What Does Your Religion Believe about Adoption?

Spiritual beliefs are often a very important part of who you are. They may guide the choices that you make throughout your life. If you’re currently facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may look to your religion for unplanned pregnancy advice to help you decide between your three pregnancy options — parenting, adoption or abortion.

It may be important for you to understand the differences between spirituality and religion on unplanned pregnancy.

• Spirituality is a personal connection to a higher, unseen entity.
• Religion is a set of doctrines that guide the behaviors and actions of groups of people in their daily, secular lives.

Both spirituality and religion are often intertwined, but they can be considered separately, according to your individual preferences and beliefs.

Although many religions are clear about beliefs on parenting and abortion, religious views on giving up your child for adoption may be somewhat confusing. You can choose adoption for spiritual or religious reasons, or you may just be curious about what certain faith-based groups have to say about unplanned pregnancy and adoption. Spiritual and/or religious practices may be comforting to you during this time of uncertainty in your life.

Keep in mind that this article is not an extensive overview of spirituality or expert advice on the religions listed below. You can benefit from contacting a trusted religious leader to answer your questions and guide you in learning about religion and unplanned pregnancy.

Christian

Christianity is a popular religion throughout the world. But, when a Christian woman becomes unexpectedly pregnant, she may have feelings of shame and questions about how her Christianity affects her pregnancy options.

“Is it wrong to give my baby up for adoption if I’m a Christian?”

No, it is not. Only you are able to decide if adoption is “right” or “wrong” in your situation, but you can find peace in knowing it is not wrong according to your faith. Many Christians find that prayer, scripture and reflection help them to make their unplanned pregnancy choice.

“Is it a sin to put a child up for adoption?”

It is not a sin to place your baby for adoption. There is no mention in the Bible about adoption being a sin. Although many pregnant Christian women may feel like adoption is a sin, this is a sign that you love your child and you want what is best for him or her. Many waiting, Christian families can attest to the huge role that their Christianity has had in leading them toward adoption. If you believe that God is love and adoption is a loving act, then you can understand the Christian view of placing a baby for adoption.

“Are there scriptures about giving a child up for adoption?”

Adoption is mentioned in the Christian Bible several times. Many of those scriptures and verses use adoption as a metaphor for belonging in the universal family of faith. In context, adoption means you are loved by God.

You may also find comfort in knowing that several biblical heroes were adopted. Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, was adopted as an infant. Even Jesus was adopted — as, according to orthodox belief, Joseph was not his biological father.

That means adoption has been used by God to save nations and the world — and children who are adopted can clearly live meaningful, impactful lives.

“Is there a prayer for women and families considering adoption?”

There are countless Christian prayers for prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive parents. Your best resource for prayers and Christian support for adoption is a trusted religious leader and a Christian church if you are comfortable with those experiences.

“Are there Bible verses for Christians giving up a child for adoption?”

There are many verses of scripture in the Bible “giving your baby up” for adoption. Many Christian women and families who are considering choosing adoption find comfort and strength in reading Bible verses.

“What is the Christian view of placing a baby for adoption?”

Turning to the Bible or to a trusted member of the Christian religion may help you learn more about Christian views on adoption. No one can tell you if adoption is best for you and your baby, but Christian support can help you to decide if adoption is the right path for you.

Remember, there are many Christian families waiting to adopt your baby. If you want your baby to be raised by parents who are Christian and will teach your child about Christianity, you can view as many Christian adoptive family profiles as you would like. If you find the perfect Christian parents for your baby, you can contact an adoption professional online to start your adoption process.

Atheist, Agnostic, or Nonreligious

If you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and you feel drawn to spiritual answers instead of religion on unplanned pregnancy, then you may find guidance through atheism, agnosticism, or non-religion. Let’s take a moment to define the terms used when referring to those who do not adhere to a particular religion.

• Atheist – those who do not believe in the existence of God or gods.
• Agnostic – those who believe that nothing can be known about the existence of God or gods because those concepts are beyond the physical world.
• Nonreligious – those who do not follow or adhere to any religion.

Religious and spiritual terms can get confusing and overwhelming, but if atheism, agnosticism or no religion appeal to you, then there are secular professionals who can explain your unplanned pregnancy options in a nonreligious or nonspiritual way.

As far as adoption is concerned for those who are atheist, agnostic or non-religious, it can be intimidating to work with an adoption agency that is heavily based on a particular religion. There are plenty of secular adoption agencies that can help you through the adoption process without imposing their religious beliefs on you.

If spirituality or religion in adoption is not important to you, then you can choose what you personally feel is best for yourself and your child, regardless of the views of any particular religion. There are countless adoptive families who are non-religious, and who will not push your child to follow any particular religion, if that’s important to you.

