Week Four: Abortion Flashcards
SDA position on Abortion 1971
Abortion could be performed for the 4 usual reasons of maternal health, fetal defect, rape/incest, and early teen pregnancy
What was the 5th criterion that arose for SDA church re: abortion?
“When for some reason the requirements of functional human life demand the sacrifice of the lesser potential human value”
Ultimately, is the SDA church pro choice or anti abortion?
pro choice from 1992;
2015: Most recent – the church does not serve as conscious for individuals, it should provide moral guidance. the final decision on whether to terminate the pregnancy is up to the woman, who is aided by her decision with accurate information, physician assistance, biblical assistance, etc.
Abortion boils down to which philosophical dispute?
When does human life begin?
Or when does personhood begin?
Why are Catholics opposed to contraceptive use?
One’s conclusion is based on how one interpret certain text – ex: Psalms 139:13 (v.15-16?) no contraceptive “for it was you who formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. My frame was not hidden from you….”
Before you were born you were a person or a human being?
biblical vs scientific view of life?
Our biological view of life is based on modern science. But modern science doesn’t explain everything. The biblical view is different. But it is no more absolutely accurate than ours.
For Pedrito, personhood begins…
a human being (or more specifically, a person) is one in RELATIONSHIP, intellectually, independently.
One who is affected by, and affects others consciously, independently
There is an “I”-“THOU” relationship (God and Us – God affects us, what we do affects God)
So, is biology or personality the essential ingredient of valuable human life? Who says biology, who says personality?
Human being is biology – cells
Personhood goes beyond that
Roman catholic church says biology – all manifestation of humanity is valuable human life ; Every manifestation of homosapien is of intrinsic worth. Embryo must be treated as a person, even IVF
Society says personality
The essence of being a human is not genetic, but uniquely personal capacity. The capacity for rational creativity. All persons are not human, all humans are not personal (?)
Persons are defined as individuals who are capable of self-awareness and rational choice.
What is the essential capacity for personhood?
A person can love and can be loved. An embryo does not possess the capacity of self-awareness of loving or being loved.
You can develop an illogical conclusion if you take either philosophy ^ to the extreme
It is important to weigh the issue, not just to choose one side. Neither foregoing biological or personal model of a human, but a reasonable compromise
Salvation and fetuses?
From a soteriological point of view if the fetus is a human being it will be either saved or lost.
If they are lost it will be a great abortion in hell.
If God is gracious we may have more unborn human being in heaven than born ones – depending on when you start human life: at conception or late in the pregnancy
Therefore, one can argue A full human personal human being will be saved or lost
Catholic church’s position on babies who die without baptism
has a position that there is a place that children who die without being baptized are in limbo
Potentiality and proximity
Potentiality suggests that the human conception is not just any tissue, but is uniquely endowed with the potential of full human status if nature takes its course – has the POTENTIAL of being a whole human person. Embryo is just the weakest of the weak. The civility of a society will be determined on how it treats its weakest or most vulnerable members.
Proximity: means that the embryo is in the PROCESS of becoming a person, but it is not a person yet. The greater the approximation of personhood the greater the value. The older it is, the more valuable it is.
