Hello, my name is Ms. Rawbone, and I'm your RE teacher today.

I'd like to welcome you to this lesson on contrasting views about abortion.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain different ethical arguments and Christian views on abortion.

Some key words that we're using will be abortion, foetus, pro-choice, pro-life, and sacred.

Abortion means the deliberate ending of a pregnancy so that it does not result in the birth of a child.

A foetus is the developing human from around eight weeks until birth.

Pro-choice is generally supporting a woman's right to choose to have an abortion.

Pro-life means generally opposed to abortion and in favour of the life of the foetus.

And sacred is something that is considered holy, divine, or deserving of great respect.

Today's lesson on contrasting views on abortion will have three parts.

We will be looking at the nature of abortion, at Christian teachings on abortion, and at arguments about abortion.

So, let's get started on the nature of abortion.

Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy, and the World Health Organisation regards it as a safe medical procedure.

There are two types.

Medical abortion, which is using medication to end a pregnancy up to 10 weeks, and surgical abortion, which is a minor medical procedure to remove the foetus.

In the UK, abortion is restricted under the 1967 Abortion Act.

It's legal up to 24 weeks if two doctors agree that continuing with the pregnancy would cause harm either to the mother, or to the foetus.

There is no time limit if there's a serious risk beyond this point.

So, it might be grave physical, or mental injury, or severe foetal abnormalities.

The law on abortion is very varied around the world, and that's due to its controversial nature.

For example, in Canada, one of the most permissive countries, there's no legal time limit, allowing abortion at any stage.

In the US, abortion laws vary by state, with some allowing it and others banning it after the very earliest stages of pregnancy.

Some countries, like Poland and Malta, ban most or all abortions, only allowing really limited exceptions, like a risk to the mother's life.

So, in the UK, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks if two doctors agree it would cause less harm than continuing the pregnancy.

Have a think about that scale, from most permissive to more restrictive.

Where would you put the UK law on this continuum? If you're able to turn and talk to someone nearby, please do.

Pause the video, and come back when you are ready to move on.

There are many reasons for abortion: health risks, foetal conditions, personal circumstances, and simply personal choice.

So, an example of a health risk might be that a woman is advised that continuing the pregnancy could be harmful.

A foetal condition example would be that the foetus is diagnosed with a condition, perhaps where the brain does not fully develop.

Personal circumstances could be situations like where a teenager is unable to provide for a child.

And personal choice might simply be that a woman does not want to have children.

So, what is abortion? Let's check your understanding.

Pause the video and write for me a definition of abortion.

When you've finished, come back and see what you could have written.

So, abortion is a deliberate ending of a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a child.

There are many issues to think about when considering abortion.

The sorts of questions that affect someone's view would be: does the life of the foetus have intrinsic value? Do women have the right to choose an abortion? Whose life has more value, the mother's or the foetus's? When does life begin? Do extrinsic factors, like health or finances, matter? And what do other people in my religion, society, or culture think? Someone's view on when life begins would also be an important factor, and that might be influenced by biology, what science tells us, but also by some religious or cultural views.

Here we can see an illustration of the development of the foetus.

So, at two weeks, the fertilised egg implants in the uterus.

There's no visible foetus yet.

At three weeks, the embryo begins developing.

The neural tubes start to form.

At four weeks, the embryo is small with a forming heart and limb buds.

At eight weeks, the embryo can now be described as a foetus with arms, legs, and a beating heart.

At 12 weeks, the foetus has distinct facial features, fully formed limbs, and developing nails.

At 16 weeks, the foetus has developed eyebrows, eyelashes, and nails.

The skeleton is hardening, and the mother may be able to feel the foetus move.

At 24 weeks, the foetus moves, responds to sounds, and the lungs begin developing.

At 40 weeks, the foetus is full term, fully developed, and ready for birth.

Some traditions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, teach that the foetus is intrinsically valuable from conception.

And even some non-religious traditions, such as humanism, might agree that life begins at conception.

However, this may not mean for them that the foetus has moral significance.

