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My friend, it turns out we do not disagree as much as I thought - which is one of the surprising benefits of this kind of discussion. I say that religion is not part of my life - that I make no claims about God one way or another - but that I let others, who believe differently than I do, lead their lives according to their own lights, so far as possible. You say that God is already in my life by virtue of the moral decisions I make. So be it (but I reserve the right to reconsider when I have time to think about the implications).

We still differ on abortion - on what it means when you say they are already in this world. I will have to reply to that after considerable thought - when I have time. But, for now, what is your position on contraception - defined as mechanical and chemical methods of preventing conception? If I understand you correctly this is not abortion, not the termination of a living human being.

"But, for now, what is your position on contraception - defined as mechanical and chemical methods of preventing conception? If I understand you correctly this is not abortion, not the termination of a living human being."

You are right to think that the debate begins here. But unless we are more agreed on abortion itself, it may be fruitless to enter this debate.

We still differ on abortion - on what it means when you say they are already in this world. I will have to reply to that after considerable thought - when I have time. But, for now, what is your position on contraception - defined as mechanical and chemical methods of preventing conception? If I understand you correctly this is not abortion, not the termination of a living human being.

Forgive me for the brevity of my response but I'm trying to do these INFERNAL $*###3$ taxes! Oh how I wish we could abolish the IRS. But anyway, even on whether or not an existent life-in-being is in the world or not is probably not our real bone of contention, but simply whether that life-in-being has human worth and dignity.

Contraception is a different subject in some respects because it is not the actual killing of an already existent human being. The subject does involve a very nuanced analysis of the proper role and purpose of human sexuality, a task for which I am not very well qualified. My position so far is that to whatever extent that contraception facilitates sexual immorality outside of the marriage covenant or even in it then I'm against it on moral grounds. I know that doesn't say very much, but I'm open to new information.

Cordially