A Unified Theological Approach to the Issue of Abortion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54561/prj1902442hKeywords:
political theology, secular humanism, practical theology, Christian bioethics, religious pragmatism, reconciliationAbstract
There are two traditional binary ends of the spectrum that exist within the polarized secular discussion surrounding the issue of abortion. On one end, there are proponents of the position that a woman has unrestricted authority to choose to terminate a pregnancy. Conversely, on the other end of the spectrum, there are proponents of the position that each and every child maintains a fundamental right to live, and consequently, the state has a vested interest in preserving this right. The goal of this manuscript is to attempt to examine secular as well as theological considerations of both ends of the spectrum on abortion, before seeking to offer a mutual consensus based in Christian ethics, as supported by scripture, through examination of the ethical considerations of the pro-choice argument, examination of the ethical considerations of the pro-life argument, and ultimately, positing a common-ground alternative to this contentious issue by seeking to transcend the binary nature of the argument, and rather, focus on the mutual interests found in an ecumenical theological approach.
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