Abortion: Your Views...

[Locke4God]

If you look objectively at the arguements, then it's hard to argue against the logic that life begins at conception. It's the starting point. Bar none. Any other arguement, such as for life beginning with the heartbeat is really just arbitrary and so one has to conclude that abortion at any point is wrong.

Now I do add stipulations for myself, and you can debate those. Mind you I'm not a religios zealot predisposed to be against abortion. I also would argue that allowing abortion breeds irresponsibility, but I understand that arguement that it would be best not to bring a child into an unstable family. Either way, for myself I am accepting of abortions in pregnancies that endanger the life of the mother, are assured of severely handicapped children, or in the case of rape. For me all abortions would have to take place within the 1st trimester only. If you don't fall into one of those categories, then perhaps you should invest in birth control or abstinance. I think that's a pretty good compromise.

[Alpha]

I am accepting of abortions in pregnancies that ... are assured of severely handicapped children...

THAT is an entirely different issue. I think aborting a child on the basis that they have a mental 'defect' is one of the highest forms of moral wrong. By doing so, you are sending a message to all those who are living with mental 'defects' that they would be better off dead - i.e. aborted 'when we had a chance'. My 15-year-old brother is 'severely autistic and profoundly intellectually disabled' (doctor's words), so would it have been a good thing to simply have disposed of him while we had the chance - before it would officially become murder? While my brother cannot talk, hold a pen, understand what anyone says to him, etc. (though in no way physically impaired), he is perfectly capable of being happy and experiencing enjoyment. I do not see how it can be considered proper to abort a child based on the knowledge that they will be born with a disability. They are still human, and deserve just as many rights.

[Locke4God]

@ Alpha - I can't argue with that. You make a good point. I was just including it as a compromise, and when I say that I mean severe deformities that would require consant attention and are most likely life threatening for the child right from the beginning. But I completely see your point.