What is your opinion on abortion?

Do you have religious or moral problems with it?

Do you feel that many social problems could be at least somewhat lessened if women were able to access it easily, thus unwanted pregnancies could be "nipped in the bud" (so to speak)- thus people would be able to have a better future through continuing work/education/training and provide far better for future offspring?

Could it help solve major problems of population pressures and demand for finite resources- especially land/water/employment etc?

When exactly is a fertilised zygote a sentient human being?
Is there really such a thing as a soul?

Should men have more control over the fate of their genetic material in the event of an undesired pregnancy?

What are your views?

I didn't want to choose an answer- I was trying to gauge public perception and opinion. So whoever wins good luck.
Thank-you everyone for your fantastic answers- in the affirmative, the negative and the neutral.

It's murder. Life begins at conception, abortion extinguishes that life. Unless the mother is in some sort of mortal peril, it's completely unacceptable to me. Women who don't want their babies should be able to suck it up for nine months and then give the child up for adoption.

pro-choice

I agree that abortion is a necessary thing however various forms of contraception are freely available and there can be no excuse for an unwanted pregnancy.
Abortions are very easily available and some girls have had 2 3 or 4 which I do not agree with anyone can make a mistake once but 2 or 3 times is just silly.

this is a controversial debate and will never be one sided as people have such varying views on abortion. i think it all depend on the womens situation-if she is thinking of having an abortion because she does not want a child then she shouldnt have had sex in the first place because this does sometimes result in having a child nomatter how careful you are-therefore i feel it would be wrong but if a women has been raped i feel she would be doing the right thing as the child is not a product of love and will not be brought up in a loving relationship between its parents. whatever peoples opinions are it will always be a really hard decision that any women has to make and its not something anyone takes lightly.

I think that to many people dismiss it on moral/religious grounds, people go through with these pregnancies and totally ruin their lives. Especially teenagers, I honestly beleieve if its illegal to have sex under the age of 16 it should be illegal to have a baby and I cant see how any good comes out of it, 9 times out of 10 these kids grow up to then do the same thing. I certainly dont think its an easy choice or experience, but sometimes its the best option

Its murder . I believe ther is a new lifwe at conception luckily being gay I will never have to kill a baby. Women should encourage their men to practice Sodomy the only safe and satisfying contraceptive

if someone does not want or can not handle a child, then why not, pro choice!

i don't agree with abortion, i was raised to believe that every life is special. it will always be wrong, except in the case, according to Catholic law, if the child is faced with an ailment that will cause it to become stillborn.

As you do not have the ability to create life, then you should not play God and take life only in exceptional circumstances where the pregnancy is posing a risk to the mother鈥檚 health. Other than that if you are old enough to have sex, you should be bear it at the back of your mind that you could get pregnant after all none of the contraceptives/birth control measures gives a 100% guarantee.

A pregnancy is not a buffet dinner, where you decide that I鈥檇 have the sex but not the consequences.

Abortion BAAAAAAAAD!

I'm a fence sitter on this one. I think there are certain circumstances that should be considered when it comes to abortion. If you were sexually assaulted by anyone (family members included), there is something extremely wrong with the child, the child may cause the mother to die, there are serious complications, etc.
However, if you oh so happily spread your legs and were not on b/c or he didn't use a condom then you better expect the consequences of those actions. People are obviously not paying attention in sex-ed and their parents aren't talking to them about how pulling out doesn't always work or that there are free clinics/family planning all over the place.
There are plenty of ways to help prevent pregnancies and if they aren't taking the correct course of action in that, then shame on them and welcome to dealing with it. Have the kid and give it up for adoption. Someone out there wants a baby and you don't, so why not?

What on earth have you been smoking.... this is a bit academic for you me sweet little plumber..........!!

You trying to impress me with your worldly knoweledge? lol..!!!!
Any way forget about these long academic questions you still have my damp patch to sort out!

Although I'm conservative, and a Christian, I feel abortion is an woman's issue and she should have the right to determine what happens in her body. I'm personally against abortions, but I'm more against government telling a woman what she can and cannot do with her body.

What I am against is abortion in the third tri-mester and I'm against the murder of children during partial birth abortion.

I'm also against the government having to pay for the abortion, but in many cases I see where this is needed because if the government doesn't pay for abortions, its a case where the government will be paying for years in food stamps, housing and health care benefits.

But, to answer your question, I think abortion is the mother's choice, no ours, not the government. Its really between her and God (if she believes in Him or not.)

I totally agree with abortion??Suppose you have been sexual harrased by someone, would keep the child or not??

I am pro choice. I think a woman's body, a woman's decision...However, that doesn't mean that just because some girl was careless & got pregnant and doesn't want to get in trouble decides oopsie, I will go ahead and get an abortion...That is bull...

But then again, her body, her decision, her karma, her life!

this is a very tricky one. In a way i think people should be able to make up their minds what they do as it their bodies and their choice and there could be any number of reasons for choosing abortion (victim of rape, medical etc)

On the other hand, it is murder no matter when it happens.

I beleive in fate, it you were meant to have a child then god will give you one.

I feel abortions should be allowed as long as they aren't being used as a form of birth control. If two people engage in consentual sexual activity that results in a pregnancy, they should face the facts and do what is right and raise the child to the best of their ability. I don't think people should just simply go have an abortion because they were too stupid to wear a condom or take birth control.
I do have to say though, for all the people that say things like ''you're not god, you can't create or end life...'' Thats a bunch of crap, we can and we do both, this is about what is right for people, not for religion. People that hang on to these archaic visions of religious morality that has absolutely NO founding in reality need to wake up and smell the coffee. Ever heard of Somalia? Iraq? Child slavery? The human Sex Slave trade? Where is this god you keep talking about!!??
The Universe is amazing, but why do you insist on such fabrications of people long dead?!!

i think it's a great shame but i don't think any women in that position take the decision lightly.

