This is my explanation for opposing our society allowing legal abortion. I believe many who oppose it will agree (some may not).
The issue, the point of contention, is clear and simple. It rests on the understanding of when a human life begins, and therefore how that human should be treated. The vast majority of biologists agree that human life begins at conception. For example, research done in 2018 by Steven Andrew Jacobs revealed that 95% of 5,502 biologists from 1,058 academic institutions affirmed the statement “a human life begins at fertilization.” Therefore, I contend, the fetus living within a woman’s womb is a human being and it is wrong to end his/her life. It is inappropriate and misleading to say euphemistically that an abortion is “ending a pregnancy.” No, it is ending a human life.
It is not satisfactory to say abortion is acceptable because the fetus is only a developing entity that has not yet become a human being. Development continues throughout a person’s lifespan, so to choose, say, 6 months into the pregnancy or birth as the point when abortion will not be allowed is completely arbitrary.
Likewise, to promote so-called “viability” (the ability of a human fetus to survive outside the uterus) is not satisfactory. A newborn baby is just as dependent on others for survival as an unborn fetus. The baby will survive only if someone else provides food, shelter, safety, and care, just as an unborn child must have his/her mother’s provision and care within the uterus.
Again, it’s clear and simple. An unborn baby is a living human being with the right to live as much as anyone else. He/she is not less than human and not merely becoming a human, but is fully human. Abortion is the act of taking his/her life and is wrong.
I am a Christian, a believer in and follower of Jesus the Messiah and Lord. Some people who support legal abortion say that a Christian is supposed to love others and not oppose what they choose to do. This concept is based on the silly idea that loving a person means you accept and fully support whatever they want to do, or at least you don’t actively oppose another’s choices. Actually, an early description of God-like love includes this statement: “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Understanding that abortion is an evil, loving means opposing it – love for the unborn child and for the adults involved.
And then some will say something like, “Don’t force your religion on others by outlawing abortion for all,” as if this is strictly a “religious” issue. Opposing abortion is no more an attempt to force religion on others than is opposing child abuse or domestic violence or sex trafficking or murder. You don’t have to accept any religious beliefs or become religious to oppose the ending of a human life in the womb. Look up organizations like “Feminists Choosing Life of New York” and “Secular Pro-Life” for more information.
So it comes back to this point of contention – abortion is the act of ending the life of a human baby. Until someone can prove beyond doubt that this is not true, I take my stand against abortion.