Abortion Debate

There’s a great controversy in the world concerning the issue of abortion. Those for abortion say that women should be free to rule their own bodies and their own lives. Those against abortion say that it’s a sin against the will of the God who said, “You shall not kill,” because it’s killing a human being. Those who have taken a stand against abortion say legalizing abortion would be the same as legalizing murder.

It seems that this great controversy hinges on only one little point – which is:  When does a human become a human? Is a single sperm or egg a human? Is it not a human till the egg is fertilized? Does it become a human when the egg first divides? Is it when the embryo begins to look like a human? Or is it when it’s born, and it’s no longer a fetus, but a baby?

Both sides have heatedly debated this particular point, each side producing experts to testify on behalf of its particular viewpoint. The experts for abortion naturally claim that the embryo is not immediately a human, and therefore, abortion is not murder. The experts against abortion claim that the embryo is a human much earlier, therefore proclaiming abortion to be murder. Though the experts have testified for both sides, the point is still not very clear – because none of the experts have been able to prove their claims.

But many of the same people who are against killing a few simple cells of flesh that are not known to contain souls, would not hesitate to back and support legalized murder in the form of war with another nation , killing very complicated pieces of flesh that are known to contain souls. And what kind of logic do they use to excuse their actions? They will tell you they support legalized murder in a war so they will be free to rule their own bodies and their own lives.  They’re choking on a gnat, but have swallowed a camel without even noticing it.

Of course, many people in the world will exclaim, “How can we be safe in the world if we can’t protect our borders from those countries who would invade us?” First, there is no safe place in the world and safety can never be attained. But there is a land promised to us that has no unsafe places and no threat of invaders. Those who desire to remain in the world and to try to make the best of their situation in the world are more or less forced to break the commandment, “You shall not kill.”

My intent here is not to take sides, but just to state sides.