Transcript Abortion - Austin Graduate School of Theology

Beginning of Life
Philip Thompson
Professor of Bible, Harding University
Preacher, Rose Bud Church of Christ
Embryo-Destructive Procedures
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Embryonic stem cell research
Cloning
Some birth control methods; those that permit
fertilization but prevent implantation
Some ART procedures; IVF as it is typically
practiced in the U.S. which involves the creation
of “surplus” embryos.
Abortion
General Considerations
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Attitudinal: The importance of extending grace,
compassion, and understanding to women
who’ve had abortions (without necessarily giving
approval to their actions)
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Rhetorical: The importance of avoiding language
that prejudices and inflames
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Hermeneutical: The importance of recognizing
that the Bible – at the rule level – is “silent” on
abortion. Why?
Homiletic Hint
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Do not overuse statistics in your sermons!
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Nevertheless, some might be impactful.
Abortion in the US: 2010 (CDC)
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Abortion numbers: 765,651 legal induced
abortions in the 49 reporting areas
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2010: 765,651
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Abortion ratio (number of abortions per 1,000
live births): 228
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Abortion rate (number of abortions per 1,000
women aged 15-44): 14.6
From 1999 – 2010
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From 1999-2010 the number of abortions, the
abortion ratio, and the abortion rate of
abortions all have decreased.
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Legal induced abortions peaked in 1990 and
have been trending down since.
U.S. Share of Abortions Worldwide
3% United States
Other Countries
97%
Source: Henshaw et al., 1999
(1995 data)
Most Important Reason for Having
an Abortion (AGI Study 2004)
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Rape and incest combined: < 0.5%
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Mother has health problems (therapeutic): 4%
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Fetus has possible health problems (eugenic): 3%
Abortions for rape, incest, threat to mother’s
health, and possible fetal health problems –
all combined
8% of all abortions!
Abortions for all reasons other than rape, incest,
threat to mother’s health,
and possible fetal health problems
“Elective”
92% of all abortions!
Among All Reasons for Having
an Abortion
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Can’t afford baby now: 73%
Has problems with relationship: 48%
Unmarried: 42%
Has all children she wanted: 38%
Would interfere with education plans: 38%
Would interfere with career plans: 38%
Unready for responsibility: 32%
Would interfere with care of children or dependents:
32%
Homiletic Hint
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Address the 92% separately from the 8%.
If you lump all abortions together, some might reject
the good points you make about the 92% of elective
abortions by bringing up the 8% of “hard cases.”
 Arguably, the 8% of “hard cases” raise a different set
of ethical considerations than the 92%.
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Rape and incest – acts of violence to which the woman did
not consent (though this does not affect the fetus’ standing)
 Therapeutic – principle of self-defense
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Homiletic Hint
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Challenge the church to minister to women as
well as to protect fetuses.
Remember reported reasons include: “Can’t afford
baby now,” “problems with relationship,”
“unmarried,” and “unready for responsibility.”
 Holistic pro-life ministry gives the church credibility
in voicing objections to abortion.
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Abortion: Two Values in Collision
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The woman’s autonomy and the right to
exercise choice
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The moral status of the fetus and the fetus’ right
to life
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When these two values collide, which has
priority? May the liberty of one life (the
mother’s) trump the existence of another (the
fetus’)?
Autonomy
is not an
absolute,
unqualified
good
Homiletic Hint
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Most sermons on abortion focus on the moral
status of the fetus (understandably so because it is
the ‘bottom line’ consideration).
However, since autonomy is the societal reason
that trumps all other considerations, critiquing it
must not be overlooked.
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From a biblical perspective autonomy is not absolute.
(1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:4-5)
Moral Status of the
Human Embryo/Fetus
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What is the fetus?
Life?
 Human life?
 Person?
 Person entitled to full moral status and protection?
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Biology 101 answers the first two questions.
Philosophy raises the question of “personhood.”
When Does Human Life Begin?
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Science teaches that human life begins at fertilization
(syngamy-fusion of the gametes).
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The one-cell zygote is genetically unique and the first
state of the self-directed development of each embryo.
Embryo-Fetus and Personhood
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Option #1: The embryo-fetus should be
granted the moral status of “person.”
If the fetus is a “person,” it has a serious claim to
life.
 Abortion would be a case of “killing” and something
not to be undertaken without reasons sufficient to
override the fetus’ claim to life.
 Only conditions of the same sort that would justify
the killing of an adult person (e.g. self-defense)
would justify killing a fetus.
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Embryo-Fetus and Personhood
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Option #2: The embryo-fetus should not be
granted the moral status of “person.”