16 to 25 weeks can be quite an important stage.

Islam teaches that the soul enters the foetus at around 120 days, or approximately four months.

It's at this point for Muslims that the foetus becomes ethically significant.

At 24 weeks, the foetus is considered viable at this point, meaning it could live outside the uterus.

And some might argue that, therefore, the foetus becomes morally significant because it can exist independently of the mother.

And that's why the abortion law is placed at 24 weeks.

In Judaism, it teaches that someone only attains full personhood at birth.

This doesn't mean, however, that the foetus isn't important ethically before this point.

So, we can see how a range of factors might influence someone's view on abortion here, particularly when they think life begins.

There are a range of views on abortion.

People with a pro-life view believe the foetus' life is intrinsically valuable from conception and are generally opposed to abortion.

So, they weigh the foetus' life over the woman's right to choose.

They might say the foetus has a right to life from conception, and abortion is morally wrong because it ends a life.

People with a pro-choice view generally support abortion, and they believe that a woman has a right to choose what happens to her own body.

So, they weigh the woman's right to choose over the foetus' life.

They might say a woman has a right to terminate a pregnancy if she feels it's the best option for her health, circumstances or future.

Many people, however, have a more nuanced view on abortion.

So, they might say abortion should be an option in some cases, like if the woman's circumstances will be affected, but there should be some limits.

Let's check your understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Someone who argues that banning abortion limits personal freedom and health care choices is pro-life.

So, take a moment to think carefully about the statement and also think about why you have come up with whether it's true or false.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

So, well done if you noticed that it was false, but why is it false? Well, it's because pro-life means believing the foetus has a right to life and generally opposes abortion.

Supporting a woman's right to choose, like this example, is actually a pro-choice view.

Well done if you remember the difference between pro-life and pro-choice.

For task a on the nature of abortion, Aisha has started writing an introduction to an essay on abortion.

She says, "Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy.

In the UK, it is legal up to 24 weeks.

If two doctors agree, it would cause less harm than continuing the pregnancy." There is no time limit if there's a serious risk to the mother or foetus.

Laws vary worldwide.

For example, Canada allows abortion at any stage.

Ireland permits it up to 12 weeks.

And in the U.

S.

, some states allow abortion and others ban it." I'd like you to continue her introduction by talking about views on abortion and how varied they are.

So, there's a sentence starter for you there.

Views on abortion are varied.

Continue her work.

Explain how different factors might influence someone's view.

And of course, include what pro-choice and pro-life mean.

So, take your time.

Pause the video.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, views on abortion are varied because they can be influenced by a range of factors.

The intrinsic value placed on life can determine whether the foetus or the mother's life is seen as more important.

People's beliefs about when life begins also shape their views, with some seeing life starting at conception, while others believe it begins later.

Extrinsic factors like the mother's health, or financial situation may lead some to consider abortion a necessary choice.

Lastly, societal, religious, and cultural norms play a key role as different collective worldviews influence individuals.

The terms pro-choice and pro-life describe two different views.

Pro-choice means believing that a woman should have the right to choose whether to have an abortion.

Pro-life means believing abortion is wrong because the foetus has a right to life.

Both sides have strong arguments, making abortion a controversial issue.

So, well done if you managed to include some of those factors that will influence someone's view, such as when life begins, the circumstances of the mother's situation, whether the foetus' life has more value than the mother's right to choose.

And also, even better if you included those key terms, pro-choice and pro-life.

For the second part of our lesson, we're going to be looking at Christian teachings on abortion.

Christians try to answer questions such as, 'Does a woman have the right to choose whether to continue with a pregnancy?' by consulting sources of authority, including the Bible, and church teachings.

They might also think about the advice of church leaders and fellow Christians, and they might use ethical theories such as natural law and situation ethics.

They might think about using their conscience and apply reason, both of which they would say were God-given gifts.

But, of course, they may interpret sources differently from one another, emphasising one as more important than something else.

So, that's why Christian views can be so varied on different issues.

