would see it as a hard and sad choice, never a light one.
Hinduism has no single leader or rulebook for every Hindu, so people reach different conclusions. Three views can be found:
Many Hindu leaders also condemn abortion carried out because a baby is a girl. This sex-selective abortion is against the law in India. They teach that every child, whatever their sex, has an atman and equal value.
Whatever their view, Hindus tend to say that the decision should never be made lightly and that ahimsa, karma and compassion should all be weighed.
(a) Identify three Hindu beliefs or teachings that help to explain why life is valued. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two reasons why abortion is opposed in this religion. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to abortion in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) 'Abortion is never the right choice.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Every living thing has an atman (1). 2. Ahimsa, or non-harm (1). 3. Life is part of the soul's journey through samsara (1). (Karma is also correct.)
(b) Hinduism: abortion breaks ahimsa (1), because it ends the life of a living being, which Hindus are taught not to harm (1). It also harms the soul's progress (1), because it interrupts the atman's journey towards moksha, so the atman must be reborn (1).
(c) Hindus have different attitudes because there is no single rulebook that every Hindu follows. The traditional teaching is that abortion is wrong, because the atman joins the body at conception, abortion breaks ahimsa and it harms the soul's progress. Hindus who hold this view allow it only to save the mother's life, because protecting her is also part of dharma. Other Hindus stress compassion, and may accept abortion after rape, when the baby would be born with a very serious condition or when the mother's health is at serious risk. Some modern Hindus living where abortion is legal emphasise the woman's circumstances and choice. So the same beliefs about karma, ahimsa and dharma lead different Hindus to different conclusions.
(d) Plan. For: Hindus believe the atman joins the body at conception, so abortion ends a life; it breaks ahimsa; it harms the soul's progress and may bring bad karma; a baby cannot defend itself; some non-religious people also believe the unborn child is a human life with rights. Against: the exception to save the mother's life shows that even traditional Hindus do not say never; compassion is part of dharma, so some Hindus accept abortion after rape or where the mother's health is at serious risk; many non-religious people, such as humanists, believe the woman's autonomy and quality of life matter most and that the choice belongs to her. A possible conclusion: for traditional Hindus abortion is almost never the right choice because of ahimsa and the atman, but the exception for the mother's life and the range of views among Hindus today mean that 'never' is too strong for many people.
In part (c), do not just list views. Link each view to its reason, such as ahimsa, karma or dharma, and use the word 'because'.