If you want to see what a 4D ultrasound video looks like, here is a link to a pro-life website called Life Issues Institute. In order to view the videos, scroll down on the home page and click on the icon labeled 4D ultrasounds.
http://www.lifeissues.org/
I also recommend viewing the other icons, one for "breaking news" and the other just for teens.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Preparation
Let's say you learned from either a Care Net center, radio station, T.V. commercial, friend, family member, or even this blog that abortion is a bad thing. You think to yourself, “Nice bit of info., now what?”
It is important for all of us to be fully aware and prepared for a situation involving abortion. This may occur during a regular discussion with someone, requested advice from a friend, or maybe even a couple undergoing an unplanned pregnancy. There are a whole range of questions that could be asked, which if dealt with incorrectly will cause incalculable harm to the would be mother and baby.
I hope to begin a short series that analyzes specific situations in which people, especially teenagers, are exposed to the ugliness of abortion and learn how to deal with it firmly and lovingly both in reason and obedience to the Scriptures. The first of these articles is to the ladies, but I encourage the guys to read it as well. Keep in mind that many of these occurrences are illustrations and not history.
Ladies, a friend comes up to you in private and says she needs to get a load off her mind. You find a quiet spot to sit down and she begins telling you how last week she had an abortion. The only reason she’s spilling the beans is because of the guilt that she feels. Should you:
A.) Listen carefully; then say in a lighthearted manner, “don’t worry; everyone does it,”or, “it isn’t all that bad,” and end the discussion quickly so she doesn’t work into a frenzy.
B.) Ignore her completely and say that she’s upset over nothing.
C.) Say, “Don’t worry, God still loves you,” and try giving her further comfort.
D.) Be totally aghast that she could have done such a thing and refuse to help her.
E.) Tell her you’ll think about it and plan to talk over it with some of your other friends for advice.
F.) Ask a guy for advise.
G.) do none of the above.
This may be confusing to some, but the answer is none of the above. Here is why:
Letters a.) and b.) are easy ones. Not everybody has an abortion, yes it is a sin, and ignoring her fears is only going to lead her to despair.
Letter c.) is a bit harder to figure out. If you tell someone not to worry because God loves her, you call two things into question. First, you may give her the assumption that she can deliberately sin (which abortion is) and God will forgive her no matter what. The Bible is quick to disclaim this theory (Hebrews 10:26-27). Second, this statement overlooks the fact that God can be grieved (Isaiah 63:7-10). Giving your friend comfort in God’s love is the right thing to do, but here it is incomplete and likely to harm rather than help.
Letter d.) is obvious. Never turn down a friend because they put confidence in you involving a delicate subject. That not only takes bravery on their part, but it shows their level of trust in you. Don’t break it.
Another one of the tougher questions is e.). Like some teenagers you may find that you’re not as wise as you thought and it would be nice to get some feedback from other friends. Two heads are better than one right? Wrong! In this case stay clear from other friends as potential “helpers.” If the person you are trying to help asks for assistance from others that is a different matter, but she came to you specifically for a reason. I’m not a complete veteran on the communication systems in high schools, but I can tell you as a student with strict conviction that gossip gets spread much quicker among friends than anywhere else. That’s why I also advise young women who need to clear their consciences on this subject to choose one and only one friend/guide whom they can trust fully and stick with forever in confidence.
Ladies, if you need more counsel in order to help this friend who came to you, never-ever-ever-ever-ever go to a guy for it. You put him into a difficult position because he may not know the person you are talking about, her character, etc. If he does know her, he is liable to make her feel awkward by talking to her face to face, give you bad advise, or do something for her that she really doesn’t need. I mean this light-heartedly but seriously. A guy consoling your struggling friend with flowers won't help much.
After all those “don’ts” here is one of a few “do’s.” You can listen carefully to your friend and allow her to put the weight of her guilt on your shoulders. Ask for detail only if something is unclear and express sympathy only when she is finished. Talk to her about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, not as a minister would, but as a comforter. Tell her that Christ died for sinners and that He is willing to grant forgiveness if she but asks and believes. Perhaps the person you’re talking to is actually a Christian who has made a big mistake and needs reminding. Pray with her. Read the Bible if you have one handy and find a passage that gives assurance of pardon to the one who puts his trust in Christ. A very well known passage is, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17)."
If you need instruction yourself about how to talk to this person, ask a parent/guardian or close relative. I said earlier that you shouldn’t include guys, but your father is definitely an exception. In fact he might be the best choice. If all you have is an elder brother, he too may be an exception and treated as a father, however it would be best that he has no direct connection with the person you are dealing with.
Make sure that the person who discloses these things to you knows that you are a friend and interested in her well being. Perhaps you‘re thinking, “Yea, but nobody I know of ever has this kind of problem.” I’m not saying they will. But don’t be caught off guard if a situation does arise.
I understand that some readers here may not be Christians. After reading this article my question to you is, how can you comfort someone who feels guilty about having an abortion if you have a god who is neither personal nor particularly loving? And why would you feel obligated to comfort this person if you don’t believe in God at all?
