Re: Any anti-abortion atheists?

quibbler wrote:

> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] says...
>
> > Of course, the definition 
> > of human-hood would have to be established first, and that is what the crux of 
> > the argument is in the first place, isn't it?
>
>
> No, that's the phony, question-begging "crux" that anti-abortionists 
> usually steer for, however.  It presumes that once something can be 
> declared "human" it's life becomes the obligation of the rest of society 
> to preserve.  

Not quite sure I understand what you mean.  How is my comment question begging? 
 You are saying that a declared "human" is owed preservation of the rest of 
society.  I was saying that figuring out the point that a fetus becomes a human 
being is difficult.



> But especially fundies, who loudly proclaim themselves to 
> be "pro-life", don't seem to adhere to this.  As but one poignant 
> example, good ol' Saint Paul says "If a man will not work, he shall not 
> eat".  Surely Paul knew he was talking about live human beings and yet he 
> takes the smug attitude that he would contently see them die of 
> starvation if they can't earn their keep.  
>
> Now, as an atheist, you might have better standards.  

I am not convinced there was ever a good ol' Saint Paul.  That aside, I don't 
think there are a large number of people of any religion or lack thereof that 
think sending small children off to the sweatshop to earn their keep is a good 
idea.  (As a percentage of world population, that is).



> But ultimately, 
> by definition, no abortion can ever involving killing a pre-born child 
> older than 9 months.  The issue is really whether society should 
> categorically say that the interests of an entity less than 9 months old 
> should ever outweigh the interests of one or both adult parents.   

Why stop at 9 months?  If the entity is fully capable of surviving outside the 
womb, shouldn't it's interests outweigh the interests of one or both adult 
parents?  If not, we should allow the killing of children up to the age they 
leave home.