When you search for waiting, adoptive families or contact an adoption professional about waiting families, you can sort and request family profiles by religion. This includes spiritual, atheist, agnostic and non-denominational hopeful parents. You can truly find the perfect family for your baby when you choose adoption.

Buddhist

If you adhere to Buddhism, you may feel that placing your child into a prepared and loving home is the best way to stay true to your beliefs. Placing your child for adoption, as a Buddhist, with loving and ready parents is an action of kindness and love toward your child and toward yourself.

There are waiting, adoptive families who are eager to adopt from a Buddhist woman and to raise your baby within the Buddhist teachings.

Roman Catholic

The Roman Catholic views on “giving children up” for adoption are the same as the views in any Christian religion. There are scriptures in the Catholic Bible that refer to adoption in a positive way, although at times it may not explicitly use the word adoption.

If you’re Catholic and want to “give up” a baby for adoption, you may ask your priest to refer you to the nearest Catholic Charities agency that is able to complete adoptions. If there isn’t a Catholic adoption agency near you, most secular adoption agencies work with Catholic adoptive families, so you can still choose Catholic adoptive parents for your child.

Hindu

In Hinduism, “giving a baby up” for adoption is similar to choosing adoption in any religious context. Although there aren’t any Hindu adoption agencies in the U.S., most secular, national adoption agencies will be working with a number of Hindu adoptive families. If you prefer to place your child with a Hindu family, this can likely be arranged by your adoption specialist.

Islam

As one of the most popular religions in the world, there are many Muslim women who may be facing an unintended pregnancy.

Here are some of the most common questions from pregnant Muslim women “putting a baby up” for adoption:

• In Islam, can I “give a child up” for adoption? Yes, prospective birth parents who are followers of Islam can choose adoption for their baby.
• Is it Haram to put your baby up for adoption? No, adoption is not considered Haram (Haram is an act forbidden by Allah). The Quran even mentions adoption and its importance to the prophet Muhammad.
• Can a Muslim “give away” a baby? Muslim women can, and do, place babies for adoption

Some national agencies work with waiting, adoptive families who are Muslim, and there are several resources you can utilize for Muslim adoption. You can contact an adoption professional at a national adoption agency to ask about any waiting Muslim adoptive parents they may be working with.

Jehovah’s Witness

A woman who is Jehovah’s Witness can “give a baby up” for adoption. You can always choose to place your baby for adoption if that’s what you feel is best. It is possible to place your baby with a Jehovah’s Witness family, whether that’s in your own community or anywhere in the United States. You can contact an adoption professional at any time to get help finding the hopeful adoptive family you feel is right for your baby.

Judaism

Many followers of Judaism believe that “giving baby up” for adoption is a Mitzvah, or religious duty. In fact, adoption is common in Judaism. An estimated 5% of Jewish households have completed at least one adoption — this is twice the number of non-Jewish adoptive families.

There are a number of important adoptions within Jewish history. Moses was adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter, and Esther was adopted by Mordecai.

While placing a baby for adoption is always hard, you may take comfort in knowing that the act of adoption aligns with many important beliefs in Judaism. You can choose to place your baby with a Jewish adoptive family and you can even work with a Jewish adoption agency.

Other Religious Systems

If you practice or believe in other forms of religious expression, like Unitarian Universalist and Scientology, you can find adoptive families in those communities. Your best resource for thoughts and views on unplanned pregnancy and adoption for other religions is to consult with those religious leaders and/or experts.

Contacting an adoption professional and asking about hopeful adoptive families who practice other religions is a good way to find out more about the waiting adoptive families that they work with.

Choosing an Adoptive Family Based on Their Faith

Don’t feel obligated to work with a religious-affiliated adoption agency. But, if your spirituality and/or religion are very important to you for your adoption decision, you can view and sort profiles for waiting adoptive parents by religion online. Your adoption specialist can send you family profiles that match your preferences and religious considerations.

Through open adoption, you can have the opportunity to get to know your chosen family personally and talk about your shared religious views on raising your child.

Whether you’d like to share a common spiritual belief with your child’s future parents, or you’d like your baby to be raised in a family with a certain faith, there are waiting adoptive families of every religion. You can start the process of a spiritual or religious adoption by following the steps below.

Step 1: Know that adoption is right for you and your baby.

Step 2: Consider how your spirituality and/or religion can support, comfort and guide you during adoption.

Step 3: View waiting adoptive family profiles by religion online.

Step 4: Contact an adoption professional to connect you with the family of your choice.

Step 5: Communicate with the perfect family that you choose for your baby.