Let's look at Bible teachings as a source of wisdom and authority.

"So, God created mankind in his own image," from Genesis 1:27.

This teaches that all human life has intrinsic value because it reflects God's image, which some Christians use to argue that life should be protected from conception.

However, it could also support the argument that the mother's life has value.

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb," Psalm 139:13.

This suggests that God is directly involved in the formation of life before birth, so it supports the idea that unborn life is sacred.

"You shall not murder," Exodus 20:13.

This is part of the Ten Commandments, and it could suggest abortion is the taking of a human life, and therefore morally wrong.

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart," Jeremiah 1:5.

This is God speaking to the prophet Jeremiah, and it suggests that God has a plan for each person before they are born, which some Christians would take as a reason to oppose abortion.

Let's check your understanding of those biblical verses.

Fill in the gaps in these sentences taken from the Bible.

"So, God created mankind in his own _____," that's from Genesis 1:27.

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's _____," from Psalm 139:13.

"You shall not _____," from Exodus 20:13.

"And I formed you in the womb, I knew you," from Jeremiah 1:5.

So, pause the video, take a moment to think back over those biblical teachings that we've just been looking at, and jot down what you think the four words are that go into those gaps.

Come back when you're ready to check your work.

So the first one, it should be God created mankind in his own image.

For the second, you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb.

For the third, you shall not murder.

And for the fourth, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

So, well done if you did get those exact words.

And if you were able to paraphrase, put it into your own words, then that's also really good.

Looking further at Bible teachings as a source of wisdom and authority, "Love your neighbour as yourself," from Matthew 22, verse 39, could be used in favour or to justify, at times, an abortion.

So, this comes from the parable of the Good Samaritan.

And Jesus is teaching that love is about actively caring for those in need.

So, you could think of that as meaning you should show compassion to pregnant women, for example, who are in need and in difficult situations.

So, it's possible for Christians to use a quotation like this to justify abortion in some cases.

Let's look at what the churches say on abortion.

The Catholic Church maintains a very strong pro-life stance.

They teach that abortion is morally unacceptable in almost all cases, unless a mother's life is directly at risk.

And that's because they believe life begins at conception, and it's sacred.

We can find that teaching in the Pope's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, from 1995.

The Church of England also has a pro-life view, as do most Christians on the whole, but it does take a more flexible approach to abortion, allowing it perhaps where the mother or the foetus' health is at risk or in cases like rape.

And that's from the Church of England's report on abortion from 1987.

The Methodist Church teaches that although abortion is usually wrong, there might be situations where it's acceptable.

And they would also think about risk to the mother's life or health, or to the foetus.

Overall, they would argue that decisions should be made with love.

And this can be found in the teachings from "Abortion, A Christian View." Let's check your understanding.

Which denomination is pro-life in the majority of cases? Is it A, the Methodist Church; B, the Roman Catholic Church; or C, the Church of England? Take a moment to decide on your answer.

Pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you put the Roman Catholic Church.

So, whilst all Christians are pro-life, it's the Roman Catholic Church that stands out as having the most strong pro-life view.

James, who is a Roman Catholic Christian, has been asked whether he as a woman has the right to choose whether she continues with a pregnancy.

James says, "I believe abortion is wrong because life is sacred and should be protected from conception.

The only exception is when the mother's life is in danger.

Pregnancy, as a result of rape, is deeply traumatic, and the mother deserves to receive love and support.

However, abortion is still not right, even in this situation, because two wrongs don't make a right." So, thinking about this scale, going from pro-life at zero to pro-choice at ten, where would you put James's view on this scale, and why? If you're able to turn and talk to someone nearby, please do.

You can pause the video, you can always talk to me, and come back when you're ready to move on.

Fiona, who's an Anglican and attends the Church of England, has been asked whether she thinks a woman has the right to choose whether she continues with a pregnancy.

Fiona says, "I believe abortion is usually wrong, but that it can be acceptable in certain situations, like when the mother's health or life is at risk.

