Interesting article on Huffington Post by Dr. Joel Hoffman that explains that the bible really doesn't say anything about abortion. I had never seen, read, heard of any direct references against abortion in the bible, and always wondered where the right-wingers came up with their arguments that the bible (or Christ) advocated against abortion. Apparently it doesn't exist! I think it comes down to the "Thou Shalt not Kill" argument, and the belief that a fetus is a person. That argument is not presented anywhere in the bible. However, early theologians in the year 138 began to make the interpretation that abortion is killing. (see this link). The Church continued to evolve that theology throughout the years, and then later St. Thomas Aquinas took that a step further with his interpretation that birth control was also "killing" a baby, and thus a mortal sin. All of that theology, of course, was made with the thought that the church wanted their followers to have as many babies as possible to help spread their religion. More children represented more wealth for families at the time, so these theologies fit right in with the desires of the Pope and the church leaders to expand.
I don't have anything against people who believe that abortion is murder, and then not getting an abortion because of it. However I do object to people who want to force their beliefs on everyone else. If a Moslem woman believes she should cover her body with a chador, that is fine. However if her husband forces her to do it, that should be illegal. If a Muslim majority in a city, state, or country believe women should wear chadors, and forces all women, Muslim or not,to do so, it violates a woman's individual right. Similarly, if someone wants an abortion, they should be able to get one, and not be stopped by a minority or majority of people professing their religion, and forcing their beliefs on everyone else.
Yes, I have heard the argument that anti-abortionists give that they don't want "their money" to pay for someone else's abortion. They argue that if "their money" were used, it would be the same thing as performing the abortion themselves. The anti-abortionists then say that if any taxpayer money is involved, it ends up being some of "their money" being used, so no taxpayer money should be used. Having money "used" is a very "gray area" --if the taxpayer money pays the doctor who performs the abortion? Or if taxpayer money paid for the facility where the abortion is performed? Or if taxpayer money developed medications used for the abortion procedure? I may not want "my money" provided to churches that I don't believe in through tax exemptions and deductions. Is that "my money?"
I don't have anything against people who believe that abortion is murder, and then not getting an abortion because of it. However I do object to people who want to force their beliefs on everyone else. If a Moslem woman believes she should cover her body with a chador, that is fine. However if her husband forces her to do it, that should be illegal. If a Muslim majority in a city, state, or country believe women should wear chadors, and forces all women, Muslim or not,to do so, it violates a woman's individual right. Similarly, if someone wants an abortion, they should be able to get one, and not be stopped by a minority or majority of people professing their religion, and forcing their beliefs on everyone else.
Yes, I have heard the argument that anti-abortionists give that they don't want "their money" to pay for someone else's abortion. They argue that if "their money" were used, it would be the same thing as performing the abortion themselves. The anti-abortionists then say that if any taxpayer money is involved, it ends up being some of "their money" being used, so no taxpayer money should be used. Having money "used" is a very "gray area" --if the taxpayer money pays the doctor who performs the abortion? Or if taxpayer money paid for the facility where the abortion is performed? Or if taxpayer money developed medications used for the abortion procedure? I may not want "my money" provided to churches that I don't believe in through tax exemptions and deductions. Is that "my money?"
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