As the March for Life approaches, anti-abortion leaders are rebranding as 'pro-science.' Scientists say otherwise
By Lev Facher @levfacher and Megan Thielking @meggophone
Anti-abortion advocates in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during the 2017 March For Life. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
WASHINGTON — When anti-abortion demonstrators numbering in the tens of thousands join the March for Life, an anti-abortion protest set to take place Friday on the National Mall here, many will tout signs bearing a new slogan: "Pro-life is pro-science."
Much of the country's mainstream scientific community would argue the opposite.
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Washington Correspondent
Lev Facher covers the politics of health and life sciences.
lev.facher@statnews.com
@levfacher
Megan Thielking
Megan is a news editor at STAT. She was previously a reporter and wrote STAT's Morning Rounds newsletter.
megan.thielking@statnews.com
@meggophone
Jeriah Knox says:
The breath of life is in the child long before it's first breath in the lungs. The child's blood cells change color just like yours.
Scripture passages which speak of our humanity in the womb………..
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger thanthe other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. " – Genesis 25:22-24
• "Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?" – Job 31:15
• "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." – Psalm 139:14-18
• "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all." – Ecclesiastes 11:4-5
• "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;" – Isaiah 44:24
• "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far;The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name…And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to behis servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength." – Isaiah 49:1,5
• "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." – Jeremiah 1:4-5
• "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;" – Hosea 12:3-4
• "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost…For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy." – Luke 1:41,44
Abortion is murder and it's religious redefinition as not being murder puts all human rights at stake. Abortion does murder little girls and boys and protects rapist, pimps, and pedophiles.
Men trade their children and their right/duty to protect them for a demented power to turn women into pornography to be consumed.
Kevin Rauch says:
I'm not so sure that citing religion is the most effective and convincing way to make an anti-abortion argument. I'm honestly trying to be as objective and unbiased here as possible, but I think that secular arguments against abortion (which most certainly can be made) carry more merit, especially if you establish legislation and reach out to the non-religious members of community.
So why would it carry "more" merit. Would love to see more non religious on the front line with this issue but they're not there in any meaningful way. If it wasn't for Christians keeping this in front of elected officials there would be no movement away from abortion.
Mavis Johnson says:
The mass media does not cover the Aetheists, that also did not cover the amount of radical evangelical extremism occurring here in the US. Non theists are not well represented on these sites, since they no longer engage on social media. They have been attacked and shut down. The extremist religious right have a coordicanted attack on any site that mentions abortion. The same tactics they used to get 45 elected. It is like multi level marketing.
Believing one has made himself and can evolve his own morals to his liking is still a religious position.
The Aztecs believed in spilling human blood to attain future blessings just like the people spilling the blood of children today. It can even be self sacrificing beliefs, attempting to attain blessings for other children, the family, or the husband, but it's still a belief system. Pretending it's secular or scientific doesn't change it's religious, "I believe", nature.
Scriptures speak of God giving everyone everything that is good, but it also speaks His power to withhold one's ability to enjoy the good they've received.
A person could claim to have scientifically deduced that by killing their child, they'll attain a better job, finish college, have as nicer car, and a bigger house, grow bigger crops, or that surviving family members will attain specific benefits, but blessings actually come from God as well as the person's ability to enjoy them. Believing you can attain those blessings and enjoy them by spilling the blood of one of God's children, is a demonic religion, believing a lie and embracing a curse.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 (KJV) For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
"The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of Life, and so man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
This clearly implies that God does not intend for man to become living in His image until the point of birth. Of course, scientific DNA implies the exact opposite, science and religion both are bit mixed up here.
Looking at this issue from the most objective, unbiased perspective, I fail to see anything anti-science about the anti-abortion movement. Contemporary scientific developments have unambiguously proven the fact that an embryo or fetus has all the same DNA as a unique, individual, living human person. That said, I believe that one could still make a valid argument in favor of abortion rights without denying the fact that abortion involves the loss of a life. A homesteader living in nature, for example, would not deny the necessary fact that he killed a deer to get the venison. It's all just a part of the balance of life. Attempts to distort and deny scientific realities, on the other hand, only undermine the cause for which one is attempting to promote.
Murder is not a scientific definition. Science would claim all murders are just killings and could benefit overpopulated species or groups burdened with the care of others. Murder is different than killing because of belief in our being made in the image of God. Good told Noah this when he stepped off the ark.
Genesis 9:5-6 (KJV) And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Bobby Gladd says:
@Jeriah Knox
Maria Antonia Mariscal de Zabiega says:
Adult Stem Cell Research is very DIFFERENT from Embryonic Stem Cell Research. You fail to explain this in your article.
Abortion is murder. The rights of young women are at stake, which should ring a bell if you aren't against abortion, in general.
Observer079 says:
Your comment is three separate positions. The first is literally correct. The second is not. The third makes no sense 'in general.' That said, it fits the worldview this article is addressing.
Men trade their children and their right/duty to protect them for a demented power to turn women into pornography.
Abortion is murder. Christ spoke of murder in the heart even if the deed is not carried out. Mark 9:37 (KJV) Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
https://youtu.be/4Ka-Zg4tlLE
Jesus warned us aboyt the money lenders, yet we don't see any of these "faithfull Christians" speaking up about any of that. The money lenders are reponsible for many more deaths, despair, and even the hypocracy of the anti women campaign. The Hellfires await, Jesus did not approve of hypocrites either.
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