It is important for all of us to be fully aware and prepared for a situation involving abortion. This may occur during a regular discussion with someone, requested advice from a friend, or maybe even a couple undergoing an unplanned pregnancy. There are a whole range of questions that could be asked, which if dealt with incorrectly will cause incalculable harm to the would be mother and baby.
I hope to begin a short series that analyzes specific situations in which people, especially teenagers, are exposed to the ugliness of abortion and learn how to deal with it firmly and lovingly both in reason and obedience to the Scriptures. The first of these articles is to the ladies, but I encourage the guys to read it as well. Keep in mind that many of these occurrences are illustrations and not history.
Ladies, a friend comes up to you in private and says she needs to get a load off her mind. You find a quiet spot to sit down and she begins telling you how last week she had an abortion. The only reason she’s spilling the beans is because of the guilt that she feels. Should you:
A.) Listen carefully; then say in a lighthearted manner, “don’t worry; everyone does it,”or, “it isn’t all that bad,” and end the discussion quickly so she doesn’t work into a frenzy.
B.) Ignore her completely and say that she’s upset over nothing.
C.) Say, “Don’t worry, God still loves you,” and try giving her further comfort.
D.) Be totally aghast that she could have done such a thing and refuse to help her.
E.) Tell her you’ll think about it and plan to talk over it with some of your other friends for advice.
F.) Ask a guy for advise.
G.) do none of the above.
This may be confusing to some, but the answer is none of the above. Here is why:
Letters a.) and b.) are easy ones. Not everybody has an abortion, yes it is a sin, and ignoring her fears is only going to lead her to despair.
Letter c.) is a bit harder to figure out. If you tell someone not to worry because God loves her, you call two things into question. First, you may give her the assumption that she can deliberately sin (which abortion is) and God will forgive her no matter what. The Bible is quick to disclaim this theory (Hebrews 10:26-27). Second, this statement overlooks the fact that God can be grieved (Isaiah 63:7-10). Giving your friend comfort in God’s love is the right thing to do, but here it is incomplete and likely to harm rather than help.
Letter d.) is obvious. Never turn down a friend because they put confidence in you involving a delicate subject. That not only takes bravery on their part, but it shows their level of trust in you. Don’t break it.
Another one of the tougher questions is e.). Like some teenagers you may find that you’re not as wise as you thought and it would be nice to get some feedback from other friends. Two heads are better than one right? Wrong! In this case stay clear from other friends as potential “helpers.” If the person you are trying to help asks for assistance from others that is a different matter, but she came to you specifically for a reason. I’m not a complete veteran on the communication systems in high schools, but I can tell you as a student with strict conviction that gossip gets spread much quicker among friends than anywhere else. That’s why I also advise young women who need to clear their consciences on this subject to choose one and only one friend/guide whom they can trust fully and stick with forever in confidence.
Ladies, if you need more counsel in order to help this friend who came to you, never-ever-ever-ever-ever go to a guy for it. You put him into a difficult position because he may not know the person you are talking about, her character, etc. If he does know her, he is liable to make her feel awkward by talking to her face to face, give you bad advise, or do something for her that she really doesn’t need. I mean this light-heartedly but seriously. A guy consoling your struggling friend with flowers won't help much.
After all those “don’ts” here is one of a few “do’s.” You can listen carefully to your friend and allow her to put the weight of her guilt on your shoulders. Ask for detail only if something is unclear and express sympathy only when she is finished. Talk to her about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, not as a minister would, but as a comforter. Tell her that Christ died for sinners and that He is willing to grant forgiveness if she but asks and believes. Perhaps the person you’re talking to is actually a Christian who has made a big mistake and needs reminding. Pray with her. Read the Bible if you have one handy and find a passage that gives assurance of pardon to the one who puts his trust in Christ. A very well known passage is, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17)."
If you need instruction yourself about how to talk to this person, ask a parent/guardian or close relative. I said earlier that you shouldn’t include guys, but your father is definitely an exception. In fact he might be the best choice. If all you have is an elder brother, he too may be an exception and treated as a father, however it would be best that he has no direct connection with the person you are dealing with.
Make sure that the person who discloses these things to you knows that you are a friend and interested in her well being. Perhaps you‘re thinking, “Yea, but nobody I know of ever has this kind of problem.” I’m not saying they will. But don’t be caught off guard if a situation does arise.
I understand that some readers here may not be Christians. After reading this article my question to you is, how can you comfort someone who feels guilty about having an abortion if you have a god who is neither personal nor particularly loving? And why would you feel obligated to comfort this person if you don’t believe in God at all?
Concerns vs. Priorities
There may be some out there who have their priorities messed up. Here is a reminder of where real issues lie.
In our world today people have a range of concerns that are sometimes blown to the extreme. In the news media and talk radio stations, some of the largest of these concerns are British Petroleum, the American economy down the toilet, the democrats who didn’t keep their promises, and the republicans who sit on their butts wagging their fingers at the democrats. There’s the war in the Middle East, the North Korean missiles, etc. When I read or listen to things like these I have to say, “So what?” To say that the country’s economics are drastically changing is a mere distraction from something far more precious. Nations always rise and fall. What is more important, God‘s image, or politics? And what is more important, a child’s salvation, or the destruction of terrorists?
