From:  (Nigel B. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian,nz.soc.religion
Subject: Abortion and the taking of life.
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 15:59:54 GMT

I am starting this thread at the suggestion of Andy, because we seem
to have become bogged down in our other discussion.

When is it acceptable to take the life of another person?

There are four main ways that the taking of life may be legally
sanctioned in modern society - war, capital punishment, abortion and
euthenasia. In principle I am opposed to every one of these, because I
consider that the taking of human life by another person, even when
sanctioned by the state, is inherently wrong. I do, however,
acknowledge that there may be occasions when any or all of these
things may be the lesser of two evils, and I do not pretend to stand
in judgement ovber those who hold differing opinions to me. I
personally would not choose to participate in any of them, and I would
use my democratic rights to argue against them as well.

I am not anti- abortion or anti- euthenasia, so much as pro-life. I
think that it is hypocritical to be anti- abortion or anti euthenasia
and at the same time pro- capital punishment, or the other way around.
The principle is the same. The basic question is - Is it a good thing
to end a human life for the convenience of other human beings? My
answer to that, in most cases, would be no. Obvious exceptions such as
cases of rape and incest, and so-called 'passive' Euthenasia, do not
change the overriding principle. The issue is probably clearest in my
mind with regard to capital punishment. I am hard pressed to imagine
any circumstances where I would say that it was justified as a
preferred option. I can imagine cases where abortion, euthanasia and
war can be justified, but I would nevertheless regret their use at any
time.

I hold this view as a direct consequence of my Christian faith, but I
do not consider it to be an exclusively Christian view. Indeed, there
are many Christians who understand the issues differently, and no
doubt some will present their views here. Atheists and people of other
religions also often affirm the value of human life, and express this
by their opposition to one or more of abortion, euthenasia, the death
penalty or war.

I believe that from the ten commandments given to ancient Israel (Do
not Kill) to the life- affirming ministry of Jesus, it is clear that
the God of Jews and Christians is a God who does not want us to kill
each other. No doubt the many cases in the Hebrew Scriptures where the
Jews understood it to be God's will that they should kill their
enemies will be raised in this discussion, but I can only say that I
think that the world, human society, and our understanding of God's
will has moved on to a higher and better plane since those times.

My attitude to abortion, euthenasia, capital punishment and war is
best summed up in the following statement:
*Killing is not OK, but it is sometimes regrettably neccesary.*
or the religious version:
*God is pro- life, and so am I.*

cheers

N+

Nigel B. Mitchell

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