I think the woman should be able to choose and each case is an individual one on it's own merits.

I have a friend who was adopted. And I wonder whay my life would be like if we never met. So I am against abortion, excepting rape/incenst or danger to the mother. It is wrong to take a life even the life of a fetus

I BELIVE IT KILLING A BABY,ITS WICKED

I am pro choice. I am also male, so I'll never be faced with such a dilemma. If I were to impregnate a person, It would be 100% up to her whether to abort or not.

well if you soo want to bring god into the picture then isnt fornication and adultery BAD.

If fornication and adultery is acceptable then abortion is no difference.

THEY ARE ALL BAD.

But you all make them good.

Humm you ask some interesting questions.
I have mixed views on abortion. I don't really agree with abortion but i would never judge someone who felt it was the best thing for themselves or the unborn child.
I am unable to have children myself and wish i could have had one of the unwanted pregnancies myself but it was never ment to be. Too many young people/children are having children themselves which is a shame, for themselves and hte babies, i am not saying they are not good parents because many are very good parents but i think that if given better education/training they would fair better in the work place.
It would be good if the men had control over the fate of the unwanted pregnancies but the women have to carry the baby. If the woman was forced to carry the unwanted pregnany for the man in question they stresses on the woman could be huge. But i can also see the mans side of things and realise that this is a very hard situation to be in.

I'm personally against abortions, but I think its the mother's choice to have the baby or not.

What amazes me is that those who are against abortion often are the first to complain when a welfare mom has too many kids and is on government assistance. And, many babies (especially Black babies) are not wanted in adoption because of the number of them being born. (The last figure I read is that 65% of African-American children are born out of wedlock.)

So, you can be against abortion, but then what do you do with a baby that is not wanted, then because of that environment, the baby is a future criminal. Some think its worse to bring a child into the world destined for failure with little to no hope for a successful life.

This is really a rough question because either way, the baby loses. They are either killed in abortion, or born often into a world of poverty with no love. Poor kid.

I know about this subject.... its selfish... in both ways! .. to keep it is selfish and to "get rid" is also! Its selfish to keep if you cant not afford or fit it in your life (is it better to live and be rejected or to not live and never be rejected) Tip don't get pregnant unless that child is going to be your be all and end all. Your child is not your be all and end all if its an accident! Your feelings change all the time if you keep it or abort it so dont make the mistake!Plan your child in life. If you have sex remember that's how we make life.... SEX is not a porn movie! love care and raise your child to be a worthwhile human being! It all comes down to the individual and the end of the day and i believe if in a relationship its 50/50 decision!

great question ! but ur name is very dubious!! absolutely pro choice, preferably made by both parents, but mostly pressure is on the girl to decide. yes men should take control of their genetic material & use prophylactics!, whatever is in the health of the mother - both physically or mentally needs consideration. What if its a young girl preganant as a result of incest or some vile act, is her life to be ruined for someone elses crime ???

well to me each unborn child is a miracle. if you don't want to get pregnant, don't have unprotected sex. Abortion is NOT a form of birth control. if a person decides they do not want to raise the child<for financial, emotional, or whatever reason> there are plenty<thousands> of people that would love to have a child, but cannot concive on their own. if a girl is worried about the cost of pregnancy, plenty of agencies have hope to be parents that will pay all the charges of the baby.

to me at the moment of conception, it is a life and a human. zygote is a word to define the state of the human, not another "species" or thing. and as for the men? they can "control the fate if their genetic material" by not having sex, and/or protecting themselves<condoms, etc> when they do have sex.

people need to take responsibility for their actions. having sex is widely known as the way to get pregnant. practice safe sex if you don't want to get pregnant!

From a religious standpoint, it is wrong plain and simple. We are all a creation of the Lord and children are His blessing to us. The act of sex itself is to be reserved only for marriage and love. If everyone would go by the religious standpoint and only have sex when married, then "unwanted" pregnancy's wouldn't be such a "burden." You have to realize that when you engage in sexual intercourse, you may get pregnant. If you are not ready for children, don't have sex. Sex has become such a casual thing in todays society and women are no longer seeing themselves as valuable precious creatures and their virginity as something that is to be valued! Our bodies are a temple for Christ! A baby's heart starts beating at three weeks. Abortion clinics will not even preform the "procedure" until at least that point. Sad. That people could choose to stop a beating heart. The world is so full of sin and immorality that it reeks with sadness and hurt.

I cant make up my mind on this. On one hand, one hundred or so years without human conception and the human race is cancelled. In that perspective is prevention not better than "cure", for want of a better word? Then there is the life-taking element, for which I try and see it this way: If I was a doctor who was medically capable of removing a foetus, would I have the conscience to carry it out for real?
I think there is such a thing as the soul. It is a different state of mind to everyone, so it is a very generic word for undefined thing. I have a theory that everything capable of responding to it's environment has some sort of quintessential identity, but thats just me. As for a man having control over the fate of genetic material, I don't know, there are many cases for and against, so it just depends on the situation, perhaps by councilled adjudication.
So, I would prefer not for people to abort, but I cannot honestly put a finger on it unless I was in that scenario myself. It would have to be a very good reason, such as the birth of the Anti-Christ lol or a heavily disabled child.

Abortion is BAD. God doesn't agree with it. It is just like killing a person. It is imoral.

I wish I was a girl, just so I could get abortions.