SANCTITY OF LIFE2011

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Moral Choices An Introduction to Ethics– Scott B. Rae

• Evangelical Ethics – John Jefferson Davis

• Bioethics and the Christian Life – David Vandrunen

• Bioethics, A Primer for Christians– Gilbert Meilaender

• Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice– Francis J. Beckwith

Roe v. Wade

• January 22, 1973• Abortion on demand during first trimester• After first trimester, abortion allowed to

preserve the life or health of the mother

Doe v. Bolton

• January 22, 1973• The health of the mother included her

psychological and emotional health• Abortion legal throughout pregnancy if the

mother’s psychological or emotional health was impaired

CULTURAL ARGUMENTS FOR ABORTION

• Some human beings are not persons and therefore do not have rights– When does a human being become a person?

• A woman cannot be forced to use her body to maintain the survival of another– Kidnapped into a forced pregnancy– What are the limits of the mother – child bond?

PERSONHOOD: WHEN IS A HUMAN A PERSON?

• SUBSTANCE BASED - BIBLICAL:– A human being is intrinsically valuable because of

its nature, essence, substance and the human being remains that nature, essence, substance as long as they are alive

• PERFORMANCE BASED - CULTURAL:– A human being becomes a person after it has

accomplished certain milestones and it loses personhood when cannot maintain those milestones

SCIENCE

• Before fertilization:– Egg and sperm – parts of two separate persons

• After fertilization:– The one-celled zygote is a new distinct living

human organism with a new unique human genetic code that does not change

– The only changes in the new human is its Size, Level of development, Environment, and Degree of dependency

DIFFERENT CULTURAL MILESTONES FOR PERSONHOOD

• Implantation• Quickening• Viability• Brain development• Sentience• Birth• Self-awareness, IQ, alertness, relationships

ABORTION ARGUMENTS THAT ASSUME NON-PERSONHOOD OF THE BABY

• Her body• Back alley abortions• Financial hardship• Unwanted pregnancy• Abnormal fetus• Infanticide in first 30 days• Incest or rape

BIBLICAL RESPONSE

• GENESIS 1:26-27• ISAIAH 49:1• JEREMIAH 1:5• PSALM 51:5• PSALM 139:13-16• LUKE 1:34-35• MARK 10:45• PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5• 2 CHRONICLES 7:14

QUESTION

• WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF YOUR ETHICS:– CULTURE?– GOD’S REVELATION?