2006-09-08 00:23:02 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We are doing a study in my college class about this subject. So your references will help me write my paper.
My professors has challenged us to find scriptures to support or disputed abortion. And give God's opinion about miscarriages & the value of the fetus. We are not allowed to use scriptures like "Thou shall not murder", cause we must provide scriptures that are on the subject, not in a general sense.
We are allowed to use other sources like the Oxford.
2006-09-08 01:08:27 · update #1
As a Bible College Grad, this subject has been studied in our classes:
In biblical times, it can be argued that abortion was practiced without censure.
In the Bible this scripture Leviticus 24:3-7 indicates that the lives of children were not valued as highly as those of an adult, while no value whatsoever was given to any child under the age of one month. There is no indication that a fetus had any status either. So it was assumed until the child was 1 month outside of the womb, it had no status.
(Hey, I didn't write it. So don't judge me. It's in the Bible)
A key text for examining ancient Israelite attitudes is
Exodus 21:22-25:"When people who are fighting injury a pregnant woman, resulting in miscarriage, & no other harm was caused to the woman. The one responsible must be fined to pay the husband or as a judged determines, only if the 'woman' was injured." (not the fetus).
This proves that the lives of adults were more important to the Israelites. It also proves that if the woman was NOT injured at all, then there is need for concern, & payment was only expected if SHE was injured.
So what makes an individual a Living Soul? The 'breath of life' made a person a 'living soul' (Gensis). The 1st breath drawn comes AFTER birth, not inside the womb!
To OldGuy 63: Go read the Bible & the Oxford Companion to the Bible. Look up the word 'abortion' in the Oxford.....
To Suzanne: You are standing in judgement of me. "Woe unto you".Judgement is God's place. NOT YOURS. Or maybe you think that you are GOD......Rebuke from you
2006-09-08 00:26:20 · answer #1 · answered by prophetessqueen 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Interestingly, while the Bible is pretty clear in its condemnation of homosexuality, you have to look hard and twist some words around to convince yourself that it condemns abortion.
We're apparently not supposed to be smart enough to realize that.
Take a look at the Bible verses that people quote here in response to your question and you'll see what I mean. Prophetess makes a strong case, while the anti-abortionists are clearly flailing around desperately to make an unsupportable case. The Bible simply doesn't condemn abortion.
The modern condemnation of abortion is not Biblically-based. Even if you are a Christian, you have to believe that it comes from man, not from God.
Later: Okay, it's a couple of hours later, and the antiabortionists still haven't come up with any Biblical condemnation of abortion. Pretty telling, isn't it?
This is exactly what is so immoral about religion.
2006-09-08 00:26:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible says life begins when a person breathes through his nostrils, so abortion & miscarriage are irrelevant since neither involves a person.
To Suzanne (below):
So what? If we assume the bible to be truthful, God could have created humans with a soul intact. Obviously, he did not and a soul does not enter a body until it breathes. A fetus does not breathe and is not a "living soul" or a person.
You are arguing against your God, not me.
And, you are totally incorrect that abortion is "murder." It is not.
2006-09-08 00:45:00 · answer #3 · answered by Left the building 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"Prophetess": you are no prophetess on behalf of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that's for sure! Your first quote is not even the right one; your second quote is misapplied. Obviously, you have no understanding of God's ways and are blaspheming His holy Name.
Otherwise, I agree with the majority of answerers here: abortion is murder, which violates the 6th Commandment. We must never forget that the Mosaic Law functions as ONE UNIT -- it cannot be broken up (Deut. 27:26 and James 2:10-11). Therefore, a person cannot follow the Laws to which "Prophetess" refers, because this would cause him or her to break the 6th Commandment. God tells us it is our obligation to have mercy on the weak and that He will punish evildoers. Just because the Law provides a punishment does NOT mean humans have the right to carry it out. This is what so many people failed (and still fail) to understand about how the Law works.
Miscarriage is a natural occurance; there is no punishment for a woman who experiences this.
Peace.
p.s. -- J.T.: Adam was not born, he was created.
Prophetess: This judgement is righteous. Can you identify any flaw in it? If not, my comments stand. You cannot imply God is unrighteous and expect no rebuke.
2006-09-08 00:48:50 · answer #4 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Genesis 38:24 - And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, 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.
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.
Exodus 21:22 - 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 determine23:And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life
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.
Numbers 31:17 - Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him18: But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Psalms 137:9 - Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
2006-09-08 00:34:02 · answer #5 · answered by AiW 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Miscarriage i believe is not a crime but abortion is the most incredible act of murder.... if the government made sex with under tens legall would that make it o.k. by you.
We should ask ourselves what it means to 'Abort'
Is it not a polite word for 'Exterminate' You may as well call 'Rentokil' they may win the contract yet, if current attitudes continue.
2006-09-08 02:21:18 · answer #6 · answered by HOPE 4 THE FUTURE: 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well I think the bible doesn't agree to abortion, we can see when the pharoah at time of moses comanded sifra and pua (exodus 1) to kill all the hebrew's babies, they ran away from the pharoah and disobey his command, but the bible says God bless them instead!
We can also see that the bible teach us not to kill and abortion is the same thing as killing. I'm sure if God putted that baby in the womb, that means he has a beautiful plan in their lives.
2006-09-08 00:35:43 · answer #7 · answered by Yo_@n 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most basic statement is in the 10 commandments. 'Thou shalt not commit murder"
to prophetess - How do you related a child being injured during a fight and dies to a intentional killing of a fetus by another person.
2006-09-08 00:26:26 · answer #8 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Jeremiah 1:5 "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."
God said he knew Jeremiah and had a purpose for his life even before he was born - while he was still in the womb. I believe this applies to all unborn babies. This shows that an unborn child is just that - a child. Not a blob of tissue, etc.
As far as miscarriage, he is concerned over the hurt that comes emotionally from this. You can read many examples of "barren" women in the Bible and God blessing them with children. One is of Hannah, the mother of Samuel in the Old Testament and the other is Sarah, mother of Isaac.
2006-09-08 00:30:05 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs J 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The 10 commandments say thou shall not kill (or commit murder in some translations), and abortion is murder, plain and simple, that is where to find it.
2006-09-08 00:36:51 · answer #10 · answered by not_prfikt 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