Abortion Is A Or Medical Removal Of An Embryo - 1659 Words

Does life begin at the moment of conception? Or does life begin when the heart starts pumping and the brain starts to think. Some say that life does not begin until birth. The issue of abortion has been the subject of debate for several decades. Religions in Australia have influenced attitudes and laws with regards to this issue in the past. Are the attitudes and involvement of Australian religions in the abortion debate still relevant and do they make a difference? Abortion is a surgical or medical removal of an embryo or a fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy (Dictionary, 2016). Abortion in Australia has always been regulated by state law. However, previously before the end of the 19th century, each colony had adopted the†¦show more content†¦It was also found that religious belief and support for legal abortion are not mutually exclusive, with 77% of those who identify as religious also support a woman’s right to choose (Children by Choice, 2012). The attitudes towards abortion have changed over the years. Since the 1980’s, opinion polls have shown that majority of Australians support abortion rights. In 1987 a poll conducted by Saulwick indicated about 7% of Australians would not approve of abortions under any circumstances. However, an ACNielsen poll in 2005 reported that 56% thought the current abortion laws, which generally allow abortion for the sake of life, health or economic factors, were fine, while 16% wanted a change in making abortion more accessible and 17% wanting to make changes to make it less accessible (Grattan, 2005). The debate regarding abortion among religions has been prominent for centuries. Many religions have different historical perspectives on the immorality of abortion, on whether it can ever be permitted, and how believers should respond (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, 2016). Buddhism regard abortion as morally wrong as it involves the deliberate destroying of a life. However, the Dalai Lama has spoken in favour of abortion under certain circumstances. He stated, Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative,