First, it is not an argument. It is an assertion. An argument is a series of at least two propositions that logically lead to a conclusion. That doesn’t happen here.
Second, there are a myriad of things that a person can’t do in the name of privacy or by appealing to “this is my body.” A person cannot do drugs (excluding marijuana in some places) and simply get away with it, even though it is his body that is affected by the drugs. A person, in most places, cannot prostitute herself, even though it is her body. (Some have actually argued that prostitution should be legal because it empowers women and it is their body.) Examples could be multiplied, but hopefully the point is clear.
Third, and most importantly, it isn’t her body!!! When deciding to murder a baby in the womb, arguing “It’s my body, so I can do it” is simply asinine (that means incredibly stupid)! If a woman was going to abort herself, that would be suicide. Abortion takes the life of the baby, not the mother. The baby is a separate being with its own DNA, blood type, and gender. The baby is not identical with the mother. So, even if she could do what she wanted with her body, the baby is a different story.
Some will retort that at the moment of abortion (presumably in the first trimester), the fetus is not a human yet. However, this is ludicrous. The only reason to claim this is to justify abortion. What else would it be? The baby is a product of sexual reproduction, which can only reproduce another member of the parents’ species. Two humans cannot sexually reproduce another species. At conception the baby has all of its needed chromosomes (the same number of fully developed adults). The fetus simply needs time to develop. Two humans can only reproduce humans. The fact that the baby isn’t fully developed doesn’t make it a non-human. Our bodies don’t stop developing until the early twenties as the frontal lobe of the brain is still forming (this is what connects reason and emotion, which explains why teenagers can be very irrational).
One cannot help but wonder why liberals are so concerned with women’s rights while simultaneously willing and even advocating for the outright murder of so many women (female babies). Such advocates are not advocates of love and compassion, but of hatred and murder.
Forgiveness
If you are reading this and have had an abortion, or know someone who has, it is important to know there is forgiveness in Christ. Yes, abortion is wrong. You probably already know that. But it doesn’t mean that you are outside of grace and forgiveness. God’s grace covers even abortion. Know that. Hear the words of John: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all [all!] unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
As Christians we should condemn abortion for what it is while also remembering and communicating the grace of Jesus Christ.
Dear Dr. Huffling, could you please send me the verses in the Bible that can be used against abortion? I probably could just google it but I would prefer your expertise. Also, it’s been argued that a fetus could not survive outside the mothers body so it’s more a parasitic relationship hence it is up to the mother whether to continue with pregnancy. Thank you for your time.
Hi Luke,
I’m looking at Geisler’s 2nd edition on Christian Ethics, page 148, if you want to check that out. Here are some points he makes:
Unborn babies are called “children” with the same word that is used for infants (Ex. 21:22; Lk 1:41). The life of the unborn is the same as adults (Ex. 21:22-24). Regarding the fetus not being able to survive outside the mother’s body, I would offer 2 points: being able to survive does not determine what a thing is. And babies can’t survive outside the mother either without help. They also live off of the mother’s body via breastfeeding. Does that mean the baby nursing is not human because the baby lives off of the mother’s body?
I hope that helps!