Am I the only one that sees the fallacy in this?

Question

Or am I making the fallacy?

Why do some on the pro choice side (abortion), which is the side I actually support, though that doesn't obligate me to agree with every opinion and tactic of theirs, insist that there is some great hypocrisy in an anti abortion and pro death penalty/ given war position? I know many with such positions are Christians, and that supposedly that places them as being inconsistent to Christian tenets, but aren't there different reasons for the support and denouncement of the three issues? I think a comparison of the three issues is specious when used to determine the rationality of each respectively. Am I wrong? I'm rather tired, so if I'm not clear, I'll try to add additions soon to clarify what I'm asking.

Thanks.

For the record: I'm anti death penalty, and neutral on hypothetical wars, and may or may not have a position on existing wars. As for the war in Iraq, I am opposed to it.

sprcpt, I have heard, I believe from a documentary program, that the Bible has made exceptions, and the actual translation of the relevant commandment is, supposedly, though shalt not murder.

Answer 1

No, it's like this: You let it be born, and if it turns out horribly bad you kill it. Keep the good ones. Kill off the bad ones. There is no fallacy or conflict in this thinking. Kiling a fetus is a different line of reasoning than killing a mass murderer. You cannot equate the two. thus, anti-abortion and pro-death penalty are not in conflict. Two different things entirely.

Religion is not above killing. More people have been killed in religious conflicts than from any other cause.

Answer 2

The logic behind that argument is this.
When the Christian religion says thou shalt not kill, you cannot selectively choose when and when not to follow your religion.

Thou shalt not kill according to their religious text does not discriminate who you are not supposed to kill, it just flat out states that you are not supposed to kill, weather it be on a battle field, abortion clinic or the death chamber.

Never mind the abortion clinic bombers.

I am all for the death penalty, pro-choice and am ok with killing people on a battle field as long as the reason we are on the battle field is just. Afghanistan is just, Iraq is not.

Edit - The bible does not make exceptions to this, it just contradicts itself. For example when Moses came down from the mountain and delivered the ten commandments the very next thing they do in that story is slaughter an entire population for not following the ten commandments that these people were not even aware of. How is that not committing genocide let alone murder?

Edit #2 - Ok, you are right I found some exceptions.

Stoning women for being rape victims
Deut. 22:21
Stoning and burning women for not being virgins
Deut. 22:21
Lev. 21:9
Stoning your brothers, son, daughter, and wife for worshipping differently from yourself
Deut. 13:6-10
Stoning a man for picking up sticks
Num. 15:35-36
Stoning a youth for blasphemy
Lev. 24:23

You would be hard pressed to claim that any of these examples are not murder.

Edit #3 - Well I thought about it all night and did some more research. It's ok to kill a rape victim (didn't do anything wrong), but there are no exceptions to kill some criminal (did do something wrong) because it is god's job to punish people. Judge not lest ye be judged.

By the logic of thier teachings they should be pro choice (kill an innocent) and anti death penalty (let god deal with criminals)

So I have come to the conclusion that the fallacy lies in two assumptions:
1. That Christianity makes any sense whatsoever.
2. That the people that claim to follow that religion have any sense of logic or reason.

Answer 3

I know what you mean. People try to over simplify everything.

But, I think the inconsistency being pointed out is that "pro life" supporters aren't all that consistent about supporting ALL life. [They really should just use the term "anti-abortion", which is a lot more accurate, even if it doesn't sould as pretty as "pro life"]

For example, a certain percentage of "pro-lifers" claim that they are so supportive of life that it makes sense to bomb abortion clinics. shoot doctors and and kill the people who disagree with them. So there is apparently some sliding scale about which kinds of life they support.

Answer 4

I agree with you. I am not in favor of criminalizing abortion, nor do I support the death penalty. But I don't see a conflict between my views nor the views of those who disagree with me on both topics.

Answer 5

Yes you are making the fallacy. You are pro abortion, anti death penalty, and neutral on war!

That brings to mind Baseball Manager Billy Martin's famous line ..... "I feel strongly both ways".

Answer 6

abortion is murder. plain, pure and simple. only God can create life. that's why it is so sacred. today with population explosions the world over, life is not taken seriously. have you lost a loved one? child or parent before their time? that is when you understand just how valuable , precious and irreplacable one life can be. from a christian stand point, which i adhere to, thou shalt not kill, especially your own. just how sick is that? these are the last days. is jesus your lord and saviour?
GOD BLESS

Answer 7

I am pro-choice but only for one reason. I agree with you. There are other argument's that are flawed and one is "its my body". In fact, I asked a question about that yesterday if you care to read it.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjZiR1i.raHWVDpMZ8kj4Ivsy6IX?qid=20061101201048AAOXX5T

Answer 8

I see no flaw in your thinking.

We protect the innocent and punish the guilty

Answer 9

you mean they group all the issue together and called you names ............

a repug ........... anti-abortion ......... pro war ............... anti immigrant ........ pro death penalty .......

a liberal democrat ......... pro choice .......... anti war .......... pro immigrant ......... anti death penalty .......

well ........... I'm ........ anti -abortion ........ pro Afghanistan war ........... anti Iraq war .......... pro immigrant ........ pro death penalty .......... pro no limit on stem cell research ......... don't know what i am but I'm glad I'm not a repug .......... can't stand the thought of being one

Answer 10

there is no reasoning behind the social conservative agenda other than religion