When Atheists Abort Babies

I wrote about abortion once, when I was involved in a disagreement with someone who made a comment along the lines of, “A REAL Christian can’t support abortion.”

Christianity is about faith, and personal positions on ethics and morality are not a great litmus test for faith. There are people who believe in the deity of Jesus and that the only way to life in the presence of God is through faith in Jesus yet still have differing views on issues of politics and ethics. There is no monolithic voice that says, “IF CHRISTIANS DON’T BELIEVE XYZ THEY ARE NOT REAL CHRISTIANS!”

That being said, I do believe that life in the womb is a precious thing.

I do believe that life in the womb is a person.

I do believe that life in the womb ought to be protected and not disposed of.

I just saw a news piece that talked about the famous atheist Richard Dawkins talking about the immorality of NOT aborting a fetus that tests positive for Down Syndrome.

Did you catch that?

First – an atheist talking about morality. That makes me laugh. Without a higher power as the foundation for all morality and ethics all we’re left with is, “I’ll do what seems right until it no longer seems right. Then I’ll do what suits me best.”

Second – in Dawkins skewed idea of morality he feels it is better to dispose of the fetus that tests positive for Down Syndrome rather than make the human suffer as he or she grows.

Dawkins said:

I think abortion is right if the woman wants an abortion. Down syndrome is one very good, and extremely common reason, to want it.

He is asserting his own opinion of what is “good” and, as a little slight of hand argumentation, mentions that it is an extremely common reason to abort. He claims that he is not trying to use the majority opinion as an argument. If he does not intend to use it as an argument then he has no need to say it. My kids commonly have reasons for all sorts of stuff. As responsible parents, we will often tell them, “You shouldn’t do that.” Even if many women choose to abort babies who have been identified as DS babies, it does not suddenly make it right.

The weight of opinion does not change the rightness of the action. This is true for any behavior that is contrary to God’s design.

I don’t expect a blog post like this to change opinions on abortion. Those who agree with me will continue to do so. Those who disagree will continue to do so. But I would be remiss if I didn’t point out some biblical reasons why I believe life in utero is precious life.

Samson was dedicated to God before he was even born:

So [Samson] told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” (Judges 16:7)

Job talks about God’s hand at work in creating life in the womb:

Did not he who made me in the womb make them? (Job 31:15)

The obvious pro-life favorite:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

In the prophets:

This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:2)

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. (Isaiah 49:1)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

I won’t beleaguer the point – but I think there is plenty of biblical cause to understand that life as we know it doesn’t begin and end with breath.

I am saddened that people like Dawkins think it is morally right to abort babies who test positive for problems. But when you’re an atheist, there’s really nothing stopping you from saying, “I’m going to choose whatever I want for my own ease and happiness – whatever the consequences might be for others.”

And that’s tragic.

** For the record, please recall that I acknowledge that this post won’t sway opinions. And if you differ, you won’t sway mine. For that reason I will not be entertaining comments from anyone who wants to argue. There’s another time and place for that. 🙂

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