Abortion and the Early Church An exploration on the official stand of the church in historical context

Abortion in Pagan context Often abortion is regarded as a contemporary issue only. However, even before the birth of Christ, in Greek and Roman society abortion was commonplace. Christianity developed in a largely pagan society. In an attempt to understand Christian feelings and attitudes, we first need to observe abortion in its pagan context. Abortion appears to have been practised extensively, for a variety of reasons. Several methods were available. Medication (“poisons”), surgery, tight waistbands, and punching and kicking appear to have been applied quite effectively. If a child was born, infanticide or child exposure was also a frequently practised option. In ancient Greece abortion was not only a medical but also a legal and political concern. Several philosophers, such as Plato, recommended abortion in certain circumstances. The oath of Hippocrates (460-357 BC) gives evidence that not everyone readily accepted abortion. The oath includes the phrase “...Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly, I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion.” Plato (428-347 BC) and Aristotle (384-322 BC) supported abortion in their views on the individual related to the state. Both philosophers distinguish between necessary and unnecessary abortion. Aristotle’s concept of “delayed ensoulment” deeply penetrated into the intellectual world. In his teachings on delayed ensoulment, Aristotle distinguished between vegetable, animal and human