Increasing Learning
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Public Speaking
  • Contact Us

Rape Cannot Justify Abortion

4/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I was recently confronted by yet another Christian claiming that abortion should be allowed in cases of rape and incest.  He spoke of:

the psychological torment or torture a mother would have to endure during 9 months of carrying her 'rape child' on top of the already complicated and uncomfortable process of being pregnant.

And he rejected adoption as an option by claiming that it would produce additional psychological trauma because of the rape victims:

knowing that their attackers spawn is out there, in the world, and could hypothetically show up at their door any day, in turn forcing the mother to relive her tragedy again just simply due to the site [sic] of this other human being.

This is an argument that I have heard many times when sharing the idea of a complete ban on abortions, and it is sad to hear so many Christians using this argument to justify killing prenatal children.  However, there is a very good response to this argument that will often leave the opposition speechless.  Here is the response that I made to this gentleman:

You're right, Chuck. The rape issue is one that definitely needs to be discussed and thought out to a great extent, and I'm willing to discuss it if you are. If you don't mind, I would like to ask a question or two to help me clarify your position.

You mentioned the very true fact that a woman who gives birth to her rapist's child may suffer great psychological trauma if she gives her child up for adoption and the child seeks her out years later. I can certainly understand why that would be traumatizing, but I wonder, do you think that it would be okay for a woman in that situation to kill her rapist's teenage or adult child in order to put an end to that trauma? Maybe it was a mistake for her to allow the child to be born and placed up for adoption. Maybe her parents and friends (or even the law) wouldn't allow her to get an abortion to prevent the child's birth. Should she be allowed to end the trauma by killing the spawn of her attacker if it ever comes back into her life?

Now, I'm sure that you would answer no to this question, and I realize that it seems somewhat farfetched in our current society (though it would not be farfetched at all in some other societies). However, this question highlights a very important consideration that I think you have overlooked:. What is the difference between the life of the prenatal child and the life of a born child?

This is the most important question to consider when thinking about abortion for rape. The trauma of the mother is certainly an important consideration, but if it is wrong for a mother to alleviate that trauma by killing a born child, then the issue really rests on the question of the difference between the born child and the prenatal child. If killing a born child in a particular situation is wrong, then there must be a morally sufficient difference between a born child and a prenatal child to justify killing the latter in the same situation. What do you think is the difference between the life and the prenatal child and the life of the born child?


Chuck decided not to discuss the issue any further.

If you would like learn more about how to defend a complete ban on abortions, check out my Personhood Booklet which presents four lines of evidence for the legal personhood of the prenatal child. You can read this book for free online at PersonhoodInitiative.com. 

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Bill Fortenberry is a Christian philosopher and historian in Birmingham, AL.  Bill's work has been cited in several legal journals, and he has appeared as a guest on shows including The Dr. Gina Show, The Michael Hart Show, and Real Science Radio.

    Contact Us if you would like to schedule Bill to speak to your church, group, or club.

    "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9:9)

    Search


    Topics

    All
    Abortion
    American History
    Apologetics
    Archaeology
    Atonement
    Benjamin Franklin
    Bible
    Bible Contradiction
    Buddhism
    Calvinism
    Children
    Christmas
    Citizenship
    Coaching
    Context
    Covid
    Creation
    Debate
    Doctrine
    Evolution
    Geography
    Government
    Homosexuality
    Immigration
    Islam
    James Wilson
    John Adams
    Marriage
    Masks
    Meditation
    Morality
    Mormonism
    Open Theism
    Parenting
    Politics
    Sacrifice
    Sam Harris
    Science
    Self Defense
    Self-Defense
    Slavery
    Solon
    Soteriology
    Strategy
    Tactical Faith
    Textual Criticism
    Theology
    Vaccines
    Video

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

You can help support Increasing Learning by browsing through our Red Bubble store. 
We offer a unique blend of spiritual, witty, nostalgic, and just plain fun designs.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Public Speaking
  • Contact Us