Regarding the debate over stem-cell research and abortion, I would like someone to provide me with a quote from the Bible stating where and when life begins.
It wouldn't hurt to also have a quote as to why Abortions and condoms are banned by the Church. Don't quote the 5th Commandment because you have to first prove a fetus is a life using a quote from the Bible.
I do not own a Bible, and will not look for a verse because it is a big book with a lot of chapters. If you are just going to tell me the book and verse don't bother commenting.
2006-08-13 20:19:08 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, yes, yes, life is in blood, but anyone who has had 6th grade biology knows that a fetus gets blood from its mother until the umbilical cord is severed. Therefore if blood is life, it is the mother's life and not the fetus' yet. Therefore an abortion is the same as having a kidney removed. By that rationale removing a kidney is removing life, and a sin.
I guess I forgot that the Bible was not written by God, but instead passed on by word of mouth like a multigenerational game of “telephone” for many hundreds of years after Jesus died before being written down, and then was translated many times from one obscure dead language to another before we got it in English. I think I see now that the Bible cannot be flawed in any way.
2006-08-13 20:54:13 · update #1
According to the bible, abortion is not murder - a fetus is not considered a human life.
Exodus 21:22-23
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life."
The Bible places no value on fetuses or infants less than one month old.
Leviticus 27:6
"And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver."
Fetuses and infants less than one month old are not considered persons.
Hosea 9:16
"Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD." -- Numbers 3:15-16
God sometimes approves of killing fetuses.
Hosea 9:14 "Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts."
"Yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb."
Hosea 13:16 "Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up."
God sometimes kills newborn babies to punish their parents.
2 Samuel 12:14 "Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die."
God sometimes causes abortions by cursing unfaithful wives.
Numbers 5:21-21, 27-28
"The priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell. And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen. ...
And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed."
God's law sometimes requires the execution (by burning to death) of pregnant women.
Genesis 38:24
"Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."
The following account is the basis of many Christian doctrines, including the condemnation of both masturbation and birth control.
38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also
2006-08-13 20:34:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is not the primary authority in this matter. The primary authority is the church, and the church has always come down on the side of life, because life is the business God is in.
Throughout the entire history of the world, every time a sperm and an egg got together, something human was the result.
If somehow, a human embryo was discovered on Mars, what do you think the headline would read?
"Life Discovered On Mars!"
Everyone has always known that life begins at conception.
The "debate" you mention is only a political device designed to introduce just enough doubt into the minds of the gullible (or the unexpectedly pregnant) to keep embryonic stem cell research and abortion legal, for those who don't really care about killing innocent children.
The church believes that every human, no matter how young, no matter how small, has an immortal soul that was put there personally, by God.
And since God sent his son to redeem mankind at great personal expense, every human being, no matter how young, no matter how small, has tremendous dignity, stature, and importance, in the eyes of our Creator.
Abortion is in the very same category as embryonic stem cell research. Same logic. Slightly larger size victim. Same dignity. Same creator.
As for birth control, until fairly recent times, everyone understood that children are a blessing from God.
Those who reject God's blessings often progress to rejecting God in many other ways, too.
In other words, families with children are good for God's family.
Many modern birth control methods are unsafe for both the female and the embryo.
There's a high rate of fatal blood clots associated with the birth control pill.
There's a high rate of failures with condoms, which results in the spread of disease.
IUD's and certain birth control pills also act as abortificients, often causing "secret" unnoticed abortions of already fertilized human embryos.
Finally, the failure, for whatever reason, of one's chosen method of birth control often leads directly to the abortion clinic.
Right after humanity was created:
Gen 1:28 God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air, and all living creatures that move upon the earth.
He promised to supply whatever we needed, too.
So, you might say that birth control, abortion, and destructive embryo research demonstrates a basic lack of faith in God, too.
And that's how we all got into this mess in the first place.
Oh yeah, the quote about conception you requested:
Jer 1:4 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and made thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jer 1:6 And I said: Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.