As I’ve done before, this article is particularly addressed to my family in Christ. One of the main reasons we as Christians fight abortion is that it is a desecration of God’s image. I’m going to take a slightly different route and explain another reason why we should fight to end abortion.
A secularist will not appreciate the deep importance of life, because he does not know what life is. The difference between us and him is that we look to a new Heaven and new earth at the last day. We believe in a thing called hell also. So it is not just the fleeting issues and concerns of the world today that are meaningful, but of the next. Let me ask my family this, are we looking to the spiritual life of the unborn as well as the mother?
Perhaps you‘re thinking, “But Jonathan, unborn babies don’t go to hell do they?” or even, “unborn babies are just unborn babies; they don’t go anywhere.”
Why you just brought up a great theological question! Do unborn babies go to heaven? Well I hope that by now you know when a baby is alive without me telling you directly (read LIFE 1&2 and RIGHTS: THE FALLACY Par. 6). Those articles are in answer to the latter statement. For the former question ‘do they go to hell?’ we have to read Ex. 20:6 (ESV). “You shall not bow down to them (idols) or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those (generations) who love me and keep my commandments.” While promising to show blessing to believing generations, yet it is still a warning to the unbeliever. And since an unborn baby himself is part of a generation, if he is of unsaved parents and never born, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if that child is damned. Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not a judge of who is saved and who is lost. No man is. Neither can man by himself save the spiritual life of a mother or child. But what if through the prevention of an abortion the mother, baby, or both receive not just material life, but true life from God through the working of His servants? To say, “Oh, let God deal with that abortion thing,” is foolhardy. Let us instead be instruments of God’s will, preserving His image and ministering to those who do not know Him.
So, what are you going to be concerned about? The close friend across the street considering having an abortion, or your next favorite presidential nominee getting the vote? Will you prioritize more on fighting the scandalous statements of death clinics like Planned Parenthood, or listening to the frenzied radio hosts batter the opposite political party to a bloody pulp? Your choice. God’s will. Their lives.
In our world today people have a range of concerns that are sometimes blown to the extreme. In the news media and talk radio stations, some of the largest of these concerns are British Petroleum, the American economy down the toilet, the democrats who didn’t keep their promises, and the republicans who sit on their butts wagging their fingers at the democrats. There’s the war in the Middle East, the North Korean missiles, etc. When I read or listen to things like these I have to say, “So what?” To say that the country’s economics are drastically changing is a mere distraction from something far more precious. Nations always rise and fall. What is more important, God‘s image, or politics? And what is more important, a child’s salvation, or the destruction of terrorists?
As I’ve done before, this article is particularly addressed to my family in Christ. One of the main reasons we as Christians fight abortion is that it is a desecration of God’s image. I’m going to take a slightly different route and explain another reason why we should fight to end abortion.
A secularist will not appreciate the deep importance of life, because he does not know what life is. The difference between us and him is that we look to a new Heaven and new earth at the last day. We believe in a thing called hell also. So it is not just the fleeting issues and concerns of the world today that are meaningful, but of the next. Let me ask my family this, are we looking to the spiritual life of the unborn as well as the mother?
Perhaps you‘re thinking, “But Jonathan, unborn babies don’t go to hell do they?” or even, “unborn babies are just unborn babies; they don’t go anywhere.”
Why you just brought up a great theological question! Do unborn babies go to heaven? Well I hope that by now you know when a baby is alive without me telling you directly (read LIFE 1&2 and RIGHTS: THE FALLACY Par. 6). Those articles are in answer to the latter statement. For the former question ‘do they go to hell?’ we have to read Ex. 20:6 (ESV). “You shall not bow down to them (idols) or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those (generations) who love me and keep my commandments.” While promising to show blessing to believing generations, yet it is still a warning to the unbeliever. And since an unborn baby himself is part of a generation, if he is of unsaved parents and never born, I wouldn’t be the least surprised if that child is damned. Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not a judge of who is saved and who is lost. No man is. Neither can man by himself save the spiritual life of a mother or child. But what if through the prevention of an abortion the mother, baby, or both receive not just material life, but true life from God through the working of His servants? To say, “Oh, let God deal with that abortion thing,” is foolhardy. Let us instead be instruments of God’s will, preserving His image and ministering to those who do not know Him.
So, what are you going to be concerned about? The close friend across the street considering having an abortion, or your next favorite presidential nominee getting the vote? Will you prioritize more on fighting the scandalous statements of death clinics like Planned Parenthood, or listening to the frenzied radio hosts batter the opposite political party to a bloody pulp? Your choice. God’s will. Their lives.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Time for War
I don't make a habit of doing this, however I was very pleased when Eroica came up to me some time ago and gave me this poem she had just written. For those of you who don't know Eroica, she is always writing, reading, or playing violin/piano far beyond her requirements and enjoys it all. She's enthusiastic about almost everything (a trait that many of us sadly don't have).
We mourn our soldiers when we learn
Of war and death in distant lands;
But who will mourn the infants here
Who die by legal doctors' hands?
We watch our boys stand strong and brave
Against the foe in battle's fray,
But care not for the child so small
That never sees the light of day.
The tiny hands, the tiny face
Are formed in fearful symmetry;
What evil must possess our hearts
To take a life so thoughtlessly?
