JBeukema
Rookie
- Banned
- #1
Oft we here the language of the abortion debate played out in the language of religion. The religious right rails against the destruction of a human sole, ultimately falling back- near always- on their religion for the moral grounds for their objections. The anti-lifers, in turn, respond in kind. They rail against the legislation of religion and accuse others of forcing their god upon the county. However, there is another group that has entered the scene that, while smaller than the others, poses a huge danger to both of the aforementioned. These are those pro-life atheists and other non-religious persons who object to the slaughter of the unborn. Why is this group so dangerous?
To the anti-lifers, these persons undermine the very straw man that they rely upon for the crux of their arguments. Any attempt to paint their opposition the usually colors of religious fanaticism simply will not work and this new opposition is more likely than the old to understand the biological sciences to rip to shreds their little catch phrases about the child being 'not alive' and a part of 'her body'.
Why, then, does not more of the Right embrace these allies? The reason is simple. To admit that someone can have a moral objection to abortion- or any other issue- without being religious undermined their long-held position that America needs their god in order to 'live right'. Indeed, if morality is acknowledged as existing outside of religion, then the question is raised of why we need religion at all. The cries that 'the godless' are destroying America, undermining our principles, and going after your children are shown to be the hollow screams of the ignorant and frightened. Ultimately, it is a fear of the unknown and of the loss of power and influence.
-and so, each side seeks to ignore this growing number of persons, and the battle continues to take place on the grounds of 'religious infringement' versus 'personal rights'. I fear that so long as this remains the case, our only probable options re either an inability to protect the unborn or undue and dangerous influence of religious principles upon legislation and the State.
To the anti-lifers, these persons undermine the very straw man that they rely upon for the crux of their arguments. Any attempt to paint their opposition the usually colors of religious fanaticism simply will not work and this new opposition is more likely than the old to understand the biological sciences to rip to shreds their little catch phrases about the child being 'not alive' and a part of 'her body'.
Why, then, does not more of the Right embrace these allies? The reason is simple. To admit that someone can have a moral objection to abortion- or any other issue- without being religious undermined their long-held position that America needs their god in order to 'live right'. Indeed, if morality is acknowledged as existing outside of religion, then the question is raised of why we need religion at all. The cries that 'the godless' are destroying America, undermining our principles, and going after your children are shown to be the hollow screams of the ignorant and frightened. Ultimately, it is a fear of the unknown and of the loss of power and influence.
-and so, each side seeks to ignore this growing number of persons, and the battle continues to take place on the grounds of 'religious infringement' versus 'personal rights'. I fear that so long as this remains the case, our only probable options re either an inability to protect the unborn or undue and dangerous influence of religious principles upon legislation and the State.