Freethought & Rationalism Archive

velvetfinger · 12-15-2003, 01:09 AM

This page from the Skeptics Annotated Bible lists 'crimes' that are punishable by death.

Murder
Being a disobedient child
Being a witch
Beastiality
Worshipping another god
Breaking the Sabbath
Adultery
Incest
Homosexuality
Blasphemy
Not being a virgin on the night of the wedding
Rape victims who don't cry out loudly enough

Abortion is not on the list.

I was under the impression that the Bible opposed abortion. Isn't that why some fundamentalist christians have gunned down doctors who perform them?

Is abortion opposed by the bible?

I also am aware that the SAB is not the be-all and end-all, so if any of the listed 'crimes' are incorrect, clarification would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

liamo · 12-15-2003, 02:49 AM

Here is a tract from the ffrf: What does the bible say about abortion?, it should answer your question perfectly!

Liam

rebels · 12-15-2003, 06:17 AM

Abortion has been practiced for 1000's of years and no doubt in Biblical times. For something that claimes it's truthfulness Religion many times falls flat of telling only what is fact. In any event the Bible is not a legal document nor a book of laws, only a collection of writers ideas.

Treacle Worshipper · 12-15-2003, 09:50 AM

One has to wonder, when 1 in 4 (yes, 25%) of first pregnancies end in (natural) miscarriage, how people can imagine that there's any higher power that cares about the unborn.

(Statistics given by NHS doctors to each of 3 friends of mine who have had 1st-pregnancy miscarriages in the last 12 months.)

TW

Toto · 12-15-2003, 10:18 AM

The early Christian church decided that abortion was wrong because it was murder, although there is no scriptural support for this. Abortions in those days before modern surgical techniques and sanitation were dangerous and a significant cause of women's death (but then live birth was also risky).

The church also forbade birth control. Following these doctrines allowed Christians to increase their numbers and eventually take over the Roman Empire. When something works that well, you tend to cling to it.

The alleged Christians who have gunned down doctors who perform abortions are not serious Bible scholars or ethicists, and I think some of them got their information transmitted directly from god (probably through the radio transmitters that the CIA implanted in their teeth. . . )

velvetfinger · 12-15-2003, 08:01 PM

Thanks, all. Much appreciated.

12-15-2003, 01:09 AM	#1
velvetfinger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hyogo, Japan Posts: 942	Abortion and the SAB This page from the Skeptics Annotated Bible lists 'crimes' that are punishable by death. Murder Being a disobedient child Being a witch Beastiality Worshipping another god Breaking the Sabbath Adultery Incest Homosexuality Blasphemy Not being a virgin on the night of the wedding Rape victims who don't cry out loudly enough Abortion is not on the list. I was under the impression that the Bible opposed abortion. Isn't that why some fundamentalist christians have gunned down doctors who perform them? Is abortion opposed by the bible? I also am aware that the SAB is not the be-all and end-all, so if any of the listed 'crimes' are incorrect, clarification would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

12-15-2003, 06:17 AM	#3
rebels Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: metropolis, il Posts: 23	Bible and Abortion Abortion has been practiced for 1000's of years and no doubt in Biblical times. For something that claimes it's truthfulness Religion many times falls flat of telling only what is fact. In any event the Bible is not a legal document nor a book of laws, only a collection of writers ideas.

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12-15-2003, 02:49 AM	#2
liamo Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ireland Posts: 148	Here is a tract from the ffrf: What does the bible say about abortion?, it should answer your question perfectly! Liam

12-15-2003, 09:50 AM	#4
Treacle Worshipper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 931	One has to wonder, when 1 in 4 (yes, 25%) of first pregnancies end in (natural) miscarriage, how people can imagine that there's any higher power that cares about the unborn. (Statistics given by NHS doctors to each of 3 friends of mine who have had 1st-pregnancy miscarriages in the last 12 months.) TW

12-15-2003, 10:18 AM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	The early Christian church decided that abortion was wrong because it was murder, although there is no scriptural support for this. Abortions in those days before modern surgical techniques and sanitation were dangerous and a significant cause of women's death (but then live birth was also risky). The church also forbade birth control. Following these doctrines allowed Christians to increase their numbers and eventually take over the Roman Empire. When something works that well, you tend to cling to it. The alleged Christians who have gunned down doctors who perform abortions are not serious Bible scholars or ethicists, and I think some of them got their information transmitted directly from god (probably through the radio transmitters that the CIA implanted in their teeth. . . )

12-15-2003, 08:01 PM	#6
velvetfinger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hyogo, Japan Posts: 942	Thanks, all. Much appreciated.

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