Republican legislators in Indiana took less than two weeks to debate and pass an abortion ban that the governor signed into law.

The women's health nurse practitioners from Indianapolis were struck by how often faith was cited in the arguments to ban the practice. She said those views go against her beliefs.

To her, a pregnant woman's health and life is of paramount importance, and she disagreed with legislators that life begins at conception.

Berg Raunick said that the comment was a religious and values based one. A fetus is potential life, and that is worthy of great respect, but it does not supersede the life and health of the mother.

Arguments like this were central to an Indiana lawsuit filed in September against the state's abortion ban. The ban was ruled to be in violation of the state's religious freedom law.

Critics of religious freedom laws argue that they are used to discriminate against the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual community. These laws are being used by religious abortion-rights supporters to defend their beliefs.

The states have the right to decide whether or not to allow abortion. At least five states, including Indiana, have had lower courts rule in favor of religious freedom lawsuits related to abortion.

There is a lot of different types of claims being made in these cases. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 34 lawsuits have been filed against abortion ban in 19 states.

Some people use abortion access as a way to exercise their faith. Under the constitution, the government can impose a law on residents who don't share the same belief as it does on those who do.

Five anonymous women, who are Jewish, Muslim and spiritual, and an advocacy group called Hoosier Jews for Choice are challenging the state's ban on abortions. The Jewish teaching is that a fetus becomes a living person at birth and that the mother's life and health is the most important thing.

The state supreme court was asked to consider the case by the attorney general's office. The Indiana justices are going to hear another abortion ban challenge in January because it violates the state constitution.

Three Jewish women in Kentucky are challenging the state's ban on praying in public. They say in a lawsuit that the legislature in Kentucky imposed sectarian theology by prohibiting almost all abortions. The Kentucky Supreme Court is considering a challenge to the law.

Elizabeth Sepper is a University of Texas at Austin law professor. She said that the latter would apply to more people.

The entire statute will come down if an abortion ban is found to be in violation of the state establishment clause or the federal establishment clause.

Both arguments are used in some state lawsuits, such as the case filed by the abortion provider. The law is on hold while the supreme court makes a decision.

The state of Wyoming had an abortion ban that was partially blocked. The Wyoming high court decided not to take a stance on the abortion ban.

Florida religious leaders in June cited the state's religious rights law and state constitution in multiple lawsuits against their state's abortion ban. The Florida Supreme Court has the power to hear an appeal of the ban.

Abortion access is a divisive issue among the nation's faithful. In June, clergy across the U.S. reflected on the divide and its nuances as they rearranged worship plans to provide religious context after the Supreme Court's decision.

AP VoteCast found that few voters in religious groups think abortion should be illegal. Religious groups have differing levels of support for abortion.

Most white evangelical Protestants think that abortion should be illegal in all or most instances. About 7 in 10 Mormons think abortion should be illegal.

6 in 10 Catholic voters, 8 in 10 Jewish voters and 9 in 10 religious voters think abortion should be legal in most cases.

During Indiana's summer legislative debate, an array of religious beliefs were on display, which resulted in the state becoming the first in the US to impose tighter abortion restrictions. The state law displeased both abortion-rights advocates and anti- abortion activists.

The Republican who opposed the ban called women murderers for getting an abortion.

The Lord's promise is for grace and kindness. He wouldn't be condemning these women.

A doctor who attended Indiana Right to Life's "Love them Both" rally during the debate supports a complete abortion ban without exceptions.

She said that women don't have to end their lives for any reason. The society needs to be better about supporting them both.

Berg Raunick is a member of Hoosier Jews for Choice but is not involved in the lawsuit.

She said that protection of all religions, not just Christianity, was needed. We are waiting to see how that is.

That's right.

Hannah Fingerhut is a reporter for the AP. A program called Report for America places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. You can follow her on social media.