I find situation ethics helpful when making difficult moral decisions.

It could suggest that if the mother's health or well-being is at risk, the most loving choice is to allow her to decide." So, think about that scale again, from pro-life to pro-choice.

Where would you put Fiona's view on this scale? Why? I wonder if it's anywhere near to where you put James's view.

Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me, and come back when you're ready to move on.

Tia, who is a Methodist, has been asked whether she thinks a woman has the right to choose whether she continues with a pregnancy.

Tia says, "I believe that life is sacred, but abortion can be morally acceptable in certain circumstances, such as when the mother's health or well-being is at serious risk.

My church teaches that decisions should be made with compassion, considering the individual situation, and prioritising love and care for the mother while respecting the value of life." So, have a think about that scale again.

Where would you put Tia's view on the scale? I wonder if it's nearer to either James's or Fiona's.

Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me, and then come back when you are ready.

Let's check your understanding.

What would the Anglican and Methodist churches agree on in regard to abortion? I'd like you to choose two answers.

We have A, the mother's life and health should be considered when deciding whether abortion is morally acceptable; B, abortion is always wrong, regardless of the situation; C, the foetus' rights should always outweigh the mother's; and D, each abortion decision should be considered individually, based on the specific circumstances.

So, take a moment to choose the two correct answers.

Pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

So, well done if you put both A and D.

These are both arguing that the mother's life and health does have value and importance, and that looking at a situation also matters.

Overall, of course, these Christians do believe that abortion is usually wrong, but they would take the mother's situation and life into account.

For task B, Christian teachings on abortion, I'd like you to explain the beliefs about abortion from either two religions or two religious traditions.

You can do this by developing each of the points in the table.

So, we're going to use Christianity here, and look at two religious traditions within Christianity.

So, for our first point, we have: Some Christians, such as Catholics, are strongly.

You're going to develop it with the sentence, this means they see all human life is sacred from.

and then link it to a source of authority that you have named.

So, we have, it is supported by Evangelium Vitae, which states that abortion, and shows the Catholic Church's.

And finally, you're going to expand on the importance of the belief.

The importance of this belief is it encourages.

For your second point, we have: Others, like Christians who belong to the Church of England, believe abortion is.

This means they oppose abortion in most cases, but may allow it if.

For your development, for a source of authority.

This belief is supported by Bible teachings such as, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you," and Jesus' command too, which show that life is.

And finally, the importance of this belief is that it allows for a nuanced approach, supporting both.

So, it's really important at GCSE to be able to make points and develop them, but also to link in a named source of authority, stressing the importance of that belief.

So, this really good practise of our skill.

So, take your time, pause the video, look carefully at these sentence starters, look back over what we've learned, and expand on those two beliefs about abortion from a Christian perspective.

Return when you're ready to see what you could have written.

So, let's have a look at what you could have written.

Some Christians, such as Catholics, are strongly pro-life.

This means they oppose abortion in almost all cases, and it's supported by Evangelium Vitae, which states that abortion destroys innocent life and shows the Catholic Church's absolute opposition.

The importance of this belief is that it encourages pro-life advocacy.

For your second point, others, like Christians who belong to the Church of England, believe abortion is usually wrong, but can be acceptable in some situations.

This means they oppose abortion in most cases, but may allow it if the mother's life is at risk or in cases of severe foetal abnormality.

This belief is supported by Bible teachings, such as "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you," and Jesus' command to "Love your neighbour" which show that life is sacred, but this should be balanced with care for the mother.

The importance of this belief is that it allows for a more nuanced approach, supporting both the protection of life and care for the mother.

So, you may have gone down slightly different routes for your answer, depending on what you wanted to say, but well done if you managed to show that there's that strong pro-life view, and there's also that approach of being perhaps a little bit more flexible about how pro-life a Christian is.

So, let's move on to the third part of our lesson, arguments about abortion.

A 2023 and 2024 survey asked people whether they were religious, and whether they thought abortion should be legal.

The data shows the percentage of people that agreed that it should be legal.

