Is Abortion Ever Justified? A Christian and Philosophical Perspective
Is Abortion Ever Justified? A Christian and Philosophical Perspective
Part I: Abortion as a Conscience-Social Conflict
Truth is essential. As a Christian, I stand for the lives of unborn children to testify to the truth. Every human life, including that of an unborn child, deserves protection. Standing for truth and life ultimately means standing for Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NKJV). Hebrews also affirms, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). Biblical truth is immutable, based on an unchanging God, and declares that life is a gift from God that must be valued and protected. Loving one another, as Scripture commands, includes respecting life and the right to live safely.
Abortion presents an ethical dilemma: to give life or to take it away. The Oxford English Dictionary defines abortion as “the expulsion or removal from the womb of a developing embryo or fetus, spec. (Medicine) in the period before it is capable of independent survival.”[1] “Expulsion” is defined as “the action of expelling, or driving out by force (a person or thing); the turning out of a person from an office, a society, etc.”[2] Thus, abortion forcibly removes the child from the safest place on earth—the mother’s womb—and violates the baby’s legitimate right to life.
All humans have equal natural rights, irrespective of size or developmental stage. The unborn child possesses inherent dignity and freedom. History reminds us that humanity recognizes the severity of false witness and injustice. Ancient Athens fined false witnesses heavily; Rome hurled them from the Tarpeian Rock; Egypt amputated noses and ears for false testimony. Similarly, God instructed that a Hebrew who bears false witness against another would face punishment equal to the intended harm (Deut 19:16–19). Respecting life, even at its earliest stages, reflects both human and divine moral order.
Pro-life advocates do not oppose abortion out of personal distaste but because it violates rational moral principles. In 1991, thousands of pro-life advocates in Wichita, Kansas, temporarily shut down three major abortion clinics to defend the lives of the unborn. Countries such as Nicaragua, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Haiti, Iraq, the Philippines, and Senegal ban abortion entirely, transcending language, religion, and culture. Their collective stance demonstrates that conscience and natural law recognize the moral wrong of killing the innocent.
Dr. Martin Haskell, in his article Second Trimester D&X, 20 Weeks and Beyond, describes the procedure in which fetal body parts are deliberately destroyed during late-term abortion (O. Carter Snead, What It Means to Be Human). Such acts are morally abhorrent and unacceptable. Every child deserves life and protection, whether in the womb or in our arms.
Part II: Perspectives from Thinkers and Embryologists (Pro-Life)
Pro-life advocacy is not restricted to religious belief. Numerous scholars, philosophers, and embryologists affirm the personhood of the unborn:
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Keith L. Moore (University of Toronto) and Mark G. Torchia (St. Boniface General Hospital) assert that human development begins at fertilization, creating a genetically unique individual in the zygote.
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Robert P. George, American legal scholar, affirms that embryos are human beings from conception, sharing the same intrinsic value and rights as born humans. His reasoning:
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Human beings are valuable in virtue of what they are.
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Human beings are human physical organisms.
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Human physical organisms begin at conception.
Conclusion: The intrinsic value of human beings begins at conception.
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Ronan O’Rahilly and Fabiola Muller highlight that fertilization produces a genetically distinct human organism with unique traits, establishing the embryo as a unique human being.
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Camille Paglia, feminist and academic, calls abortion “the extermination of the powerless by the powerful,” framing abortion as oppression.
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Naomi Wolf emphasizes that abortion causes a “real death,” and denying this undermines the value of human life.
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Scott Klusendorf presents a moral argument:
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It is morally wrong to intentionally kill an innocent human being.
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Abortion intentionally kills an innocent human being.
Conclusion: Abortion is morally wrong.
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These perspectives converge on one central truth: from conception, a human being exists, deserving moral consideration and legal protection.
Part III: Perspectives on Abortion (Opposing Views)
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Peter Singer, Australian moral philosopher, argues that embryos are not “persons” because they lack rationality or self-awareness. Consequently, he prioritizes maternal preference over fetal life.
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Critically, this reasoning is inconsistent. If rationality or self-awareness determined the right to life, adults with intellectual disabilities, coma patients, or children with developmental delays would be denied protection. Singer’s framework fails ethically, as human value cannot be contingent on current capabilities.
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Theologian Paul Ramsey emphasizes fetal development milestones: heartbeat, brain activity, reflexes, and spontaneous movement. Each stage demonstrates the humanity of the unborn. By eight weeks, a fetus’s organs, muscles, and brain are active; by the seventh week, the child possesses recognizable human features. These physiological facts corroborate the moral and biblical arguments for the value of life.
Part IV: Biblical Perspective on Life and Embryos (Part I)
The Bible consistently upholds the sanctity of life. Humans are created by God, who controls both birth and death:
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Genesis 2:7 – God breathed life into Adam.
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Acts 17:25 – God gives all humans life and breath.
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Psalm 127:3 – Children are a heritage and reward from the Lord.
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Exodus 20:13 – The commandment “Do not kill” underscores God’s dominion over life and death.
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Exodus 21:22-23 – The unborn child is explicitly called a “child,” and harm done to them carries severe consequences.
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Jeremiah 1:5 and Galatians 1:15 – God chooses and calls individuals even before birth.
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Psalm 139:13-16 and Job 10:11 – God intricately forms each child in the womb.
The biblical account of John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:44) demonstrates the recognition and comprehension of the unborn, further affirming personhood and value.
Part V: Biblical Perspective on Life and Embryos (Part II)
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2 Kings 8:12 – Elisha grieves over unborn children, equating their value with that of born individuals.
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Genesis 49:25 – God blesses life in the womb, affirming divine oversight and purpose.
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Life is a divine gift and cannot be reclaimed once lost. The Law of Moses, including capital punishment for murder, reflects this principle.
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Parents facing prenatal diagnoses must remember that life, even with disabilities like Down syndrome, remains a divine gift (Psalm 127:3; Genesis 1:28). Every child is created in God’s image, and illness or disability does not diminish intrinsic value.
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Exodus 4:11 and Proverbs 16:4 – God’s design includes purpose for every person, including those with physical or developmental differences.
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John 9:3 – Even congenital disabilities serve God’s glory. Parental perspectives from NCBI surveys show that children with Down syndrome bring joy, pride, and positivity to families.
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James 1:17 and Proverbs 17:22 – Life is a gift from God; gratitude and joy contribute to physical and spiritual well-being.
Conclusion
Abortion, from both biblical and philosophical perspectives, is the deliberate ending of an innocent human life. Human life begins at conception, is under God’s dominion, and possesses intrinsic value. Parents, societies, and governments are called to protect life, uphold moral principles, and recognize every child—regardless of ability or development—as a unique, invaluable human being.
References
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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “abortion (n.),” January 2024, https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=abortion+.
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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “expulsion (n.),” January 2024, https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=expulsion&tl=true.
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Neuroprocessing Mechanisms of Music during Fetal and Neonatal Development: A Role in Neuroplasticity and Neurodevelopment, National Library of Medicine, Mar 2019, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6446122/#:~:text=Evidence%20of%20Music%20Processing%20through,around%2025%20weeks%20of%20gestation.
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The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/gestational-development-capacity-for-pain
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UNICEF, How Music Affects Your Baby’s Brain, https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/how-music-affects-your-babys-brain-class#:~:text=It%20is%20proven%20that%20music,hears%20its%20very%20first%20sound
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