Some religious people suggest you can’t have morality without God, and therefore atheists have no reason to act morally. Some atheists respond by saying we shouldn’t need the threat of eternal damnation to inspire us to act decently. As an agnostic, I don’t see why a belief in God is necessary in order to want […]
[Today’s entry is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] Disclaimer: I know both pro-choicers and pro-lifers who understand fetal development. The following post is not meant to address everyone, but to specifically address the people who remain ignorant. Mary Elizabeth Williams at Slate.com wrote a piece explaining that she understands abortion takes a human life, but that “some […]
[Today’s blog is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] Even as Planned Parenthood moves away from the “Pro-choice” label, more Americans are adopting it. Again. According to Gallup 48% of Americans describe themselves as “pro-choice,” compared to 44% who describe themselves as “pro-life.” Yet only last year Gallup reported a record low number of self-described pro-choicers (41%, compared to 50% “pro-life”). That’s […]
[Today’s post is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] Planned Parenthood is moving away from the term “pro-choice” in response polls showing dissatisfaction with abortion debate labels. “I’m neither pro-choice nor pro-life,” said one woman in a focus group commissioned by Planned Parenthood. “I’m pro-whatever-the-situation is.” Said another, “there should be three: pro-life, pro-choice and something in the […]
[Today’s post is reprinted from “Yeah, but…”] Philosophers have proposed, and studies have suggested, that people form opinions based on their emotions first, and after the opinion is formed they find a way to rationalize it. Emotion —> Opinion! —> Rationalization We may like to believe we first carefully think about the logic behind ideas, then form our opinions, and then let our […]
[Today’s post is re-posted from “Yeah, but…“] There are many important factors in the abortion debate. I try to weigh all factors in forming my perspective. I am pro-life, but I don’t pick the side lightly. It seems the only options are restricting a woman’s control over her body or allowing the unrestricted killing of […]
[Today’s post is reprinted from my blog, “Yeah, but…“] If we suddenly stopped arguing about the legality of abortion and just skipped straight to an appeal to morality independent of legality (if that’s even possible), how would people react? Secular Pro-Life once talked about how 68% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal after the first trimester. […]
[Today’s post is reprinted from my blog, “Yeah, but…“] Gallup says 89% of American adults consider birth control morally acceptable. Gallup also says 50% of Americans describe themselves as “pro-life.” Let’s assume all of the other 50% (the people who don’t describe themselves as “pro-life”) consider birth control morally acceptable. That leaves 39% of Americans who both describe themselves as […]