Jer 1:7 And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, thou shalt speak.
Obviously, the human embryo inside the mother of Jeremiah the prophet, was more than just "a mass of cells".
2006-08-13 23:07:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leviticus 17:14 (Whole Chapter)
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Deuteronomy 12:23 (Whole Chapter)
Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
Notice the requirement for life is blood. that is an integral part of the following argument.
These will not support abortion, but they do support stem cell research as blood is not part of the embryonic makeup until the 6th stage (roughly 1 month after conception). As a result this will also work in arguing in favor of Plan B the new contraceptive.
2006-08-13 20:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by salientsamurai 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the Psalms (IIRC) the Bible indicates that God knew the future king David while God was forming him in the womb.
Other similar passages point to the fetus being a human being.
Based on those passages, and the fact that the Bible says that we should not kill innocent human life (and babies are innocent), many churches teach that Abortion is wrong.
Condoms are not banned by most Christian churches (pre-marital or extra-marital sex are however disobedience to Christ).
You can look up Bible verses at http://www.crosswalk.com
Cordially,
John
2006-08-13 20:24:06 · answer #4 · answered by John 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lets see what man himself says............
State Laws on Abortion, in regards to Funeral Home Directors, by: The Department of Human Services.
It is wrong according too man and Christianity.
1.) When a fetus weighs 11.3 ounces, or 20 weeks of term, whichever comes first. The baby dies, it has to have a Birth Certification and Death Certificate.
2.) When a fetus is less than 350 Grams and dies, it needs a Fetus Death Certificate.
3.) A fetus/baby is a live human being after it meets the above criteria, according too law.
4.) a nonlife needs no Death Certificate. [ It had to be a Life, to be declared dead.]
5.) A baby is a live human being even according too man, and will remain so, until man's law changes.
6.) By man's own deffinition as too Life: You tell me who is contradicting themselves.
7.) A fetus/baby is a live human being at conception, according to God, and will remain that way until YOU or someone else proves with the Word of GOD, that it isn't.
2006-08-13 20:29:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Isa 44:2
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Isa 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 49:5
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Jer 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Anything that has an ending, had a beginning. The ending is at the polar opposite end of the beginning, thus the beginning is at the polar opposite of the ending.
Draw a line. Where and when did it begin?
2006-08-13 20:35:00 · answer #6 · answered by Shalom Yerushalayim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psalm 139:14-16
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
It is murder to kill another human. If you are pregnant and you are NOT pregnant with a human, I would seek medical help.
2006-08-13 20:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by Alicia A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible teaches that our identity or life began in premortal existence, we are spirit Children of God. Just as it is crucial how we leave this world ( as to God forbidding to kill) it is important how we enter this world. Life is sacred. So abortion or any manner of threatening with life is contracdicting to God's purpose for us. That's why God's law of chastity is sacred, since procreational power is sacred and must be between a legally wedded husband and a wife. Breaking that law is just next serious to denying the Holy Ghost and shedding innocent blood in the sight of God.It's not the mother's choice to kill the baby, but the baby is already an individual with divine and unique nature and purpose. However, families need to plan their children prayerfully not according to their own convenience or luxury, but for the children and their welfare. We're not animals you know.
2006-08-13 20:25:40 · answer #8 · answered by Sailormoon 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It doesnt. Its perpetuated mainly from the Cathiloc faith, and its belief in Immaculate Conception. Look that up, and youll see why they believe life begins at conception and birth control should not be used. Its too long for me to post here, but thats the answer.
There IS no Bible verse.
2006-08-13 20:22:47 · answer #9 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The bible talks an awful lot about life in the middle east 2000 years ago..but really..its not relevant now..unless your a tribe of bronze age people??
2006-08-13 20:21:49 · answer #10 · answered by G-Bear 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Life begins in the Mind of God. "For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, the He might be the firstborn among many brethren." Romans 8:29
2006-08-13 20:24:46 · answer #11 · answered by PowerfulProphet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