ABORTION versus DEATH PENALTY??

Question

Im curious how many of the beleivers here feel about abortion, and about the death penalty.
GW Bush, leader of the free world, was the one Govenor of Texas who presided over more death row inmate executions than any other Govenor in the state's history. Yet, he wants to outlaw abortion....
Does your faith not teach that all life is precious?? Why is it that death row inmates lives are worth less than that of an unborn fetus?? Granted, these people have commited horrible acts - but who are we to judge them and send them to their "maker" so to speak? Can people not change? Killing them does not allow them that chance.
Im not speaking of abortion as birth control either - what about if a woman's life is in danger from child bearing? What if your daughter is raped by a lunatic with AIDS and gets impregnated?
Is that fetus still worth more than the life of your child, your wife, or a death row inmate??

For the record, I am an atheist, and I beleive that abortion should remain legal, along with the death penalty. Im just trying to understand how beleivers rectify what seems to be a glaring inconsistency to me...

Answer 1

Guilt is the difference. And we'll no doubt have discussions regarding the innocence of many of those on death row. But let's assume that the one to be executed is guilty. Then it is a matter of justice. If we cannot judge, then we should not punish at all. Obviously, that doesn't work. Criminals have to be punished.

In regards to abortion, when you ask why a death row inmate's life is worth less than that of an unborn fetus are you not attributing life to that fetus? Are you not saying that fetus has life whose worth needs to be compared to that of the inmate? If so, then you condone the killing of an unguilty life as quickly as a guilty one?

And you cannot discuss abortion without discussing the question of using it as 'birth control.' That is what it is primarily used for. When and if the law is changed, then we can have that discussion. Until then, it is what it is.

But, to answer the question, my wife and I have had this discussion and we agree that if her life is endangered by a pregnancy we will not choose to have an abortion. If our daughter is raped, we will encourage her to carry the child (she's 19 months now, so we have a while to not worry about that). Besides, in the question of AIDS, to my limited understanding, the danger would not increase to her with the carrying of the child. The act itself would have endangered her.

The life of the unborn child has equal worth. The inmate has acted in such a way as to deserve just punishment.

My thoughts.

Answer 2

Abortion is entirely about the life and welfare of the mother. There is no human other than her to consider. There is a fetus that cannot exist without living off of her life-blood. If she wants a baby, then this is a blessing. If she doesn't, this is slavery. The issue is whether she should have a choice in the matter.

Regarding the death penalty, I am strongly opposed to it, based on my humanistic ethics. I don't believe that killing anyone is a legitimate course of action unless failing to do so would lead to further loss of life. Whenever the state says that execution is a legitimate act, there will always be some that will carry that logic forward, saying if it's OK for the government to punish someone with death, it is OK for them as individuals to follow a similar course. I prefer a society that refuses to murder its citizens.

Answer 3

Personally, it seems to me it's all in the timing. What is the Death Penalty but a retroactive abortion. I am a Republican who is pro-choice and anti death penalty. Theres a conundrum for you. My problem with the Death penalty is if you kill even ONE innocent person, then it seems to me there should be no Death Penalty. Man is NOT infallible. Until then we should leave that little problem alone. If a man is proved not-guilty but was executed... oops. But a life sentence, no matter how harsh at least lets the person try to prove their innocence. Abortion is a problem that hinges on one thing, when does life begin... at the moment of conception, or when the fetus is capable of sustaining life on it's own. I know I've bitten off a huge slice of crap here, but that's the way I see it.

Answer 4

It is a contradiction to be against abortions and yet support the death penalty....life is life and innocence, or guilty does not measure the value of the life..I am pro choice and i have a hard time understanding how people advocate for life only, yet support the death penalty....A very big contradiction indeed

Answer 5

I am completely against the death penalty in its current form in the United States. But I do think its possible to have the death penalty without it being deemed murder by the state.

Abortion is wrong, but I think birth control pills are just fine. Abortions in extreme situations (rape, incest, women's health) are also ok. But these are MY opinons and I refuse to force them on anyone else.

Too bad everyone else is obsessed with attacking other people...

Answer 6

hm i am pro-choice for abortion and for the death penalty. if someone takes the lives of multiple people then he should have his forefeit too. an eye for an eye. we shouldnt slap their hand and give them free room and board at a jail, where they have weight machines and cable tv, and 3 meals a day. the people who murder are living better then homeless people. if that be the case then perhaps all the homeless people need to go slaughter some people so they can have a place to live too?

obviously this is a circumstantial point. directed towards those who arent diagnosed with a mental problem, but to those who know better, who do it for the fun or the excitement. because anger overwhelms them. like those you see on tv.

Answer 7

Civilization does not butcher the innocent.

Abortion is a decision of one individual to kill another. The death sentence is an act by government to punish someone for a capital offence. They are not in the same category.

I would vote to legalize abortion in the case of rape, incest or danger to the mother if you would vote to abolish the other 99.999% of abortions. Agreed?

Signed,

A fully developed fetus

Answer 8

right it rather is the version between the two facets. people who help the loss of life penalty and oppose abortion are reasoning that the loss of life penalty supplies a in simple terms punishment for against the regulation, ridding society of the burden of helping people who prefer to harm and kill the harmless. on an identical time, they think that unborn toddlers are harmless, and having an abortion is comparable to homicide. people who're against the loss of life penalty and for abortion reason that no crime warrants the loss of life penalty, because of the fact people are in no place to decide one yet another, there is the prospect of putting to loss of life an harmless individual, and that execution is inhumane. on an identical time, they think that an unborn toddler isn't strictly alive, because of the fact it rather is thoroughly based upon the physique of the mum for it rather is survival, and consequently, the removing of the fetus is in simple terms a decision one makes for the physique, not killing.

Answer 9

Genesis 6:7
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

God has no respect for life in any form. His ego is all that is important. It's made very clear throughout the bible.

Answer 10

I'm trying to figure out what crime you think an unborn child has been convicted of, given your comparison with death row inmates. Was this a jury trial? Did the fetus' attorney appeal?