The abortion debate is really a debate about when human life begins. The disastrous Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade has made that decision one that favors the aggressive patriarchal mythological view that a human life, with all the rights included in that definition occurs at the moment of conception, fertilization of the human egg. Many religious views differ. The Jewish faith holds that “The fetus is not viewed as separate from the parent’s body until birth begins and the first breath of oxygen into the lungs allows the soul to enter the body.” https://www.ncjw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Judaism-and-Abortion-FINAL.pdf. The views of other religions are as varied as the religions themselves. My own view is that it is our sentience, our awareness of ourselves that makes us human. The development of sentience, according to Scientific American is compatible with the brain’s development in the third trimester. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-does-consciousness-arise/ In a democratic republic, it would make much more sense to accept a scientific definition of the beginning of life than that of select religions. The SCOTUS has chosen a religious definition of when sentience, a human life begins. This is the action of a theocracy, not a democratic republic. It is clearly un-constitutional.
I think that the freedom of religion clause reflected the fear the founding fathers had about one religion superseding others in the view of what is right and what is wrong in human behavior. This decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade clearly gives precedence to specific Catholic and certain evangelical Christian tenets. This is a direct assault on the freedom of religion promised to all citizens in the First Amendment. The current SCOTUS majority have violated their oath to uphold the constitution. Time for a federal law that enshrines the right of a woman to decide what to do with her own body. It is up to good citizens to fight this assault on a woman’s right with every tool at hand.
Thanks Margaret, as usual you’re right on target! I couldn’t agree more. Also, Iearned more about a really good word from the dictionary; sentience. It’s nice to know the term came out of philosophy.
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