The unborn child has no defense,
No plea for life to be ignored.
Unloved, deprived and coldly slain,
Alone he meets the Jordan's ford.
America, you were a star-
Your children were the world's light.
How far a nation has to fall
To claim abortion is a right!
The justice that this country dealt
Now silences the unborn voice
And tells our shamefaced teenagers
That murder is their only choice.
Our soldier boys have foreign wars,
But we have battles here to fight;
Like them we make a worthy stand
To fight against abortion's blight.
We mourn our soldiers when we learn
Of war and death in distant lands;
But who will mourn the infants here
Who die by legal doctors' hands?
We watch our boys stand strong and brave
Against the foe in battle's fray,
But care not for the child so small
That never sees the light of day.
The tiny hands, the tiny face
Are formed in fearful symmetry;
What evil must possess our hearts
To take a life so thoughtlessly?
The unborn child has no defense,
No plea for life to be ignored.
Unloved, deprived and coldly slain,
Alone he meets the Jordan's ford.
America, you were a star-
Your children were the world's light.
How far a nation has to fall
To claim abortion is a right!
The justice that this country dealt
Now silences the unborn voice
And tells our shamefaced teenagers
That murder is their only choice.
Our soldier boys have foreign wars,
But we have battles here to fight;
Like them we make a worthy stand
To fight against abortion's blight.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
GEAR Campaign
The GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) campaign has been introduced to the UN to consolidate four UN agencies into one, with a single under-security-general and $1 billion in funds (where do you think that will come from?). According to the UN, "the primary objective of the campaign is to convince national governments to support these civil society’s / women’s groups’ proposed initiatives in the deliberations of the UN General Assembly." The GEAR campaign endeavors to reduce maternal mortality by making abortion legal. Making abortion legal will make it a little bit safer for the women (only in the sense of modern medicine protecting against infection) but if we are trying to save mothers' lives, why not save the lives of the babies, some of them being future mothers? Making abortion absolutely illegal did work well for Chile, whose maternal mortality rate was 275 per 100,000 live births in 1960, and, because of stricter abortion laws in the 1980's, was reduced to 18.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. One of GEAR's main focal points is the IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation). http://www.choike.org/2009/eng/informes/5439.html http://www.worldmag.com/articles/16531
Extinction
Yes, we know that abortion is killing off our species, but we may not expect it to be so bad so soon. What is actually happening is that a race is being killed off rapidly at this moment. Abortions performed in the black community are 3x those performed in the white community, and 2x those performed in all other races combined. As shown by this graph (above; statistics from http://voiceofrevolution.askdrbrown.org/2009/01/18/abortion-statistics/) they are on their way to extinction. 458,500 of those are killed by abortion. Should we just stand by while these people are dying off?
Not only are abortion providers doing this, but encouraging it as well! Georgia Right to Life has begun a campaign to bring these facts before the community. Eighty of these billboard signs (above) have been placed in Georgia to open it no apostrophe! s eyes. This procedure makes me wonder if they are performing abortions on the black community because of their race. If this is so, and Obama is supporting this, it is against the racial tolerance already built up. Either way, abortion is not the solution, but the source of the problem.
http://www.toomanyaborted.com/page_id=2 http://www.nbccongress.org/features/abortion_silent_no_more_01.asp http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/kol/kol_17aborafricanamerican.html http://www.worldmag.com/webextra/16535
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Rights: The Fallacy
Abortion is done in the name of women, or more specifically, women’s rights. But here’s a question, just what kind of rights do abortionists want and what is so important about a women receiving them?
Before we begin, let’s define women’s abortion rights. 1. A woman has the right to do with her own body as she pleases (which assumes that the baby is either not alive or part of her body; both of which have been disproved). 2. A woman has the right to not be a mother if she so chooses. 3. Since women should be able to decide whether or not to bear children, abortion ought to be available to every would-be mother.
This may sound a bit confusing, but it ties into the general fallacy American culture is stumbling into.
Statistics: 1.6 percent of Americans claim to be atheistic or agnostic, however based on what they believe, 12 percent are atheistic/agnostic and another 12 percent of Americans believe in an impersonal God. The number of self proclaimed atheists has doubled since 2001 or so. According to ARIS (American Religious Identification Survey) a total of 15 percent say they don’t have any religion and their numbers are growing by hundreds of thousands annually. Meanwhile Christianity as well as other religions in the U.S. shrink annually in total members (save for the Muslims and possibly a few others).
Now you‘re probably already asking, ‘What on earth is the point of these statistics?”
To me, these statistics are extremely depressing (although not unexpected) because America is turning from a God centered mentality into an, ‘everyone’s opinion counts and no one should be prejudiced’ mindset. Those nominal Christians or even nominal pagans are figuring that there’s no point in holding on to religion when all they can see and do is in the here and now. So the number of "believers" falls. They are letting emotion, not truth rule what they stand for (including women abortion rights). As the faithful decrease, the faithless are on the rise. One blessing is that we can see who truly believes in Christ Jesus and who is only fooling himself.
