My beliefs have come from over 50 years of experience and study. To become unpersuaded during the course of one or two discussions would be unreasonable - I would not expect that from you. Because you disagree with someones beliefs and because you can't change those beliefs easily is not a good reason to run away from the challenge.
The value of these discussions is mainly in the help they might give to better understand difficult and important issues. Concepts communicated by organized religion are a good foundation and examining these concepts with independent thinking is also valuable in our progress towards a better life.
I’m not running away from the challenge.
I’m walking away from the “discussion”.
I am not surprised that you see it as a “challenge”. I felt it was that way from the beginning—that it was presented more as a challenge than a discussion. If I’m wrong about that, you can correct me.
You received many well-reasoned posts to provide another view of this subject of the value of life from conception to death. When I saw that you remained unpersuaded, I knew that what I could say had been said and that I should move on. I can spend only a limited amount of time on the computer with people I don’t really know and can’t engage face to face.
As for your 50 years experience—I have more than that. I have a large group of direct descendents—children, grandchildren and great grandchildren—numbering 43 at this time with many more due on the horizon. It’s my duty as the oldest of the “clan” to provide answers to a deeply troubling issue—abortion. And I will do that. In this matter, length of experience is fine, but even the young can formulate reasonable and logical and above all, truthful, answers to the pressing moral issues of our times. If they come to know the truth, their youth will be an advantage, because they will have time and truth to work with.
Time and truth could trump experience.
“If you will do the truth, you will come to the light”.
.....John 3:21