Abortion/termination?

[skoonz]

Hi,
I've got to write a 1500-2000 word essay on medical ethics and I think some of you religious guys opinions would nicely cover one side of the argument.

Are you for or against termination of pregnancy?
When do you believe that the life of an organism (especially a human but include other species too) begins?
Why do you have these beliefs?

Thanks guys
Skoonz

[skeet]

OY A very touchy subject

[buckhunter]

Very Touchie Subject.

[skeet]

Well I don't personally agree with abortion..that is what you were asking without using the word. There is a BIG caveat though. I am a man. I cannot become pregnant..thankfully. So in that vein..I feel I should have no say in whether it should be legal if a woman chooses to abort a pregnancy. I feel I can speak my feelings but should NOT be able to have any say in the great debate. Nor should ANY man. I know that will create a stir but it is the truth. Now as to a wife..I feel that should be a decision between husband and wife....no one else. But there is the real crux..it ain't gonna happen...so there ya go.

[wrenchman]

I have to say this is a subject i try to stay real far away from becouse i do beleave it is wrong.
But the reasens i dont like to talk about it it combines all the things that can make tempers flare religion politics and the rights of the mans versis the womans that get to decide then we get to throw in the lib talking point of the womans life versis the baby.
No thank you.

[jefferson herb]

I'm usually respectful of others religous beliefs.This topic is like throwing gas on a fire,with a high pressure oxygen bottle to back it up.I question the logic of a woman being forced to carry full term because of RAPE,and those who just keep the production going w/o responsibility,maybe should be fixed.[both parties]With those issues solved,I can feel better with the no abortion attitude. It may take a village to raise a child,but I have a problem paying for it.

[Skinny Shooter]

Its pretty simple.
Human Life begins at the point of conception.
That Life has rights no matter how it came into existence.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

For me: My religious beliefs tell me that 1.) life begins at the point of conception & 2.) it is wrong to terminate such a life, unless it endangers the life of the mother. The only time I struggle with my beliefs is when I see a child with a life altering condition, such as Down's syndrome or spina bifida, or hypoplastic Left heart syndrome. I some of these cases, I wonder if it is indeed crueler to let these children suffer with said conditions throughout their life, than to terminate the pregnancy and prevent such suffering.

I once had this discussion with a veterinarian (my boss at the time) when I was in college....his take was it was cheaper to pay for an abortion than to have to support the kids throughout their lives (welfare, ect) and that the medical cost of some kids not aborted (i.e. crack babies) was astronomical. Having heard that, I have to wonder why he wasn't all for killing everyone off at age 70 to save money on social security, medicaid, ect.
IIRC, Roe v. Wade has been in effect now since the 60's; women 'gained' the right to have an abortion (pretty much on demand), .....so I have to wonder that in the past 40 years of 'legal' abortion, what have we 'lost'? Have we 'lost' the scientist with the brilliant mind who would discover the cure for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, ect? Or who might discover a break through in the treatment for AIDS? What about the individual who could lead this country out of it's current debt crisis? What about the individual who could find a way to ease the worlds food shortages? What about an individual with the entrepenureal genius to come up with a solution to the dependency of foriegn oil, and forge a new path for our energy use? Did we 'loose' the next Bach, Brahms, Girshwin, Picasso, or Hemingway?

Sad fact is.....we will never know:(

[skeet]

Or how about a whole bunch more welfare/crack babies who would create an even larger more telling drag on our economy.. No not arguing.. Just stating a possibility.... as in the above post. The only problem I have with religion making the decisions is this.. All life is considered sacred from conception..except in the case of rape or child melestations etc etc.. No matter what..if one (human) life is sacred..then all(human) life should be. Not arguing again.. but there is a double standard there some way. I just probably don't understand..as a Catholic Priest said.. He was a very good man and a good friend.

[fishdoggydog]

As is so often the case, follow the money. I can have strong feelings one way or the other, but if it is a private decision for the woman, why is always the cost factor brought up. A lot of babies could survive in a loving home, if carried to term and given up for adoption. The vast majority of abortions have nothing to do with crack, or deformity, just pressure related to some money. My grand daughter was born with a deformity, cleft palate, not the lip, now at age 3 she is a totally fine little girl.