What has all this to do with abortion? It is just this. Those who claim to have any form of religion and still practice or support abortions for women’s rights are frauds. If their religion states that they can determine when a fetus is alive or not and only those who don’t end up in the wrong womb will survive, I certainly don’t want to be a part of it. If a self proclaimed “Christian” believes in the abortion rights of women he is rebelling directly against God’s command to spare and help the weak wherever possible. More importantly he is contradicting Exodus 21: 22-24 (ESV), “When men strive together (fight each other) and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life.” How can true Christians defend abortion rights when the UNBORN are clearly considered alive in scripture?
How about those pro-women's abortion rights people who don't "own a religion?"It is these growing number of non-religious, not the nominal religous communities that draw my attention.
What is atheism? No God. Period. Man lives as he pleases because someday that passing coffin will contain his body. He has no one to fear except men more powerful than himself and when he dies he will be nothing. Agnostics also fall into this category claiming that it is not provable that God could exist. Evolution, no matter how much it is twisted with religion can be associated with atheism primarily because humans evolved from a lower being, "a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form."But it does not claim that human life has meaning.
If one is an atheist or agnostic, how on earth can he fight for women’s rights? First of all, does a woman’s rights or even interests matter if she’s going to die within the next few years? Eventually, all people die, so why fight so strongly over women’s rights if their lives are meaningless?
Who gives people rights; the government? The government in our country only comes from the people serving under them and are appointed to positions. So is it the majority vote of people who give women rights? First of all the majority isn’t always right and second the majority of people will eventually die out to create a new majority. So majorities can change as peoples’ ancestors die out, which means it isn’t constant (or rather True).
Atheists, agnostics, and evolutionists cannot and will not prove that women have any rights because according to their “non-religion” nobody technically has rights. If on the other hand a “religious” person is for women’s abortion rights they are saying that they, not their god or God controls life. I’m not going to go in detail again whether a fetus is alive, but it is (view our previous articles for info.).
So what is the growing fallacy of post modern day America? Many more people are placing feelings above reason, and will only believe what they think should be right and true, not what is right. Basically, women should have abortion rights…but nothing seems to come to mind why except that it feels right. Personal feelings are: a woman should have a right to control her own body. Or put into English: a woman should be able to have intercourse without the responsibility of parenthood. Truth is: there are laws, regulations, and rights laid down by a higher being (God) which protect the life of the unborn as much as those of the born. Those laws are to be kept and protected by man, not replaced by his emotions.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_62/ai_82013450/
http://sciencereligionnews.blogspot.com%20/%202009%20/%2003%20/%20no-religious-affiliation...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_Stateshttp://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2009/03/13/leaving-religion-behind-a-portrait-of-nonreligious-america.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat01.html
http://www.allaboutscience.org/what-is-evolution-faq.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1845
http://www.now.org/issues/abortion/ -
Before we begin, let’s define women’s abortion rights. 1. A woman has the right to do with her own body as she pleases (which assumes that the baby is either not alive or part of her body; both of which have been disproved). 2. A woman has the right to not be a mother if she so chooses. 3. Since women should be able to decide whether or not to bear children, abortion ought to be available to every would-be mother.
This may sound a bit confusing, but it ties into the general fallacy American culture is stumbling into.
Statistics: 1.6 percent of Americans claim to be atheistic or agnostic, however based on what they believe, 12 percent are atheistic/agnostic and another 12 percent of Americans believe in an impersonal God. The number of self proclaimed atheists has doubled since 2001 or so. According to ARIS (American Religious Identification Survey) a total of 15 percent say they don’t have any religion and their numbers are growing by hundreds of thousands annually. Meanwhile Christianity as well as other religions in the U.S. shrink annually in total members (save for the Muslims and possibly a few others).
Now you‘re probably already asking, ‘What on earth is the point of these statistics?”
To me, these statistics are extremely depressing (although not unexpected) because America is turning from a God centered mentality into an, ‘everyone’s opinion counts and no one should be prejudiced’ mindset. Those nominal Christians or even nominal pagans are figuring that there’s no point in holding on to religion when all they can see and do is in the here and now. So the number of "believers" falls. They are letting emotion, not truth rule what they stand for (including women abortion rights). As the faithful decrease, the faithless are on the rise. One blessing is that we can see who truly believes in Christ Jesus and who is only fooling himself.
What has all this to do with abortion? It is just this. Those who claim to have any form of religion and still practice or support abortions for women’s rights are frauds. If their religion states that they can determine when a fetus is alive or not and only those who don’t end up in the wrong womb will survive, I certainly don’t want to be a part of it. If a self proclaimed “Christian” believes in the abortion rights of women he is rebelling directly against God’s command to spare and help the weak wherever possible. More importantly he is contradicting Exodus 21: 22-24 (ESV), “When men strive together (fight each other) and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life.” How can true Christians defend abortion rights when the UNBORN are clearly considered alive in scripture?
How about those pro-women's abortion rights people who don't "own a religion?"It is these growing number of non-religious, not the nominal religous communities that draw my attention.
What is atheism? No God. Period. Man lives as he pleases because someday that passing coffin will contain his body. He has no one to fear except men more powerful than himself and when he dies he will be nothing. Agnostics also fall into this category claiming that it is not provable that God could exist. Evolution, no matter how much it is twisted with religion can be associated with atheism primarily because humans evolved from a lower being, "a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form."But it does not claim that human life has meaning.