So, of religiously affiliated people in the US, 53% agreed it should be legal; in Germany, 81%; in the UK, 76%; and in Sweden, 93%.

Of those who were not affiliated to a religion, 86% in the US believed it should be legal; 89% in Germany; 94% in the UK; and 97% in Sweden.

So, look carefully at that data.

What does it tell us about the impact of religion on views about abortion? If I please do that, or you can talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to rejoin.

So, you may have noticed that the data shows that religion impacts views on abortion, but other factors like culture and laws also matter, because it varied between countries.

Let's check your understanding.

What does this data suggest about views on abortion in the UK? So, the percentage in the UK who think abortion should be legal was 76% of religiously affiliated people, and 94% of those who are religiously unaffiliated.

Does it suggest A, that religiously-affiliated people are more likely to disagree with abortion than those who are not religiously affiliated.

B, the religiously-unaffiliated people are more likely to disagree with abortion than those who are religiously affiliate, or C, most religiously affiliated people disagree with abortion.

So, take a moment, look really carefully at the data and what it says, pause the video if you need to, and then come back and check when you're ready.

So, hopefully you chose A.

Chose that religiously affiliated people are more likely to disagree with abortion than those who are not religiously affiliated.

So, it was still the case that actually most religiously affiliated people did agree with legalising abortion, but not quite as many as those who are not affiliated to religion.

Well done if you got A correct.

As a young Liberal MP in the 1960s, David Steele introduced a private member's bill that became the Abortion Act of 1967.

For much of British history, abortion was illegal in the UK under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, which made it a crime punishable by life imprisonment.

With no legal alternatives, many women resorted to backstreet abortions or self-induced procedures, often with life-threatening consequences.

There was a stark divide in access to abortion services based on financial means, as wealthier women had more options.

They could access private doctors willing to perform abortions discreetly for a fee.

A significant legal turning point came in 1958 when Dr.

Aleck Bourne, a London gynaecologist, performed an abortion on a 14-year-old girl who had been raped by soldiers.

He was prosecuted but acquitted, setting a precedent that allowed abortion in cases where continuing the pregnancy posed a serious risk to the woman's life.

By the 1960s, campaigners began to call for a change to the law.

The Abortion Law Reform Association argued that the law disproportionately harmed poorer women who could not afford private procedures.

Diane Munday, who had herself undergone an abortion before legalisation, became a key advocate for the pro-choice movement, arguing that legalising abortion would improve women's health, and allow them greater autonomy over their reproductive choices.

Campaigners highlighted cases of pregnancies resulting from rape, as well as the risks associated with illegal terminations.

In contrast, pro-life groups opposed the bill, arguing that abortion involved ending a human life and that legalisation could lead to it being widely used as a form of birth control.

In 1967, David Steele, a Liberal MP, introduced a private members' bill to legalise abortion, and the Abortion Act was passed.

The legalised abortion up to 28 weeks, provided that two doctors agreed it was necessary to protect the woman's physical or mental health and that it took place in a registered clinic.

The Act aimed to provide safer and more regulated access to abortion while maintaining some level of medical oversight.

In the years that followed, further legal changes were introduced.

In 1990, the time limit for most abortions was reduced to 24 weeks, reflecting advances in medical care.

However, terminations remained legal beyond this point in cases of severe foetal abnormality, or where the mother's life was at risk.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary measures were introduced to allow early medical abortion up to 10 weeks at home rather than in a clinic.

In 2022, this change was made permanent in England and Wales.

Abortion remains a subject of debate.

Pro-life campaigners continue to advocate for greater restrictions, with figures such as Heidi Crowther, a disability rights activist with Down syndrome, challenging the law that allows abortion after 24 weeks in cases of foetal disability.

Crowther and her supporters argue that this aspect of the law is discriminatory and devalues the life of disabled people.

In 2022, her legal challenge reached the Court of Appeal but was unsuccessful.

At the same time, pro-choice campaigners continue to push for further changes, arguing that abortion should be treated as a standard part of healthcare rather than a criminal offence requiring medical approval.

