The belief that life starts at conception is a religious belief. I think religious beliefs should be left up to individuals, not mandated by the state.
Back in the day, when a single cell formed in the primordial soup, it was called the beginning of life on Earth. Seems logical, then, to assume an embryo is "life". For those who might be interested, the following is a short pro-life video arguing from a secular perspective:
I like the video, SLED. Yes, even though it's on YouTube. 😊
Arguing it on a secular perspective doesn't resonate with me, it might for others. It doesn't get to the very personal and moral issue involved. I do agree with his science though, that we developed from an embryo.
Of the sled acronym science, I think some people agree that aborting an embryo "killing a person", and some people don't. Some people think the environment matters, that is the mother's very body, not the embryo taking up residence in a test tube.
Yes that embryo would develop into a person, but to me what makes a person a person is their soul, not their physicality. Again no one knows when the soul enters physicality, it could be variable.
And just because some people call a single cell forming in the primordial soup the beginning of life, doesn't mean it is. That's a concept. Who's to say the primordial soup isn't teeming with life.
Arguing the issue from a secular perspective doesn't resonate with me either! However, to maximize the effectiveness of an argument, it must resonate with the person you are trying to convince. Thanks to the person who shared the SLED video on another blog earlier today, I now have a blueprint to follow for folks who aren't of a religious persuasion.
The belief that life doesn’t begin until birth (or whenever) is also a religious belief. We’re not going to allow murder just because some people say “this thing I want to murder isn’t a person and anyone who feels differently is being religious”.
Yes, exactly the reason why it should be left up to individual people. The term "murder" applies only through a particular perspective, but doesn't apply to others.
It is? Really? Your comment is brilliant in that it is an example of oceanic ignorance. We get it, you are a secular humanist, but don't just pull things out of your backside, spew them, and expect it to go unchecked. Abortion is obviously -- based on your comment -- one of *your* religious tenets. We get it. But to suggest that "life begins at conception" is a religious belief is not very bright. Do the research for yourself and read ... a lot. I'm sure you would also agree that the Recapitulation Theory is also religious in nature, as well ... no?
Yes, to me it is. I approach it spiritually myself, which is why I think it should be left up to each person. I think life begins when the soul enters the body. Nobody knows for sure when that happens, it may be variable. There seems to be a Christian belief that the soul is eternally damned through abortion because there's no baptism. That's also a religious belief, and should be left up to each person. I don't believe there's such a thing as eternal damnation of any soul, there is nothing in my spiritual experience that would indicate that.
Abortion of course could be argued scientifically and culturally as well. I think there's several perspectives to consider, and it certainly complex.
I don't know what recapitulation theory is. My comment is brilliant and that it is an example of oceanic ignorance... thank you? 😄
Clearly access to birth control needs to be improved for those living in poverty. Late stage abortions happen mainly when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus is not developing properly and may not be viable. Banning abortion would lead to many more maternal deaths, many more orphans that would wind up in gov't care and potentially be trafficked, and many more young girls choosing puberty blockers to prevent becoming women and potentially being in a situation where they have no control over their own future reproductive decisions. Gov'ts should not be making medical decisions that override personal choices, and especially in the US, where maternity is given no real social supports and there is not even maternity leave for many women. Giving birth in poverty leads to a plethora of social consequences that harm the nation.
I believe most (if not all) states put an exception in the late term abortion ban for the health of the mother.
One other point. All people have the ability to control their own reproductive decisions through simple abstinence. Another exception that many (if not most) of the states have had in banning abortion is for rape and incest... in which case a woman's abstinence may not have been an option.
The belief that life starts at conception is a religious belief. I think religious beliefs should be left up to individuals, not mandated by the state.
Back in the day, when a single cell formed in the primordial soup, it was called the beginning of life on Earth. Seems logical, then, to assume an embryo is "life". For those who might be interested, the following is a short pro-life video arguing from a secular perspective:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-iJQ92BwTU
My apologies that the video is on YouTube...
I like the video, SLED. Yes, even though it's on YouTube. 😊
Arguing it on a secular perspective doesn't resonate with me, it might for others. It doesn't get to the very personal and moral issue involved. I do agree with his science though, that we developed from an embryo.
Of the sled acronym science, I think some people agree that aborting an embryo "killing a person", and some people don't. Some people think the environment matters, that is the mother's very body, not the embryo taking up residence in a test tube.
Yes that embryo would develop into a person, but to me what makes a person a person is their soul, not their physicality. Again no one knows when the soul enters physicality, it could be variable.
And just because some people call a single cell forming in the primordial soup the beginning of life, doesn't mean it is. That's a concept. Who's to say the primordial soup isn't teeming with life.
Arguing the issue from a secular perspective doesn't resonate with me either! However, to maximize the effectiveness of an argument, it must resonate with the person you are trying to convince. Thanks to the person who shared the SLED video on another blog earlier today, I now have a blueprint to follow for folks who aren't of a religious persuasion.
The belief that life doesn’t begin until birth (or whenever) is also a religious belief. We’re not going to allow murder just because some people say “this thing I want to murder isn’t a person and anyone who feels differently is being religious”.
Yes, exactly the reason why it should be left up to individual people. The term "murder" applies only through a particular perspective, but doesn't apply to others.
It is? Really? Your comment is brilliant in that it is an example of oceanic ignorance. We get it, you are a secular humanist, but don't just pull things out of your backside, spew them, and expect it to go unchecked. Abortion is obviously -- based on your comment -- one of *your* religious tenets. We get it. But to suggest that "life begins at conception" is a religious belief is not very bright. Do the research for yourself and read ... a lot. I'm sure you would also agree that the Recapitulation Theory is also religious in nature, as well ... no?
Yes, to me it is. I approach it spiritually myself, which is why I think it should be left up to each person. I think life begins when the soul enters the body. Nobody knows for sure when that happens, it may be variable. There seems to be a Christian belief that the soul is eternally damned through abortion because there's no baptism. That's also a religious belief, and should be left up to each person. I don't believe there's such a thing as eternal damnation of any soul, there is nothing in my spiritual experience that would indicate that.
Abortion of course could be argued scientifically and culturally as well. I think there's several perspectives to consider, and it certainly complex.
I don't know what recapitulation theory is. My comment is brilliant and that it is an example of oceanic ignorance... thank you? 😄
What are your views on abortion?
Just a reminder that "morning after" pills are available OTC (in person and through the mail) but oral contraceptives are not.
Clearly access to birth control needs to be improved for those living in poverty. Late stage abortions happen mainly when the life of the mother is at risk or the fetus is not developing properly and may not be viable. Banning abortion would lead to many more maternal deaths, many more orphans that would wind up in gov't care and potentially be trafficked, and many more young girls choosing puberty blockers to prevent becoming women and potentially being in a situation where they have no control over their own future reproductive decisions. Gov'ts should not be making medical decisions that override personal choices, and especially in the US, where maternity is given no real social supports and there is not even maternity leave for many women. Giving birth in poverty leads to a plethora of social consequences that harm the nation.
I believe most (if not all) states put an exception in the late term abortion ban for the health of the mother.
One other point. All people have the ability to control their own reproductive decisions through simple abstinence. Another exception that many (if not most) of the states have had in banning abortion is for rape and incest... in which case a woman's abstinence may not have been an option.
It is wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being. Abortion kills an innocent human being. Therefore abortion is wrong.
Anybody know what explains the sudden change between 1997 and 1998?
Mifepristone became available?