Abortion Explained!

Religion & Spirituality

Have you ever wondered what the higher powers or gods you look to for guidance would think about your abortion? You’re not the only one. Most people who have abortions are religious or spiritual. It’s quite common for people to turn to a spiritual guide for support or answers when making a decision about their pregnancy or after an abortion. Know that you’re not alone.

“Although I had kept a journal about the relationship and the abortion, I bottled all of my emotions up. It wasn’t until a 2015 trip to the mikveh on the American Jewish University campus in Los Angeles that I shared my story with the mikveh attendant. It’s poetic that the space that offered me the most healing from the memory of the abusive relationship and the abortion I had within it, was mayim hayim, living water, a representation of the womb itself. Over a year later, I’m still working to make abortion access a reality for everyone by opening more womb-like spaces for storytelling. Sometimes we create mayim hayim by telling our own stories, quiet or loud, but always brave. Sometimes we create mayim hayim by listening to the flow of another’s story.”

— Anise Simon, We Testify storyteller

Fun Fact: Before abortion was legalized across the U.S. in 1973, clergy members offered counseling and logistical support for people seeking abortions through a group called Clergy Consultation Services.

 

Those who want to ban abortion perpetuate the myth that all religions are opposed to abortion, but that’s simply not true. Abortion methods have been documented going back 4,000 years and have probably been around as long as people have been getting pregnant. Yet, most religions don’t mention abortion at all in their texts. Some, like Judaism, do mention it and explicitly support it.

“I loved learning beautiful things about Hinduism, like the names of countless gods and goddesses, or how to write and chant in Sanskrit and perform classical Indian dances that told stories from our scriptures. But I hated the fact that women were considered second to men and that there was a double standard when it came to sex...And when I decided to have an abortion, my religion’s cultural expectation of purity was swirling in my mind. I knew I wasn’t ready to parent, that to try to do so would cause my dreams to come crashing down. I also knew that going through with the pregnancy would expose that I had done the most shameful thing: sex.”

— Shivana Jorawar, We Testify storyteller

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Some of us have grown up in religious households where abortion wasn’t discussed as a pregnancy option, attended a house of worship where anti-abortion messaging was spread, or have never known another person of faith who’s had an abortion before. Perhaps we even interpret our own faith to portray abortion as something wrong. Much of this messaging is interpretation and stigma designed to discourage us from having our abortions and to maintain a specific way of living. The decisions we make while navigating our spiritual beliefs aren’t always clear cut and even more of us look to our faith and religious traditions or text to guide us during our abortion experiences.

“Sometimes people ask how I can be a follower of Christ and have an abortion. My response is that God is a God of love, and if you know that then you’ve answered your own question. God is the ultimate author of our lives, and I had an abortion as a believer of God because He planned it, so that I could stand for His people and people like me. Anything that involves people getting the love and the care they deserve is something that He would be a part of, and God was with me with through the entire decision.”

— Cowanda Rusk, We Testify storyteller

The common misconception that people of faith don’t have abortions, unfortunately, creates a false narrative that leads many of us to feel isolated in our decision. In fact, people of all faiths have abortions and have abortions at the same rates as everyone else. Unfortunately, many do it in secret to avoid the shaming rhetoric and violent harassment of people in their religious community or family.

People who want to ban abortion sometimes write their own interpretations of their religious beliefs and traditions into the legislation restricting the procedure. But that’s not right and is often opposite to how many of us see abortion as an ancestral tradition accepted within our religious practice. Abortion restrictions that require us to pay for cremation or burial services after an abortion are designed to both increase the cost of the procedure, but also force us to perform burial rituals often associated with the Christian faith. Not all religions acknowledge the passing of life, death, or transitions the same way, so legally forcing people to adhere to this one standard of practice is a violation of our religious freedom and a function of Christian supremacy.

The morality of abortion has been up for interpretation and long-debated for years through the scripture of various religions. We all may have different interpretations of religious texts and traditions, but at the end of the day, you should be free to make the decision for yourself and with whomever you choose—whether that’s spiritual or celestial beings, gods, ancestors, or your earthly loved ones.

As a person of faith, your abortion decision-making process might look a little different than those who don’t consult their faith. You may want to consult with your spiritual leader or another person in your community who can help you explore and deepen your faith, and how it intersects with your experience. On the contrary, you may be someone who’s already found resolve in how your decision to have an abortion intersects with your faith. Not every spiritual person will experience the same decision-making process.

 
 

If you’re experiencing complex emotions, it can be helpful to remember that what you’re feeling is normal. Think about how you view your faith. For some of us, the question isn’t whether or not abortion is wrong, it’s how we feel the greater power we have faith in sees our experiences. Do we have faith that our experiences — including our struggles, intentions, and decisions — are all a part of who we are and not something to cast judgment on? Does our faith tell us we are worthy of guidance, acceptance, love, and forgiveness if we wish to seek it?

“For months after my abortion, I dreamt that my boyfriend and I were getting married in the church I’d been attending from the time I was baptized at six weeks old. When we reached the altar, the ceiling directly above us would crumble. We jumped back to avoid the falling debris. The ceiling continued to fall, pushing us farther and farther back until we were on the street. I would wake each time out of breath and fearful that God was sending me a message: “You no longer belong in my house.” I didn’t go to church for months; I was too afraid of what might happen. I wouldn’t even pray because I felt like I didn’t have the right to...I took a moment to pray on my own without guidance from the rector. As I spoke with God for the first time in a long time, openly and honestly through my heart, I began to cry quietly. I knew then in my soul that I was forgiven because there was nothing I had done that required forgiveness. In that moment, God was helping me forgive myself. During those would-be gestational months, I carried a heavy weight of guilt because I believed I had sinned gravely. And the only reason why I felt that way was because other people had said I’d committed an act of sin. But when it was just me and God alone, I felt nothing but love, support, and a command to love and forgive myself.”

— Kristine A. Kippins, We Testify storyteller

Needing an abortion can already feel like an isolating experience as a result of limited access and abortion stigma. For those of us exploring our faith during our abortions, it can create more questions than answers. No matter what, you should know that you aren’t alone in your decision to have an abortion, even if it feels that way.

 

Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Resolution After An Abortion

This guide may provide you with space to explore the way your experience as a person of faith can influence our experience with abortion — and it can be especially helpful for people who’ve already had abortions that may still be seeking support.

Faith Aloud

This program of All-Options provides support from clergy and spiritual leaders who understand the spectrum of experiences that lead people to seek abortions. Some abortion clinics even provide spiritual support from clergy who volunteer their support to patients.

“I wish I had known about support systems like Faith Aloud when I had my abortion, which offers unbiased, compassionate pregnancy options counseling from clergy, pastors, and leaders from diverse faith backgrounds. Or that conversations like 40 Days of Prayer for Reproductive Justice had been a part of my experience. Not only is my faith consistent with my beliefs about abortion and true justice, it also drives my activism. I want to ensure that no one is shamed or punished for making decisions based on their own conscience and knowing what's best for them.”

— Jeana Nam, We Testify storyteller