Some groups advocate for the removal of legal restrictions altogether, allowing abortion on request without requiring approval from doctors.

Another area of debate has been the introduction of buffer zones around clinics, which legally prevent protests and demonstrations near abortion providers.

Supporters argue that buffer zones protect women from harassment, while opponents claim they infringe on free speech rights.

Abortion law in the UK has changed significantly since 1967, but the issue remains deeply contested.

While abortion is now widely available within the legal framework, discussions continue about whether it should be further restricted or fully integrated into the healthcare system.

So, how do the arguments used by pro-life and pro-choice groups today compare to those used in the 1960s? So, if you're able to, turn and talk to someone nearby; perhaps you can discuss some of that you've just heard, and have a think about how the arguments might be similar or different over that period of time.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

Pro-choice arguments centre around a woman's right to choose.

Financial and social circumstances affect a woman's ability to raise a child.

That might be an issue.

Pregnancy has physical, emotional, and mental health implications.

Again, that might be a reason for abortion.

And a woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.

Pro-life arguments centre around the foetus' right to life.

Adoption might be a viable alternative to abortion.

Life begins at conception, and the foetus has a right to life.

Sam and Jun are talking to Brandon.

Sam says, "Does the life of a foetus have intrinsic value?" Jun says, "Do women have the right to choose an abortion?" Brandon responds, "As a humanist, I believe abortion should be a normal part of medical care because a woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.

A foetus has potential, but it does not have intrinsic value.

And so, it is the woman's health and well-being that matter here." Is Brandon expressing a pro-choice or pro-life argument? Take a moment, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can.

Pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

Sam and Jun are talking to James and asking the same questions: Does the life of a foetus have intrinsic value? And do women have the right to choose an abortion? James says, "A foetus has intrinsic value from conception because life begins at fertilisation.

A woman's rights are important, but abortion ends a human life.

So, it shouldn't be treated as normal health care.

Instead, we should support women with alternatives like adoption and better care during pregnancy.

So, is James expressing a pro-choice or pro-life argument? To pause again, take your time to have a discussion with someone nearby if you can, or you can turn and talk to me and come back when you're ready to move on.

Let's check your understanding.

How might a humanist who is pro-choice view abortion? A, it should be a last resort, only in extreme cases.

B, it should be treated as a normal part of medical care.

C, it should be banned because it harms the foetus.

D, it should only be allowed with strict legal controls.

Have a think, pause if you need to, and then come back when you're ready to check.

They're well done if you said B.

Someone who's pro-choice is likely to say it should be treated as part of normal medical care.

For task C on arguments about abortion, the statement, a woman should have the right to choose whether to continue with a pregnancy, is our focus.

I'd like you to complete the table by developing each point into an argument in support of or against the statement.

So, the first point is, a woman has the right to make decisions about her own body, and the second, the foetus has a right to life.

So, have a think about how you could take each of those points further and use it either to support or go against the statement.

Pause the video.

When you've finished, come back to see what you could have written.

You could have said for the first point that forcing her to carry an unwanted pregnancy violates her personal freedom and autonomy.

As individuals, women should have control over what happens to their bodies.

And for the second, from conception, the foetus has the potential to become a fully developed human being, and its right to life should be protected.

So, well done if you managed to expand on each of those points and show how the first one is pro-choice, and the second is pro-life.

In today's lesson, we have learned that abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy and is legal in the UK under certain conditions.

But teachings such as, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you," Jeremiah 1 could suggest abortion is wrong.

But other teachings such as, "Love your neighbour as yourself," Matthew 22:39 could suggest abortion may be the most loving option.

Most Christian denominations are pro-life, but some might accept abortion could be the most loving option in some circumstances.

Pro-choice arguments support abortion and focus on a woman's right to make decisions about her body.

And pro-life arguments oppose abortion and centre around the intrinsic value of the foetus and its right to life.

We've learned a lot today.

Thank you for all of your efforts and for working with me through this lesson.