Abortion Debate Index

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Biology

Regarding when life begins

Biologically there’s no consensus on when life begins.

What do we mean by “alive”? Are viruses alive?

A zygote isn’t “alive” yet. Many zygotes don’t even implant.

Embryos are like sperm, eggs, or skin cells.

Regarding fetal development

Embryos don’t have hearts or heartbeats.

Ultrasounds are just detecting electrical activity, not heartbeats.

A 9 week embryo isn’t even visible to the naked eye.

Fetuses can’t feel pain.

Regarding miscarriage compared to abortion

Personhood

You aren’t a person until…

…you’re viable/can live independently/don’t require someone else’s body to live.

…you have consciousness.

…you have self-awareness.

If life begins at conception…

…what does that imply about IVF?

…why don’t people mourn miscarriage?

Other general personhood discussions

Bodily Rights

Bodily Rights (SPL YouTube playlist)

It’s my body; I can do what I want with it.

It doesn’t matter if the fetus is a person or not, because no person has the right to use your body against your will.

Abortion isn’t about killing; it’s about ending a pregnancy.

Consent to sex is not consent to pregnancy

Outlawing abortion leaves women with fewer rights than a corpse.

The “Hard” Cases

What about when her life is in danger?

What about when there are fetal anomalies?

Non-fatal anomalies
Fatal anomalies

What about when she was raped?

Please note Secular Pro-Life does not take an official position on whether abortion restrictions ought to include an exception for rape. We detail our reasoning here.

Abortion Procedures and Medications

(WebMD) What are the types of abortion procedures?

Abortion pills

Abortion pill reversal

Surgical abortion

Effects of Abortion

Effects of Abortion Restrictions

On women

Women will be prosecuted for abortion.

Abortion is 14 times safer than childbirth.

On children

Abortion bans mean more children will be born unwanted.

On society

Abortion restrictions are imposing Christian religious views on everyone else

Abortion limits are a globally recognized human rights violation

Stereotypes of Pro-Lifers

You’re not pro-life; you’re anti-choice.

Pro-lifers are pushing their religious views on everyone else.

No uterus, no opinion/Men shouldn’t be making laws about women’s bodies.

Pro-lifers hate women.

Pro-life women hate themselves/are internalized misogynists.

Pro-lifers are right wing extremists.

Pro-lifers are anti-sex/want to control people’s sex lives.

Pro-lifers are anti-contraception.

You’re pro-life because you lack real world experience.

Pro-life is just pro-birth.

Bumper Stickers

Don’t like abortion? Don’t get one

Keep your rosaries off my ovaries

An acorn is not a tree

If abortion is murder, then masturbation is genocide

If the fetus you save is gay, will you still fight for its rights?

God is the biggest abortionist of all.

“Yeetus the fetus”

  • “Yeetus the fetus” (TikTok)

Dialogue Strategies

Talking about abortion with pro-choice friends (YouTube playlist)

General strategies

Tell people you’re pro-life.

Regarding in-person discussions

Regarding online discussions