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Abortion, Morality, and Human Rights

A pregnant woman is carrying a human life.  Science indicates this.  The continuity of the development points to this. Our intuitions imply this.  Our language suggests this.  Scripture shows this. The Church fathers plainly state this. But the prolife argument is stronger than merely the humanity of the fetus.  I see specific ethical factors inherent in a pregnancy that strengthen the moral obligation a mother has for her unborn child.  Here are four: The fetus is completely helpless and vulnerable, and those who are strong have a special moral responsibility to care for those who are weak.  The fetus is…

Christianity and Abortion

Up to this point, in my discussion on abortion, I have said nothing about religion.  I do not believe you need religion to know that a pregnant woman is carrying a human life.  But I want to shift and now talk directly to the Christian who honors the Bible as holy.  So to the Christian: Christians do not abort their children. All humans are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27).  This doctrine is the foundation for human rights, and human rights belong to all humans. Here are some Scriptures that speak of the unborn as humans or having…

A Fetus is a Human is a Baby is a Child

In my previous blog I argued from science that a fetus is a distinct human life. I now want to appeal to something entirely different.  I propose that we humans intuitively know that a fetus is a human is a baby is a child.  Our language and our emotions give us away.  Let me tell a story. When I taught English, I gave my students each year a persuasive essay assignment in which they could write on any topic they chose.  Abortion was by far the most popular topic, and every year I found myself reading scads of essays on…

Abortion and Human Life

When I was in the army, a young sergeant in my unit worked as secretary for the central office of my company.  She was pregnant and grew large so that her time to deliver was upon her.  One day she did not show up for work and remained absent for maybe a week.  When she finally did show up again, she was not pregnant, and when I saw her, I was so happy for her that I said, “Sergeant so-and-so!  Congratulations!  You had your baby!”  “Actually,” she said.  “I had an abortion.” I did not know what to say.  I…

Contentment

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”  (Ph 4:11) “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  (I Tim 6:6) Father, let my heart rest in you, my eyes feast on Christ, my soul enjoy your eternal pleasures. If we are going to talk about money, we have to talk about contentment.  The central reason money brings the heart such great problems is that the heart is not content.  People think money is a source of contentment, and many people who would tell you it is not a source of contentment still live as if it is,…