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If the fetus is not a “person” in a morally relevant
sense, then its claim to life is not as serious as that of
a “person.”
No claim to life?
 Some claim to life? … Equivalent claim as…?
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Abortion would not be a case of “killing” equivalent
to the killing of an adult.
 An abortion is not essentially different from an
appendectomy.
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Embryo-Fetus and Personhood
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Option #3: Though the embryo-fetus is not a
“person” it is a “potential person.”
The ‘logic’ of Roe v. Wade
 The fetus’ potentiality makes it unique and
distinguishes it from a clump of organic material.
 Because the fetus becomes a “person,” abortion
does present a moral problem and should be
undertaken only for serious reasons.
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Continuity of Personal Identity from
Conception Onward
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Should we say “human embryo” or “embryonic
human”?
The human embryo is simply a human being in the
earliest stage of development. No change in essence
or substance occurs through the developmental
stages.
 “Embryonic human” best captures the notion of
continuity of personal identity through predictable
developmental stages.
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Embryonic Human
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None of us was ever a sperm or an egg.
But each of us was once a zygote, embryo, fetus,
infant, child, teenager… (stages of development)
Embryo at
8 weeks
Fetus at
20 weeks
“Decisive Moments”
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The difference between a fertilized ovum and a
fully developed baby just a few minutes from
birth are considerable, but the difference is not
one of essence or substance. Further, the
process of development is continuous.
…Conception……………………..Birth………...
“Decisive Moments”
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At what point should the developing entity in
the womb be granted the status of “person”?
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Conception
Implantation (7-10 days)
Acquisition of EEG (first detectable brain waves at 48-51
days; pathways at 26 weeks)
Sentience
Quickening (16-20 weeks)
Viability (25 weeks…22 weeks…20 weeks…?)
Birth (40 weeks)
A point beyond birth
At what point a “person”?
“Ella”
in the
womb
Continuity of Personal Identity
from Conception Onward
“Ella” through
the years
Continuity of Personal
Identity from
Conception Onward
“Ella” through
the years
Continuity of
Personal Identity
from Conception
Onward
Continuity of
Personal Identity
from Conception
Onward
“Ella”
Easter 2014
SLED: The Difference between
a fetus, an infant, and an adult
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S = Size
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L = Location
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E = Environment
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D = Developmental stage
No difference in
kind of being
or substance!
“When is a Royal Baby a Fetus?”
George Alexander Louis
His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge
Prince George of Cambridge
son of Prince William,
Duke of Cambridge,
and Catherine,
Duchess of Cambridge
Homiletic Hint

Focus on the point of continuity of personal
identity in a sermon titled, “When were You first
‘You’?”
Illustrate with your own “Ella” (or Prince George of
Cambridge).
 Utilize biblical texts that suggest continuity of
personal identity from womb to grave to eternity.
(See verses in next section under “personhood.”)
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The Bible and
Abortion
Decision-Making about Abortion at
Four Levels
Particular Judgments –
To have an abortion or
not
Rules – The Bible is silent
at the rule level
Principles – The Bible
speaks at the principle
level
Basic convictions (Worldview) –
The Bible speaks at the
worldview level
Biblical Principles Violated by
Elective Abortion
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The principle of selfless love of neighbor. (Lev. 19:18; Lk.
10:29-37; Rom. 13:10)
The principle of protecting the weak, the innocent, and
the defenseless. (Deut. 10:18; Ja. 1:27)
The principle of respect for human life. (Gen. 1:27; 9:6)
The principle of assuming responsibility for one’s actions.
(Lk. 19:8; Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10)
The principle of allowing God to bring good out of a
difficult situation. (Rom. 8:28)
Homiletic Hint
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These principles furnish the main substance of
sermons on abortion.
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For example, early Christian writings addressing
abortion most often cited the verse: “You shall
love your neighbor as yourself” and not “You
shall not kill.”
Three Pillars of Roe v. Wade
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Pillar #1: Privacy
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Pillar #2: Personhood
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Pillar #3: Viability
Homiletic Hint
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A sermon on “Roe v. Wade and the Bible”
could addresses the pillars of the ruling from a
biblical perspective and also expose some of the
questionable legal and philosophical reasoning
behind the ruling.
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See: Justin Dyer, “Roe v. History,” Touchstone
(January/February 2014): 35-43.
Biblical Response to Pillar #1:
Privacy
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As imagers of God, human beings are moral
agents who have the freedom to choose.
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The question is whether our choice is just.
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Autonomy is not absolute.
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1 Corinthians 6:13
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
1 Corinthians 7:4
Biblical Response to Pillar #2:
Personhood
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The Bible indicates that God relates to us
personally before birth.
