The Anti-Abortion Movement Hates Women?
The Thinking Atheist Jun 2, 2012 6:59:23 AM | Date Modified: Sep 5, 2012 3:59:15 AM
I'll say it again.
Those in the pro-choice movement who assert that all opponents of abortion (usually religious) hate women, want to control women or seek some kind of pro-life population surge (heard that one a few weeks ago) are making a wildly incomplete statement.
I'm not a Republican, but time and again, I see the "Republicans Don't Care If Women Die From Back Alley Abortions" charges and shake my head. This is not how the anti-abortion movement thinks, and while you'll find extreme examples in any camp, I also think it's important to objectively and honestly understand the opposition in any conflict.
I heard a 90-minute panel on abortion in Canada, and not once did I hear anyone talk about the single, most prevalent and most emphatic argument that religious people have against abortion: "Life Begins At Conception."
A huge omission. Huge.
I spent my whole life in church. I've traveled to, literally, hundreds of churches across the nation. I was raised in the cradle of the anti-abortion movement. I, myself, was at one time vehemently anti-abortion, and I've seen the issue from well inside church walls and religious homes. In mainstream Christianity here in the states, the driving force behind the anti-abortion crowd is:
1) They believe a human life begins immediately at conception.
2) They believe that life has a soul.
3) They believe that soul cannot yet defend itself.
4) They believe they are charged to protect it.
Because the religious are convinced that a human life is being snuffed out, they're passionate about preventing a murder. And this is the case with both men and women, as they often work in tandem in this cause. In almost all mainstream religious homes, males aren't treating their wives like sub-par baby factories, and women aren't barefoot and pregnant. They stand on the battle lines, shoulder to shoulder, as equals, speaking out for the unborn. And they're fighting a moral battle because they're (almost always) good people and want to prevent what they consider an injustice.
Again, extreme examples exist. But pro-choice champions should do a better job of seeing the opposition correctly and honestly, as good information makes them more effective in the debate arena and allows them to focus their energies and tactics where they might be more effective.
Sure, the politicians are looking for slick talking points, and the megachurch pastors are probably selling books. But the everyday men and women who oppose abortion aren't bad people. They're just people. And as the pro-choice movement seeks to educate others and be properly understood, it should also properly understand what it's up against.
Comments
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Comment: May I just say that there are atheists who are against abortion- in this case it's not the matter of a 'soul' but rather, they believe that the embryo/fetus in the womb has the same rights as a newborn
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Comment: Those who claim the title "pro-life" are not. They value a clump of cells more than the woman whose womb they inhabit. They are certainly not "pro-the-mother's-life". They refuse to acknowledge the fact that sometimes a pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother and that the mother's life ought to have at least equal footing with that of the fetus. But they don't, so I do not grant them the right to the title "pro-life".
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Comment: Those who claim the title "pro-life" are not. They value a clump of cells more than the woman whose womb they inhabit. They are certainly not "pro-the-mother's-life". They refuse to acknowledge the fact that sometimes a pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother and that the mother's life ought to have at least equal footing with that of the fetus. But they don't, so I do not grant them the right to the title "pro-life".
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Comment: I agree with you, Seth. I think abortions should be safe, legal, and rare, but I also think those who oppose abortion are unfairly characterized as having malicious intent by pro-choice activists.
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Comment: Zaphod - I agree that abortions should be safe and legal. But it's not necessarily malicious intent. It's the notion that a woman can't analyze the ethics of her particular set of circumstances and act on her own decision. It's inherently sexist.
Website: http://peacefulheathen.blogspot.com/
Comment: I feel the biggest issue with most pro life activists is that they are religious people who say that abstinence is the solution to abortion. People are going to have sec, and condemning safe sec is the reason why abortion rates go up. Condoms are a lot cheaper than abortions, prevent the death of a living thing, and prevent std's. Protection, not abortion.
Website: http://www.hitchslap.blogspot.com
Comment: It's not so much that it hates women, it's more that little thought is given to why a woman would want an abortion (ie she has become pregnant via rape).People should back off and understand that this is a choice for the expectant mother and nobody else. I would dare suppose what is right for the mother to be. Why should I be able to force my opinion on her whatever it is. Best we can do is to support any decision she reaches.
Website: http://www.hitchslap.blogspot.com
Comment: It's not so much that it hates women, it's more that little thought is given to why a woman would want an abortion (ie she has become pregnant via rape).People should back off and understand that this is a choice for the expectant mother and nobody else. I would dare suppose what is right for the mother to be. Why should I be able to force my opinion on her whatever it is. Best we can do is to support any decision she reaches.
Website: http://www.hitchslap.blogspot.com
Comment: It's not so much that it hates women, it's more that little thought is given to why a woman would want an abortion (ie she has become pregnant via rape).People should back off and understand that this is a choice for the expectant mother and nobody else. I would dare suppose what is right for the mother to be. Why should I be able to force my opinion on her whatever it is. Best we can do is to support any decision she reaches.
Website: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003406225116
Comment: You're the one with the brains here. I'm wachtnig for your posts.
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