Explain how Christian teachings affect the attitudes of Christians to abortion.

For this question, you want to consider the affect that various teachings from scripture have upon various denominations and Christian ethical principles.I have chosen to consider the teachings of The Sanctity of Life and Agape.First one must consider the crucial commandment that is often applied to this scenario:Thou shalt not killThis is the Fifth of the Ten Commandments believed to have been dictated by God. It refers to the Christian belief in The Sanctity of Life, a principle that states that all life is sacred, and must not be tampered with, as to do so would constitute 'playing God'. Now, you should consider when this 'Sanctity of life' begins? Is it at conception, or after?Christian scripture seems to suggest it is at conception e.g. Psalm 139 addresses God stating that 'you knit me together in my mother's womb'. If you take this perspective, then the Sanctity of Life will apply. Catholics take this standing, with the Catechism stating that 'Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.'However, a Christian might also consider Agape, a principle of wholly selfless love. This stems from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, whereby He states that one must 'love your neighbour', the 'greatest commandment'. Considering this, a Christian should do the most loving thing. This principle forms the basis of Fletcher's Situation Ethics. If the most loving thing is to offer an abortion, then a Christian may do this. The Synod of the Church of England takes a stance similar to this, stating that they combine a 'strong opposition to abortion with a recognition that there can be - strictly limited - conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any available alternative'. Examples of where this might arise could be where the mother, or baby might die should the pregnancy continue. Aquinas' Doctrine of Double Effect would similarly allow abortion under limited conditions, as a side effect to another loving procedure, but would not allow abortion as a procedure in itself.