If one is an atheist or agnostic, how on earth can he fight for women’s rights? First of all, does a woman’s rights or even interests matter if she’s going to die within the next few years? Eventually, all people die, so why fight so strongly over women’s rights if their lives are meaningless?
Who gives people rights; the government? The government in our country only comes from the people serving under them and are appointed to positions. So is it the majority vote of people who give women rights? First of all the majority isn’t always right and second the majority of people will eventually die out to create a new majority. So majorities can change as peoples’ ancestors die out, which means it isn’t constant (or rather True).
Atheists, agnostics, and evolutionists cannot and will not prove that women have any rights because according to their “non-religion” nobody technically has rights. If on the other hand a “religious” person is for women’s abortion rights they are saying that they, not their god or God controls life. I’m not going to go in detail again whether a fetus is alive, but it is (view our previous articles for info.).
So what is the growing fallacy of post modern day America? Many more people are placing feelings above reason, and will only believe what they think should be right and true, not what is right. Basically, women should have abortion rights…but nothing seems to come to mind why except that it feels right. Personal feelings are: a woman should have a right to control her own body. Or put into English: a woman should be able to have intercourse without the responsibility of parenthood. Truth is: there are laws, regulations, and rights laid down by a higher being (God) which protect the life of the unborn as much as those of the born. Those laws are to be kept and protected by man, not replaced by his emotions.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_62/ai_82013450/
http://sciencereligionnews.blogspot.com%20/%202009%20/%2003%20/%20no-religious-affiliation...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_Stateshttp://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2009/03/13/leaving-religion-behind-a-portrait-of-nonreligious-america.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat01.html
http://www.allaboutscience.org/what-is-evolution-faq.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1845
http://www.now.org/issues/abortion/ -
What a Pain.
Abortion is a medical procedure-- not a walk in the park. This is code for “Even in the hands of a good doctor, there are many risks involved.” For one, there are physical complications that can arise during the procedure and shortly after. In some cases, there are complications that can occur a long time after the procedure and carry the risk of long-term effects. For these reasons, it is important to be well-informed. Let's take a look at some of the common risks associated with aborting a baby.
Pain. In early-term procedures, abortions are performed under a local anesthetic. Despite their use, it's not abnormal to experience sensations ranging from discomfort to pain during the procedure, the level varying from person to person. The procedure performed is also a factor (ex. a higher level of pain is associated with the abortion pill). Additionally, abdominal pain should be expected for a few days following the surgery.
Infection. All abortion procedures carry some risk of infection, however big or small. The most common infection is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). While this reproductive system infection is fairly common, it can have very serious effects if left untreated. It's common for abscesses to be formed by tissue disintegration and are surrounded by an inflamed area. Ectopic pregnancies, a complication of pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum is developed in tissue other than the uterine wall, are also very likely. Pain and infertility are other complications associated with PID.
Permanent damage. Termination procedures can sometimes result in damage to the reproductive organs, namely cervical laceration and uterine perforation. In rare cases, surgical tools can puncture the uterus and cause damage to nearby organs, such as the bladder. Any damage to the cervix and/or the uterus that is not immediately diagnosed can present future problems. Untreated uterine perforations sometimes require partial or full hysterectomies. A hysterectomy is the surgery excision of the uterus. Meanwhile, the scarring of reproductive organs can increase the risk of infertility or ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
These are only THREE of the main after-effects of abortion.
Tonya, age 21, said, "I don't remember much of it because they gave me something to relax, through an IV. I do remember telling them that it hurt, even if I can't remember the pain it must have been very painful because if I am saying it hurt when I had something to relax me, it must have been horrible. When the abortion was finished they took me into the recovery room where several girls were. Bob [her boyfriend] was unable to come in with me because it would be uncomfortable for the other girls in there. The nurse asked me if I wanted to see what they took out and I said yes. It didn't look like much, but I felt emptiness. I was in pain for weeks afterwards, bad cramping and spotting. I called to make sure it was normal and they said as long as I don't have a fever it was."
If you're considering having an abortion done, take the time to research the effects it will have on your body.
http://www.christiananswers.net/life/stories-abortion.html
Pain. In early-term procedures, abortions are performed under a local anesthetic. Despite their use, it's not abnormal to experience sensations ranging from discomfort to pain during the procedure, the level varying from person to person. The procedure performed is also a factor (ex. a higher level of pain is associated with the abortion pill). Additionally, abdominal pain should be expected for a few days following the surgery.
Infection. All abortion procedures carry some risk of infection, however big or small. The most common infection is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). While this reproductive system infection is fairly common, it can have very serious effects if left untreated. It's common for abscesses to be formed by tissue disintegration and are surrounded by an inflamed area. Ectopic pregnancies, a complication of pregnancy in which the fertilized ovum is developed in tissue other than the uterine wall, are also very likely. Pain and infertility are other complications associated with PID.
Permanent damage. Termination procedures can sometimes result in damage to the reproductive organs, namely cervical laceration and uterine perforation. In rare cases, surgical tools can puncture the uterus and cause damage to nearby organs, such as the bladder. Any damage to the cervix and/or the uterus that is not immediately diagnosed can present future problems. Untreated uterine perforations sometimes require partial or full hysterectomies. A hysterectomy is the surgery excision of the uterus. Meanwhile, the scarring of reproductive organs can increase the risk of infertility or ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
These are only THREE of the main after-effects of abortion.
