Thanks for the article!
Let me chime in a bit, because I disagree at some points.
\there is no universal agreement in the scientific, philosophical, and theological realms on when exactly life starts\
That's true only because of the political and moral ramifications of the question. It's actually not hard to know. There is no rational argument against the fact that it begins at conception. That's how life and sexual reproduction work, period.
In ectopic pregnancies, conception has already taken place and the IMPLANTATION went awry. That has no bearing on whether there is a human life inside the woman's body at that point.
\Women who were forced upon should not be forced to become a mother when they are not ready to be.\
I hear your heart on this, but frankly, a woman who becomes pregnant is already a mother. The question now becomes - does she pile violence upon violence?
The baby is not responsible for the sins of his father.
Don’t speak about human beings conceived in rape as though they have no purpose and ought to have been murdered in the womb.
God can and does bring good out of evil of all kinds. Murdering the baby short-circuits this good process and deprives many people of blessing.
We must of course be concerned with helping the rape victim to heal and recover, as fully as possible. Shall we propose that one who has been so violated, so violently treated, then engage in her own act of violation and violence toward the baby God placed in her womb? The answer to the evil in the world is never more evil.
Do any of us know what kind of person the child will end up being, if left to grow and develop as all pro-choice activists were left to grow and develop? Who knows whether she would become a great world leader, whose activities culminated in the elimination of rape altogether? Would not her exploits and the gladness of heart she would bring become that much greater, the blessing more magnanimous, when contrasted with her painful origin?
Love and grace are most keenly felt when suffering is deepest, when the contrast is widest between the nadir of anguish and the apex of glory. Compassion shown to the victim and to her child, an adoption of a “rape baby”, care from surrounding community – all of these things shine that much brighter when they are focused on overcoming a deep darkness.
How does the woman win if she inflicts not merely pain and trauma, but indeed death, upon her own child?
An abortion will not erase the fact that she has been raped.
In some parts of India, when a woman is raped, she is seen as unclean. The family is so ashamed that she may be sold into prostitution, or male family members may even try to kill her – an innocent victim – to get rid of the embarrassment. We recoil in horror from that practice, and then we turn around in the U.S. and do the same thing to the other innocent victim – the baby.
When you get a chance, Kevin, please check out www.abolishhumanabortion.com and www.promoteredemption.com
They'd be great resources as we continue to think through this, and most of all as we cry out against the works of darkness in our culture. Jesus Christ is Lord!
Hey thanks for the response!
Yeah i stated in the next sentence that it is universally believed that biological life begins at conception, we are not in disagreement there.
My point about ectopic pregnancies is mainly focusing on the risk for the woman in trying to carry out that pregnancy to full term, considering the high chance the baby wouldnt survive, and the unimaginable pain the woman may feel during this pregnancy. My own opinion on ghe matter is that termination of pregnancy has been the best course of action in most cases of ectopic pregnancies, based off the research that I've done on the matter.
In regards to rape, i dont find it to be morally acceptable to force a 16 year old who has been raped to carry out a pregnancy, though you make some good points in regards to it. However, as I've previously mentioned, rape accounts for less than 1% of all abortions, so i dont know why it's a heavily forced issue in the pro-choice side of the debate.
I'd be interested in your view of if the pregnancy could potentially be harmful to the mother, would you be in agreement of leaving it to the mother's choice in that situation of whether or not to continue the pregnancy?
Thanks again, and i look forward to your response!
Kevin