it seems like most atheists are pro choice and christians are pro life. i also see many pagans being pro choice, which as a pagan, bothers me, because i am pro life.
i personally think that in some cases abortion is a realistic option (such as rape or danger to the mother's health)
2007-06-01 07:38:28 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
blueridge - you bring up a very valid point!
2007-06-01 07:43:28 · update #1
figure of speach - i won't get into an arguement about the unborn babie's rights, this is just a question about whether there are atheist pro lifers (apparently you're not one)
2007-06-01 07:44:42 · update #2
I'm Atheist, and in many ways I agree with you. I don't think abortion should be used as birth control. Condoms, pills, diaphragms... you know, there are nearly as many methods of birth control as there are ways of having sex. Use them. If a woman becomes pregnant with a child she either doesn't want or can't take care of, I'm all for putting the child up for adoption. You have any idea how many couples there are out there who WANT children, but can't have them? Give them the chance to be the parents they hunger to be.
Rape... you know what? I hate the thought of it. I'd really rather hear of a woman who was killed as opposed to one who was raped: a raped woman has to live with it for the rest of her life. But if a woman finds herself pregnant as the result of a rape, why punish the child? The child has done nothing wrong. I think even Christians who would normally thumbs-down me would agree how wonderful it would be to turn a hateful crime into loving parenthood. The scars are there for life... but why not make a right out of a wrong?
If the baby's life puts the mother in danger, then I support abortion. Why allow two people to die? If the mother dies, the fetus does as well--reason would state that anyone opposed to this idea is supporting the killing of the mother as well.
As an Atheist, I firmly believe that this life is all any of us is ever going to have. So any opportunity at allowing life to thrive should take priority over ending life.
2007-06-01 07:55:27 · answer #1 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why wouldn't an atheist be pro-life? But then, I believe that being pro-life doesn't automatically make you anti-abortion. Until the government makes a legal decision of when and under what circumstances a thing becomes a human being with a person's rights, they have absolutely no right to dictate what you can do with your body. If a thing becomes a person when it has 8 cells and human genetics, then pretty much all forms of birth control except for abstinence need to be outlawed in the event it causes miscarriage or prevents implantation. But if a thing becomes a person when it can live independent of a host then it would be legal to dispose of many people who suffer from brain damage as well as any fetus before 24 weeks gestation.
As to your argument that in some cases abortion is acceptable, such as when the mother's health might be in danger or if her pregnancy is the result of rape: If the pre-born is legally human, then there should be no distinction between age so, this would be the same as killing a 3 year old because his father raped his mother or because your ADD kid is putting you in harms way through his love of lighting matches, to protect you, the kid must die.
None of this argument has anything to do with a belief in God. It has to do with reason and legalities.
2007-06-01 08:05:27 · answer #2 · answered by familyscribe 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am atheist and believe a woman's right to choose cannot be legislated by a male dominated government.
I am pro life in the sense I oppose the death penalty. I oppose a war that has cost America and Iraq an obscene amount of human life. I believe that not enough is being done to prevent violent crime on the homefront and too many lives are lost to violent crime. I am pro life in the sense that I believe stem cell research will save countless human lives and aliviate much human suffering.
I am pro life in that I believe healthy and effective birth control is a HUMAN RIGHT and would prevent so many abortions. Preventing unwanted pregnancy prevents abortion.
2007-06-01 07:49:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you need to get out more and realize that nothing is that clean and simple. I'm a Christian and a liberal and I know plenty of Christans who are pro choice. When it comes to atheists, just because you don't believe in God, doesn't mean you condone killing unborn babies. Personally I think most pro life people and most pro choice people share the belief that it should be up to the mother in some instances, like if she faces death herself.
2007-06-01 07:43:37 · answer #4 · answered by Alexis 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
If you don't already know, I am a pro-life Pagan. Not to spam, but I host a Yahoo! Group for non-traditional pro-lifers who feel alienated by the current mainstream pro-life movement. It is welcoming to both Pagans and atheists. E me for details if interested.
Oh, and people intrigued by this question may wish to visit:
http://www.godlessprolifers.org
2007-06-01 07:52:30 · answer #5 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, Riegen, I agree with you. The sanctity of life shouldn't really hinge on belief in God and there are small groups of atheists/agnostics who are pro-life, just as there many Christians who support abortion. I don't think this "debate" is going to end any time soon. As a gay guy, I find that most gay supporters are aligned with pro-choice groups. But I'm a supporter of PLAGAL, the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians.
2007-06-01 07:44:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"It's only believers in the Bible that would have abortion banned / Anti-choice agnostics, I could count them on one hand!"
Most "pro-lifers" are actually anti-choice. How the f.uck can you call yourself "pro-life" while being in favor of the death penalty (the vast majority of "pro-lifers" are)?!
A message to the "abortion is only okay in emergencies" people: The adoption system is already chock FULL of abandoned children--giving a kid up for adoption is equivalent to guaranteeing them a crappy childhood and a life filled with the realization that they were brought into this word by parents that didn't want them. How could someone put ANY kid through that? Is that REALLY better than stopping an unwanted pregnancy ASAP, and sparing the world of a life that's doomed to depression right out of the gate? Done promptly, an abortion is performed LONG before the embryo can physically suffer/feel pain or has any self-awareness. It is no more "killing a potential child" than masturbating/menstruating is.
2007-06-01 07:41:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
Of course there are atheists who are "pro-life". Just as there are Christians who are pro-choice. People usually don't fit into the pigeon holes society tries to stick them in.
2007-06-01 09:01:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, I think there are probably people who don't believe in God, but who do believe that an unborn baby's life should be protected.
People don't have to believe in God to respect others.
Just as many Christians do not respect others' rights, just as many Atheists do respect others' rights to life ... and that every life has intrinsic value.
2007-06-01 07:44:39 · answer #9 · answered by Lu 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm up on the fence but I know a few pro life atheists. I'm against abortion but I'm not about to tell a woman what she has to do.
Did you know Pro Life used to mean anti death penalty too? Anti abortion sounded too negative so they took that one over.
2007-06-01 07:41:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