Induced abortion in the world: 1. Perception of abortion throughout the centuries and by religions

Induced abortion has religious, moral, and cultural dimensions that place it at the center of major ethical debates. The interest of women caught in the middle of this never-ending controversy requires that a dialogue replaces current confrontation. To promote such dialogue, we decided to write a mini-series to review important aspects of abortion. First, we will turn to history to explore the root of the controversy, which may enable the disentangling of the complexity of the issue. In the second essay we describe how the 20th century witnessed the progressive legalization of abortion. In the third essay we will articulate how we see the possibility of a common ground between those favoring and those opposing abortion. Induced abortion has been attempted from the dawn of civilization and it is mentioned in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman writings, although the frequency of the practice and its success are not known. The world's principal religions did not view abortion favorably, but the strength of prohibition was not uniform. Within Christianity, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches are currently totally opposed, whereas Protestant denominations are more nuanced in their disapproval. The anti-abortion stance of Muslim countries seems to be at variance with the view of the majority of traditional scholars, who would allow abortion in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 4 months, or in the first 40 days). The Orthodox Jewish view bans abortion except when the life of the mother is at risk, whereas Reformed Judaism is more open. Hinduism is also opposed to abortion with few exceptions: severe fetal abnormalities, presence of a life-threatening condition for the woman, in case of rape or incest. Confucianism stresses the importance of the family and reverence for life but also shows concern and compassion for the welfare of the pregnant woman; these positions are balanced when responding to the challenge of deciding about abortion.