Since the early 1970s, abortion has been a highly controversial topic in the United States and beyond. The Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case legalized abortion nationwide, and the issue has been heavily debated ever since. Some people believe that abortion is a woman’s right and essential to feminism, while others believe it is murder. A silent storm, as silent reported by the U.S. media, is brewing following leaks that the current U.S. Supreme Court plans to overturn the Roe v. Wade judgment. While it’s quite early to make any conclusions, this case only highlights the simmering emotion that abortion elicits across different population sections. This article scratches the surface on Christianity and Roe v. Wade, and what this means moving forward.
The Christian Way
Christians generally believe that abortion is wrong because it means taking a human life, which is the first right and of whom others are derived. This is stated in The Bible where it is written that human life is sacred and abortion is murder. It’s also a part of Christian belief that abortion goes against God’s will for sex, which is to be between a man and woman who are married. On the virtues of marriages, Hebrews 13:4 is categorical.
Roe v. Wade
In simple terms, Roe v. Wade permitted pregnant women to choose whether to abort or not without fearing any government restrictions. This ruling reinforces the belief that abortion is a woman’s right and essential to feminism. Proponents of the ruling hold that abortion should be safe, legal, and affordable for all women. That every woman has the right to make her own decisions about her body and her fertility. In today’s world, this is known as pro-choice. Nothing farther from the truth.
Demystifying “Pro-choice”
The main ideology of the so-called pro-choice movement is that every man and woman has exclusive rights to their body. Therefore, the pro-choice proponents view abortion as an expression of a woman’s autonomy over her body. Objections against this ideology portend that a fetus cannot be simply termed as part of a woman’s body. To counter this, some try to dehumanize a fetus, which is in reality the beginning of human life. Sadly, some still do. The use of terms such as ‘embryonic cells’ illustrates shameful attempts to dehumanize unborn children.
In today’s world, the so-called pro-choice has morphed into the private morality of women over the public morality of men. Under this paradigm, as the ongoing Roe v. Wade debate shows, abortion is a highly subjective matter, known and experienced only by women, and men have no right whatsoever to judge. However, it’s equally important to note using the argument, creates a select class – pregnant women – to have an opinion on abortion. In essence, this is what Roe v. Wade represents.
Is Abortion Female Helplessness?
A missing fact in most abortionists’ arguments is the complete absolving of women of any responsibility for presumed voluntary participation in conceiving a life in the first place. Abortion is elevated to terminate an innocent life. It’s doublespeak that pro-choice proponents use to influence social institutions such as the judiciary to perpetuate. Who is truly helpless in this case? the unborn face consequences of actions not of their choosing.
Of course, there should be a legal structure to accommodate social exceptions but to use the idea of abortion as a gender concept; totally misleading. It’s not a female issue but rather an imbalance of the so-called pro-choice proponents to spread their influence.
The jury is still out…
There are many different reasons why people believe what they do about abortion. It is an emotional and controversial issue. Whether you believe that abortion is a woman’s right or that it is murder, it is important to be respectful of other people’s opinions. Yes, the so-called pro-choice is an opinion, not a gender issue.
As the US awaits the Supreme Court judgment, despite of any outcome, the jury remains out on pro-choice. However, the truth is, that abortion shouldn’t be phrased as a gender issue but rather as a clash of opinions.
Sadly, the truly innocent victims cannot express their views.
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