0 Votes
RE: Tough Call
While I agree with you Scott, I think you are ignoring the main problem for the pro lifers. If they really believe that abortion is murder, then they have to support it being made unlawful.
Self interest a motive for many, but arguments about why it is desirable or necessary just will never get there. Murder can be desirable, convenient, and life-enhancing for others in some cases too.
You must prove that it is not murder. To do that you have to show that the object being removed is not a human life which inevitably is endowed with an immortal soul? Science cannot prove a negative.
The problem is that many religions are pro life and people cannot be argued out of irrational beliefs through reason. Even a total understanding of the biology will not come close to addressing the religious belief that the object is a human, and consequently the act is murder.
That is why we have reached an eternal impasse, and this subject has degraded to an election stunt.
RE: Tough Call by GreatWhiteDork
Truth be told, if you look at my initial posting, I am neither religious or pro-life. As an athiest, I can’t exactly claim the religious stance on the issue.
I just don’t want the federal government involved in something that everyone should be able to choose for themselves for whatever reason they have (illogical religious or otherwise). Even if your choice means that you have to move to a state that aligns with your beliefs. At least the whole country isn’t beholden to the ideas of a few.
RE: Tough Call by scottb
While I agree with you Scott, I think you are ignoring the main problem for the pro lifers. If they really believe that abortion is murder, then they have to support it being made unlawful.
Yes, and no. They live in a country in which religious freedom is a central value. In particular, that means we’re free not to believe what they believe, just as they’re free to believe what they do.
They need to learn to live in that sort of society. We’ve decided this question — the morality of abortion must be left to the conscience of the individual. Slightly more than half of Americans believe abortion is immoral — even though over two thirds believe that abortion should be legal. That’s not inconsistent: if you think abortion is immoral, don’t have one.
It’s no different from Muslims who believe that drawing pictures of Mohammed is a grievous sin. Too fucking bad — you have to learn to live with your neighbors who don’t hold those same convictions.