Perhaps some think such a statement on my part is "too moral" and thus offensive. No doubt some would rather me keep my "moralizing," my Christ and cross and God-stuff to myself.
Are belief and faith so blithely cast aside?
Also note that I was responding specifically to your assertion that the "basic argument" of "the mainstream religious pro-life movement" is that abortion "is a sin and you’ll go straight to hell." My disagreement over such an argument would be with the supposed Christian(s) who uttered it, not with those have no basic understanding of sin and salvation.
You've missed the point entirely. The point is not that you keep your moralizing and Christianity to yourself. (Some people seem to have taken this article as an attack on Christianity, which I find rather ironic, since my entire family is comprised of deeply devout Christians. My brother is a Christian minister and I ran this column by him. He fully agreed and, indeed, understood my point.)
This column was my take on those people who seem to consider morality as the only argument to be pro-life. I did not, no where in this column, claim that all prolifers used this argument. I was adressing those who do.
I happen to believe that approaching someone who is not a Christian with a Christian argument for being pro-life is not the most productive or persuasive way to do things.
What do you think about what I just said?
This should be obvious to everyone.
I also tend to think a lot of desperate, pregnant women - Christian or not - would respond better to a helping hand than what they sometimes get.
I think this is what caused me to miss your point. Frankly, the above strikes me as both illogical and humanistic/anti-God, even if unintended.
This column was my take on those people who seem to consider morality as the only argument to be pro-life.
Really? I have never met such people. I've found that folks who believe abortion is immoral are also quite understanding of its negative consequences, e.g. increased risk of breast cancer and risk of complications later in life with other pregnancies as you mentioned in your article, not to mention the physical/emotional/psychological trauma resulting from the procedure itself.
I happen to believe that approaching someone who is not a Christian with a Christian argument for being pro-life is not the most productive or persuasive way to do things.
Maybe not. But who is to say? And I suppose it depends on how one presents his "Christian argument." Mine would be: Fundamentally, I believe abortion is wrong; not only does it take the life of an innocent but it profoundly hurts the mother as well.
Have you seen the latest Gallup poll on the issue? 53% of those surveyed believe abortion is "morally wrong" (up from 45% two years ago).
Basically, I think people know abortion is wrong because they just *know* it, kind of like how they know lying or hurting others is wrong. No one is unaffected by the inherent "moral law" of this world, which I like to think has been set in place by our Creator.
I can't think of a bad reason to not have an abortion. So by all means, attempt to persuade others to the pro-life side as you see fit. But at the same time, be prepared to answer the person who asks, "Why is abortion wrong?"