Person\'s Religious Identity Shape Their

¶ … Person's Religious Identity Shape Their View on Abortion?

Abortion is one of the most passionately argued debates in America, and both sides of the argument have strong political lobbies, and strong social support. The position a politician takes on this issue can alone be a determining factor in whether or not he or she will be elected to the public office they are seeking. Looking at the large numbers of people on either side of the debate, all of whom feel compelled to support or protest abortion, gives rise to the question of what drives the protesters, and what compels the supporters. Is there a single factor in the multi-layered debate on abortion that can be identified as a common factor that causes an individual to be pro-or con abortion? Can a common factor be identified, one that both sides have, which shapes the individual view on abortion; that single common factor is religious identity? Is religious identity the common factor? This essay will look at religious identity as it relates to the individual position on abortion, pro-or con, and how that position is influenced by religious identity.

Religious Identity and Abortion Position

Religious identity is the way in which people define their relationship to their faith, or lack thereof. Christian religions stem from the early Christianity that evolved from the life, experiences and teachings of Jesus Christ. In the common era, following the Crucifixion of Christ, Christian converts came from paganism or Judaism to Christianity. The Catholic Church in Rome came to represent the leadership from which Christian doctrine emerged, and it is that doctrine that forms the basis of the Christian identity. As the basis of Christian doctrine is that Christ, the Savior of mankind, was conceived of the Holy Virgin Mary, who delivered unto the world the Son of Christ. It is here that the religious identity that takes a side in abortion resides: that life begins at conception. For if that which is conceived of the womb can be aborted at will, then that is contrary to the notion of life that born with the conception of the Son of God in the womb. Thus, in the Holy Mother, the womb is sacred, as is that which is conceived therein (Jacoby, Kerry N., 1998, p. 27).