Christians and Abortion

Posted Mon, 08/30/2004 - 16:15 by ardarvin
 Category:

I too am seriously bummed by Bush's win. I found your comments on Christians and abortion/gay marriage interesting. As for me, I agree with you that people should be able to do what they want. But when it comes to abortion, I hold a different view. I don't really imagine that I could change anyone's opinion on the issue, but isn't abortion all about reducing the unwanted babies in this world? I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that women getting abortions do not want to have a baby. By eliminating their abortion right, you force them into carrying and delivering a baby they do not want, whatever the reason for conception in the first place.

Haven't we progressed enough that we realize that larger human populations are not intrinsically desirable? Why would we want to encourage the number of unwanted babies? I say let mothers/couples have all the control they need to determine when they will have families, and you will increase the love in the world - love being an undoubtedly fine Christian value. Along the way you'll inevitably decrease the proportion of adoptions, tough childhoods, and misery.

Since Christians also seem to promote the idea of whole, nuclear families, I've always found it odd that they would be more interested in encouraging higher numbers of difficult lives, rather than higher qualities of already existing lives. Maybe I'm missing something, but my impression is that there is not a shortage of humans on this planet.

Well, those are just my thoughts. Thanks for your efforts to promote Kerry on the website, in any case! It's going to be another long 4 years, and I just might have to head back north...

Take care,
-Dan

You've raised a good point. I totally agree with you that the world is far too overpopulated, and that we aren't a good thing for our planet. However, I think that you are over-emphasizing the amount that abortion plays into population control.

Currently, the countries with the largest population growths are Africa and India. North America really isn’t a problem; not because more women have abortions in North America, but because it’s a First World country. People are educated, have more money, and are less dependent on their offspring for survival. In India and Africa, where poverty is rampant, people have large families in the hopes that, collectively, they will be able to make enough money to survive, and that when they get older their children will provide for them.

Back on the home front, where we have children for our own selfish entertainment, we are faced with a completely different problem: that of the unwanted child. Sure, abortion would fix this right up, but I believe that a fetus is a person, and that they should have some say in the matter of whether they get to live or die.

Whether that baby grows up in an abusive home is secondary. Many people are born into broken and abusive homes (myself included), but I can guarantee that they'd rather have a chance at life than not. And honestly, if someone is having a really tough go at it, then why don’t we legalize suicide? Provide an easy out. We could run pro-suicide campaigns, with slogans like “It’s cool to pull the trigger.” With the marvels of CGI, Kurt Cobain and Marilyn Monroe could be spokespeople.

Sure suicide is a tragedy, but at least it's one’s own choice.