What does it mean to be pro-choice?

Upholding the truth : 

1 The spiritual aspect of being pro-choice by Mike Andre December 2009 Upholding the truth

Motivation : 

2 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4,6)‏ Motivation

Topic : 

Topic 3 This presentation tries to put in perspective Nancy Keenan's religious argument in her lecture on the meaning of being pro-choice given October 23, 2007 Abortion Panel Discussion New York, NY Courtesy of the New School

Citations : 

Citations 4 When a woman is “faced with terminating (her) pregnancy...that is a decision, a woman makes between herself and her god”. “Women hear their god with their ears”. “It does not take George Bush or Pat Robertson ... to tell us which god to hear”.

Religious embellishment : 

Religious embellishment 5 Isn't it astonishing, when a pro-choicer uses religious vocabulary? It sounds sympathetic and full of deeper insight. But behind these words so easy on the ear there is an ugly spiritual reality. The following slides will help you to decipher Nancy Keenan's message.

Pro-choicers listen to their own god : 

Pro-choicers listen to their own god 6 N. K. does not say: “that is a decision, a woman makes between herself and God”. Neither does she say: “women hear God with their ears”. It is obvious that N.K. does not refer to the biblical God. Instead she is convinced that every woman has her own god and that this god will speak to her – to help her decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.

Pro-choicers reject God : 

Pro-choicers reject God 7 Pro-choicers feel free to belief in any kind of god they want to - except the biblical God. That's why N. K. explicitly rejects the God of George Bush and Pat Robertson. To replace God the Creator with other gods is a serious matter with tremendous influence on your life. So let us find out out what kind of god or gods are left, once the biblical God is gone.

Man-made gods are idols : 

Man-made gods are idols 8 In short, a “personal” or “private” god is man-made and this we call an idol. We know from history that men invented thousands of “tailored gods” to satisfy their special human needs (e. g. if drought endangered your harvest you had to pray to the local weather-god). Usually one had to sacrifice something in order to get the result as requested.

The spiritual reality behind idols : 

The spiritual reality behind idols 9 Idols are not just dead pieces of wood or stone. The OT describes vividly, that behind an idol there is a hidden spiritual reality: ”But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt. They made him jealous with other gods, they enraged him with abhorrent idols. They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known; to new gods who had recently come along, gods your ancestors had not known about” (Deut 32,15-17).

Today's situation : 

Today's situation 10 What is the situation today? As “modern Westerners”, we do not belief in idols anymore. Neither do we bow before them (physically) nor do we offer sacrifices. But we have to recognize the principle. We cling to many different objects of adoration, that attract our heart more than God: e. g. our career advancement, our lifestyle and leisure activities, our “self-realization” or our comfort.

Today's situation : 

Today's situation 11 Even more, we are busy to cultivate our obsessions with beauty, sports, pop music etc. And very often we are willing to sacrifice something else for our object of devotion. In principle, concerning idols times did not change at all: Many of us are idol-worshipers, knowingly or unknowingly.

Demons long for human sacrifices : 

Demons long for human sacrifices 12 In Psalm 106,36-38 we see the harsh and misanthropic result of idolatry - human sacrifices:“They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons an daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood – the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted by bloodshed”.

An evil spirit's aim : 

An evil spirit's aim 13 In Mark 9 we find the record of the disciples’ failure to heal. They were not able to deliver a child from an evil spirit. In verse 22 it says: “It (the spirit) has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him”. The aim of this evil spirit was to kill a human being!

A murderer from the beginning : 

A murderer from the beginning 14 Why? John 8,44 tells us, that Satan, who is the leader of all fallen angels, is a murderer:“You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies”.

A pagan king offering his son : 

A pagan king offering his son 15 2Ki 3,26-27: Suffering a futile situation a desperate king's last resort is killing his own son:“And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through [even] unto the king of Edom: but they could not. Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him [for] a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to [their own] land.”

Are you in despair? : 

Are you in despair? 16 If you are unintended pregnant, you may think that your situation is absolutely hopeless and your life is botched. You may be trapped by feelings of shame or panic that confuse your mind. You may think that you will fall short of your parents' expectations (or your boyfriend's, your church's, your classmates' etc), if you keep your baby.

Realizing the analogy : 

Realizing the analogy 17 Those in ancient times sacrificed their own children, because they felt unbearable pressure and even danger for their own life. They hoped that the situation would clear up if they gave something very precious as a sacrifice to their gods. In an unintended pregnancy you may face the same situation. You feel so depressed that sacrificing another's life seems to be the only way out.

Decoding Nancy Keenan's religious statement : 

Decoding Nancy Keenan's religious statement 18 I don't want to offend you. But when you listen to your own god, you probably will listen to a demon. Because he will always follow his master Satan, the demon will be talking to you just according to his master's advice and nature. Are you so naive to think, that a murderer will ask you kindly to save your baby? He will black-hearted take advantage of your desperate situation.

Is there another option? : 

Is there another option? 19 N. K. does not know the biblical God, whom she despises. Therefore, her judgment is untrustworthy. Don't do the same mistake! Don't listen to your own idols, but turn your heart to the God, who created you and who is responsible for your life. Try to think differently: The new life that is being formed inside of you, can indeed enhance your own. Invite God into your situation – without him your life is absolutely futile.

A prayer : 

A prayer 20 God, I am in despair. I do not know, whether you can hear me. If you are real, come into this situation. I can't stand it any longer and time is short. But I know: I have no right to swap the life of this unborn child for my own. Let me hear your speaking, heal me from all my anxieties, comfort me and give me the faith I am lacking to trust you. Lead me through this desert and fill my heart with joy. Amen.

Contact : 

Contact 21 Wort.Gottes@web.de