what are quakers beliefs on abortion and euthanasia??

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Answer by KitCat.
Submitted on 7/4/2004
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I'm not to sure about their believes on abortion but i have detailed information on their beliefs on euthanasia and I would expect that some of this would also be true for abortion: Quakers do not have an absolute view on euthanasia. Some quakers belive that people who are suffering should be allowed to die because according to situation ethics it is the most loving thing to do in some cases however others may say that in some situations it is more loving for people to be in a place such as a hospice ect. It is important to remember with quakers that many of them are doctors and they have a peace testimony so whatever they choose to be their answer it must involve agape (love) somewhere in their decision.

Answer by RyanSS
Submitted on 1/3/2005
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Hi, i am doing a project on euthanasia and this is a bit about what i think about the issue (as you can see it is not complete): When I began to research for this project on the internet, I started with arguments for euthanasia. When I formed an understanding of the concept of euthanasia itself, I became confused to why people would appose this treatment. I began to read information on patient after patient, and I wondered why the law prohibited what I thought was the right thing to do. If a patient had a terminal illness that put them in severe physical or mental pain, and their life expectancy was very short, why shouldn�t they be entitled to a dignified premature death if they requested one? If their judgment was not impaired, if the family was alright with the decision, and if the required materials are accessible, why should that patient be forced by law to live the remaining agonizing months of their now-meaningless life? In fact, I thought it inhumane not to legalize this treatment. Maybe the sensationalisms that covered the arguments for euthanasia had done its job. I had fell victim to the media�s perception of this controversial legal issue, and had jumped to conclusions about the entirety of the issue. Though I had only realized this when I began to research for arguments apposing euthanasia. Although both sides were biased in their own ways, I grasped an understanding of the effects legalizing euthanasia would have on a society such as Canada�s. As I read more of the practicalities euthanasia would have on the public, the facts began to sway my decision. I watched a video of arguments against euthanasia and discovered how easy it really was for mentally ill and depressed people to obtain this treatment. The flaws had began to emerge to show the other not-so-glamorous side of the issues. As well as this, I discovered that in the year of 1990 in Netherlands (where euthanasia is legalized) there has been 11, 800 deaths because of euthanasia - in a single year. This totalled to a shocking 9% of the total deaths. Were nearly twelve thousand people qualified, or had many, if not most, seeped through the flaws of the bill? Although it will never be for sure, it is most likely that many have used this treatment without fully qualifying. Just like that, the idea of the flawless treatment for the terminally ill had shown its true dark side, and my mind was stranded somewhere in between, unsure which way to settle.

Answer by sophie
Submitted on 3/20/2005
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The Quaker religion gives its followers the option to be either pro-life or pro-choice, because there are reasonable arguements for both. For those who insist that life begins at conception, then obviously, abortion will be seen as murder and is therefore, wrong. However, for others who believe that women have rights over their bodies and that conception does not necessarily begin at birth, abortion is permissible and is not against God's law. Because Quakers believe in equality and give a large amount of support to women's rights, this pro-choice arguement is just as well founded as the pro-life arguement. Therefore, Quakers have varying beliefs on abortion and there is no official Quaker stance on abortion.

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Question by kel
Submitted on 12/8/2003
Related FAQ: soc.religion.quaker Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
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what are quakers beliefs on abortion and euthanasia??

Answer by Mystical Ranter
Submitted on 12/26/2003
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Every thing that lives is Holy, all life is sacred. Human Beings are the Incarnation of God. To take life for any reason is wrong, we have not got the right or authority, that belongs to God and God alone.

Answer by david soper
Submitted on 2/28/2004
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how do they do mercy killing do they pull the plug and wait for u to die

Answer by Hutcher
Submitted on 4/15/2004
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There is no answer to this. Alot depends on when you think a life starts. I believe it is at about 23 weeks when the brain waves begin, and because of this i would not advocate abortion past this point unless it means to save the mother. Another improtant point is that on something unguided i the bibles and ununiformed opinion among the friends is rarely commented on as a whoel. so quakers have no opinion as a whole. There is also a group of quakers that believe that because we ave that of God in all of us we should be free to chose what the right action for us is.

Answer by JJ
Submitted on 4/27/2004
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I think you had better be consistent. If you are anti-war, anti death penalty, and anti-violence, that naturally includes abstaining from euthanasia and abortion.

Answer by xxx
Submitted on 12/12/2004
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Quakers believe in the sacredness of life to be very important. and so, they believe that any life is worth fighting for. Jesus says in the bible, that he knows and cares for all humans, even before they are born! and so, aborting a baby, is killing something in which Christians believe is very sacred. also, they believe that all humans are made in Gods image, and by God. so, the only person allowed to say when a person lives or dies, is God himself.

Answer by rOsEzpOsEZ
Submitted on 9/22/2005
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What are quakers?

Answer by wastw
Submitted on 11/28/2005
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all waste 'o' time !

Answer by Angel
Submitted on 5/29/2006
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id just like to say that if you don't want to look after a baby or have one of your own for that matter, then do NOT have unprotected sex. so many young people these days are being given the choice to have sex or not and they are choosing to. if you fall pregnant then that is your fault not anyone elses, and if you don't want to keep the baby then abortion is not the way to go. you could wait for the birth of the baby then give it to a family member to look after until you are old enough to be responsible for the baby, or put it up for adoption. just please, instead of going straight for abortion, think what you will be doing to a poor innocent child. IT'S MURDER!!!

Answer by charlotte
Submitted on 11/8/2006
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what are quakers religion most closest to regarding other religion

Answer by ass
Submitted on 11/28/2006
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shut up haha

Answer by jason
Submitted on 12/9/2006
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no one can answer this.. it hasn't got answer because humans religious are different ways.. and it is very hard to answer this.. � just want to say that we should be free to chose what the right action for us is.!

Answer by gib
Submitted on 3/15/2007
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Quakers would say that is the patient�s individual choice and it is wrong to make a person suffer because in some cases it is the best thing to do and would not exclude a person because they have been apart of it. They do not mind what a person does as long as it is not considered to be the wrong choice to make. Quakers have no set rules on the matter but would discuss the situation if it was to ever occur.

Answer by sasd
Submitted on 6/14/2007
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They should leave the dying to die

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