Tonya, age 21, said, "I don't remember much of it because they gave me something to relax, through an IV. I do remember telling them that it hurt, even if I can't remember the pain it must have been very painful because if I am saying it hurt when I had something to relax me, it must have been horrible. When the abortion was finished they took me into the recovery room where several girls were. Bob [her boyfriend] was unable to come in with me because it would be uncomfortable for the other girls in there. The nurse asked me if I wanted to see what they took out and I said yes. It didn't look like much, but I felt emptiness. I was in pain for weeks afterwards, bad cramping and spotting. I called to make sure it was normal and they said as long as I don't have a fever it was."
If you're considering having an abortion done, take the time to research the effects it will have on your body.
http://www.christiananswers.net/life/stories-abortion.html
Psychological Aftermath
Researchers investigating post-abortion reactions have reported women experiencing numerous emotions— relief being the only positive one. This emotion is understandable, especially in light of the fact that the majority of aborting women report feeling under the intense pressure to "get it over with."
Temporary feelings of relief are frequently followed by a period psychiatrists identify as emotional "paralysis," or post-abortion "numbness." Like shell-shocked soldiers, these women are unable to express or even feel their own emotions. Their focus is primarily on having survived the ordeal, and they are at least temporarily out of touch with their feelings.
Now, there have been studies done on this issue that show pregnancy is actually correlated with a dramatic decreased rate of suicide compared to non-pregnant women. This has led some psychiatrists to suggest that pregnancy somehow serves a psychologically protective role. The presence of another person to "live for" appears to reduce the suicidal impulses of a mentally disturbed or deeply depressed woman.
Although pregnancy weakens suicidal impulses, there is strong evidence that abortion dramatically increases the risk of suicide. In 1997, a government funded study of maternal deaths in Finland sent a tremor of worry through family planning agencies when it revealed that in the first year following an abortion, aborting women were 252% more likely to die compared to women who delivered and 76% more likely to die compared to women who had not been pregnant. Many of the extra deaths were due to suicide.
Sometimes a post-abortion suicide attempt is an impulsive act of despair. For example, 18-year-old "Susan" writes: "Two days after the abortion I wrote a suicide note to my parents and boyfriend. I just couldn't fathom how I could possibly live with the knowledge of what I had done. I killed my own baby! I went down to the basement and figured out how to shoot my father's pistol. Hysterical and crying I put the barrel of the gun into my mouth. All of a sudden I heard someone upstairs. For some reason my father had stopped by to pick up something. I stopped what I was doing and went upstairs. He saw that I was upset and asked me if I wanted to have lunch with him at noon. I felt I at least owed him lunch. By the time lunch was over I was too scared to do it."
Other times, the suicidal impulses result from years of repression, depression, and lost self-esteem. Granting the wish for suicide or abortion is not an aid to desperate people. It is abandonment. It is a false compassion that protects us from getting entangled in the "personal problems" of others. It is "cheap love." Reader, the above is only the psychological effect of abortion. Stay tuned for the physical.
Temporary feelings of relief are frequently followed by a period psychiatrists identify as emotional "paralysis," or post-abortion "numbness." Like shell-shocked soldiers, these women are unable to express or even feel their own emotions. Their focus is primarily on having survived the ordeal, and they are at least temporarily out of touch with their feelings.
Now, there have been studies done on this issue that show pregnancy is actually correlated with a dramatic decreased rate of suicide compared to non-pregnant women. This has led some psychiatrists to suggest that pregnancy somehow serves a psychologically protective role. The presence of another person to "live for" appears to reduce the suicidal impulses of a mentally disturbed or deeply depressed woman.
Although pregnancy weakens suicidal impulses, there is strong evidence that abortion dramatically increases the risk of suicide. In 1997, a government funded study of maternal deaths in Finland sent a tremor of worry through family planning agencies when it revealed that in the first year following an abortion, aborting women were 252% more likely to die compared to women who delivered and 76% more likely to die compared to women who had not been pregnant. Many of the extra deaths were due to suicide.
Sometimes a post-abortion suicide attempt is an impulsive act of despair. For example, 18-year-old "Susan" writes: "Two days after the abortion I wrote a suicide note to my parents and boyfriend. I just couldn't fathom how I could possibly live with the knowledge of what I had done. I killed my own baby! I went down to the basement and figured out how to shoot my father's pistol. Hysterical and crying I put the barrel of the gun into my mouth. All of a sudden I heard someone upstairs. For some reason my father had stopped by to pick up something. I stopped what I was doing and went upstairs. He saw that I was upset and asked me if I wanted to have lunch with him at noon. I felt I at least owed him lunch. By the time lunch was over I was too scared to do it."
Other times, the suicidal impulses result from years of repression, depression, and lost self-esteem. Granting the wish for suicide or abortion is not an aid to desperate people. It is abandonment. It is a false compassion that protects us from getting entangled in the "personal problems" of others. It is "cheap love." Reader, the above is only the psychological effect of abortion. Stay tuned for the physical.