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“For you formed my inward parts…You knitted me together
in my mother’s womb…Your eyes saw my unformed
substance…” (Psalm 139:13-16)
“Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from
the womb…” (Isaiah 44:2, 24)
“The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my
mother he named my name.” (Isaiah 49:1)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before
you were born I consecrated you…” (Jeremiah 1:5)
Biblical Response to Pillar #2:
Personhood
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The Bible recognizes a continuity of personal
identity that begins at the earliest points of
pregnancy and continues into adulthood.
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“Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from
the womb…” (Isaiah 44:2, 24)
“The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my
mother he named my name.” (Isaiah 49:1)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before
you were born I consecrated you…” (Jeremiah 1:5)
“…blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this
granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?” (Luke 1:41-44)
Biblical Response to Pillar #2:
Personhood
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The Bible’s view of the fetus supports the
ontological/substantive view of personhood
rather than the developmental/functional view.
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When were you first you?
Embryos and fetuses do not differ qualitatively from adults,
only developmentally.
Every human being begins life as a single-cell zygote,
develops through the embryonic stage and then the fetal
stage, is born and then grows through infancy, childhood,
and adulthood, until death. Throughout these developments,
the human being is the same human being at every stage.
Biblical Response to Pillar #3:
Viability
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Viewing viability as the marker event is arbitrary
No fundamental change in the nature or essence occurs
and
 Even the newborn infant is not viable without the aid
and protection of others.
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God relates to the unborn before the point of
viability.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” (Jer.
1:5)
 “Your eyes saw my unformed substance…” (Ps. 139:16)
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The “Logic” of Roe v. Wade
“We need not resolve the difficult question of
when life begins. When those trained in the
respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and
theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the
judiciary, at this point in the development of man’s
knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to
the answer.”
Justice Blackmum, Roe v. Wade
The Incarnation
“And the Word became flesh…” (John 1:14)
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The beginning of the Incarnation of the Word
was not the birth of Jesus, but rather his
miraculous conception.
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Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was once a zygote!
“Any why is this granted to me that the mother
of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:41-44)
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“Jesus” who died and was raised for our sins is the
same “Jesus” who was in Mary’s womb!
Exodus 21:22-25
Interpretive View #1
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“When people who are fighting injure a pregnant
woman so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no further
harm follows…” (NRSV)
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Miscarriage
Harm to mother
Implications:
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The fetus possesses a moral status that is less than the
mother’s.
Fetus is not considered a “person,” and thus, abortion
(feticide) is not “killing” equivalent to killing an adult.
Exodus 21:22-25
Interpretive View #2
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“If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she
gives birth prematurely but there is no serious
injury…” (NIV)
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Premature birth
Harm to mother or fetus
Implications:
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The fetus possesses a moral status that is equal to the
mother’s.
Fetus is considered a “person,” and thus, abortion (feticide)
is “killing” equivalent to killing an adult.
Exodus 21:22-25
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Deals with the unintentional injury of a pregnant
woman and her fetus by a third party. (as does
U.S. law)
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Does not deal with intentional injury of the fetus
by the pregnant woman.
Textual Evidence Conclusions
Glen Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics
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The human child is a creation and gift from God.
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The Bible recognizes the mystery of the process of
fetal development and affirms God’s role in
forming the fetus-embryo-unborn child.
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God has knowledge of those who will be born (the
fetus-embryo-unborn child in the womb) before
they are born.
Textual Evidence Conclusions
Glen Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics
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The developing fetus in the womb was treated as
worthy of some legal protection in the O.T.
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The Incarnation began with the miraculous
conception of Jesus and not with his birth.
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Mary showed hospitality to a child she did not
expect and whose presence invited difficulty and
suffering into her life.
Why is the Bible silent (at the rule level)?
Early Christian Writings are Not Silent
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“Love your neighbor as yourself …You shall not murder
a child by abortion nor shall you kill a newborn.”
(Didache, ca. A.D. 100)
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“You shall love your neighbor more than your own life.
You shall not murder a child by abortion nor shall you
kill a newborn.” (Epistle of Barnabas, ca. A.D. 117-131)
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“[In a vision of hell] I saw…women…who caused
abortion.” (Apocalypse of Peter, ca. A.D. 135)
Thanks for Life!
Jessica ‘Thompson’ Kyle
November 2012
“I am thankful that 30 years ago
a teenage girl got pregnant and
decided not to have an abortion,
and that my parents hadn’t been
able to have a child biologically.
God knew what family we were
supposed to be. I am so grateful
that I was loved so much by my
God, my parents, and that strong
young woman to be given the
life I have.”