Fact
How many deaths of Mothers are there in abortions? Here’s a quote I picked up, “In the years when there was an accurate reporting procedure, Oregon reported 14 deaths per 100,000 legal compared with Maryland’s 40 deaths per 100,000 abortions.”
Note: since many statistics range a bit according to actual count,bias, or different years in which procedures and polls were taken, I will stick to deaths caused during and after legal abortions (including suicide and post-abortion health issues), which will be discussed a little later.
Think of it this way: abortion is legal in every state, so take a number say, ten deaths of mothers having abortions in every state for every 100,000 abortions. Now America is obviously not the only country with legal abortions so take a count of countries. Here’s a map of statistics. http://www.pregnantpause.org/lex/world02map.htm
From what I counted there are at least thirty countries where abortion is legal for social, economic, or “just because” reasons.
Since 1973 there have been more than 50 million abortions committed by the U.S. alone (legally). Now how many mothers does that make who lost their lives during this legalized procedure? Hmm. Take the fraction ten out of 100,000 and multiply it by 50,000,000 aaannnd… that’s five thousand women. Now since the other twenty nine countries or so don’t have the same population as the U.S., OR our magnificent health care, let’s be generous and multiply 5,000 of U.S. women by…twenty; to make the whole sum of women in the world. That’s one hundred thousand women who have died in the world from abortion related procedures since 1973 (legally).
What is one hundred THOUSAND people to you? I’m thinking that’s about what, one seventh the population of Seattle? How about the entire city of Bend Oregon? Or a third of Tacoma? These are just the women, people! And frankly, I’m sure most abortion clinics aren’t honest about their maternal (legal) fatality rates. And it’s not just “legals,” even more women die from illegal abortions. So the excuse is often, “well women do it anyway so we might as well legalize it and not oppose their choices.” Uh-uh. We’re fighting to end abortion, period. And we’re fighting to save women from drastic life threatening situations, period. So women do it anyway huh? What about rape? Lots of people do that, so should we as the compassionate American people legalize rape? I’m blown off my rocker!
Tens of thousands of women have died during or after an abortion due to depression and horror at what they've done. All for what? Some people blame “pro-lifers” for having no compassion on the women, only the children. Who’s got the blood on their hands?
Note: some may object to this post because health care is claimed to be so much safer nowadays and these are outdated facts. (Some do come from 2004-2005 statistics). Again this includes women who've died after aborted pregnancies from related causes. The details of numbers of suicides and others may be seen in a little while. It is not our intention to depress our readers, but to urge them on to continue this struggle that has been fought for decades.
http://www.pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html
http://www.rachelnetwork.org/images/Deaths_Associated_With_Abortion_and_Childbirth.pdf
Note: since many statistics range a bit according to actual count,bias, or different years in which procedures and polls were taken, I will stick to deaths caused during and after legal abortions (including suicide and post-abortion health issues), which will be discussed a little later.
Think of it this way: abortion is legal in every state, so take a number say, ten deaths of mothers having abortions in every state for every 100,000 abortions. Now America is obviously not the only country with legal abortions so take a count of countries. Here’s a map of statistics. http://www.pregnantpause.org/lex/world02map.htm
From what I counted there are at least thirty countries where abortion is legal for social, economic, or “just because” reasons.
Since 1973 there have been more than 50 million abortions committed by the U.S. alone (legally). Now how many mothers does that make who lost their lives during this legalized procedure? Hmm. Take the fraction ten out of 100,000 and multiply it by 50,000,000 aaannnd… that’s five thousand women. Now since the other twenty nine countries or so don’t have the same population as the U.S., OR our magnificent health care, let’s be generous and multiply 5,000 of U.S. women by…twenty; to make the whole sum of women in the world. That’s one hundred thousand women who have died in the world from abortion related procedures since 1973 (legally).
What is one hundred THOUSAND people to you? I’m thinking that’s about what, one seventh the population of Seattle? How about the entire city of Bend Oregon? Or a third of Tacoma? These are just the women, people! And frankly, I’m sure most abortion clinics aren’t honest about their maternal (legal) fatality rates. And it’s not just “legals,” even more women die from illegal abortions. So the excuse is often, “well women do it anyway so we might as well legalize it and not oppose their choices.” Uh-uh. We’re fighting to end abortion, period. And we’re fighting to save women from drastic life threatening situations, period. So women do it anyway huh? What about rape? Lots of people do that, so should we as the compassionate American people legalize rape? I’m blown off my rocker!
Tens of thousands of women have died during or after an abortion due to depression and horror at what they've done. All for what? Some people blame “pro-lifers” for having no compassion on the women, only the children. Who’s got the blood on their hands?
Note: some may object to this post because health care is claimed to be so much safer nowadays and these are outdated facts. (Some do come from 2004-2005 statistics). Again this includes women who've died after aborted pregnancies from related causes. The details of numbers of suicides and others may be seen in a little while. It is not our intention to depress our readers, but to urge them on to continue this struggle that has been fought for decades.
http://www.pregnancycenters.org/abortion.html
http://www.rachelnetwork.org/images/Deaths_Associated_With_Abortion_and_Childbirth.pdf
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