tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post1291338105778788184..comments2024-03-28T09:52:15.415-04:00Comments on Common Denominator: AbortionKen Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09745548537303356655noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-76960842631767513592008-09-14T15:01:00.000-04:002008-09-14T15:01:00.000-04:00"For it was you who formed my inward parts; you kn..."For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb..."<BR/>Psalm 139: 13 (NRSV)<BR/><BR/>If one is to take the Bible as a literal depiction of science, doesn't this OT passage indicate that a person becomes a person in the womb? That would be distinctly AFTER conception, because the ovum is fertilized before it enters the uterus and attaches to the woman.<BR/><BR/>Isn't this a lovely piece of imagery? Crafting something wonderful with tender care. Yet who would say that a ball of yarn is a sweater? Or even the first few loops on the knitting needles?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-62971966836946933212008-09-14T00:03:00.000-04:002008-09-14T00:03:00.000-04:00Steph, I had watched a news program that stated th...Steph, I had watched a news program that stated that these people were alleged terrorists. They were Muslim, but had not had proper treatment according to international law. Atrocious acts were done that were in Muslim eyes very offensive...and to us, would be repulsive. I was arguing or thinking on paper about terrorist and human rights as a subject.<BR/><BR/>To further complicate matters, Bush acted unilaterally usurping the judicial branch of government in ordering military intervention. It was surreal and seemed that America had beomc a military State. Perhaps, the program was misguided, but I did go to hear about it at the CATO Institute while in D.C. last December.Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-8307503075219064742008-09-13T20:35:00.000-04:002008-09-13T20:35:00.000-04:00Angie, there are many innocent people, not terrori...Angie, there are many innocent people, not terrorists, held at Guantanamo Bay. Some don't even know what they have been taken there for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-73886042486066515862008-09-13T15:52:00.000-04:002008-09-13T15:52:00.000-04:00I probably didn't connect the dots, in my entries ...I probably didn't connect the dots, in my entries and yours.<BR/>Jesus life did signify that all humans deserve respect, dignity and value, no matter what the religious thought their "sin" was.<BR/><BR/>The question arises, is there a moral absolute in regards to life? And your entry made it clear that different people evaluate it on different premises. <BR/>Human rights activists would suggest that the baby has a right to life. The Catholic and fundamentalistt evangelical, do not make a distinction as to when life begins and if that life has priority over any other life.<BR/><BR/>Terroists have the purpose of taking life without recourse or regret, as they understand an absolute moral order as demanding obedience in a certain form under death penalty. This is "Christian duty" as Kant (?) would understand. But,it is no different than Islamic Law. <BR/><BR/>Human rights advocates believe that no matter the life, it has "rights". But the law courts discriminate based on ethical concerns about moral value. These values are proritized according to "just principles". Citizens have more prority than terrorists for instance, if it were a case that were between the parties.<BR/><BR/>Duty as to one's country is an allegiance to the values of that country. The military in our country are "duty bound" to honor one's country, which is respecting liberty and justice for all, and are also bound to not "lie, cheat or steal" and not tolerate those who do. Our country's law courts are truth detectors where it concerns breaking of contractual agreements and one testifies under oath.Therefore, the moral order of contract is similar to the suzarain (sp?) in ancient history. The disagreement happens in religious circles over whether the "contract" is entered into equally or if it is entered into by God solely...This was what Hebrews could possible be alluding to in 8-10...but you know more about it than I do...<BR/><BR/>I do believe that contracts are really about the people, as image bearers of "God". It is not about ancient understandings of reality.Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-81346550755024752402008-09-13T14:40:00.000-04:002008-09-13T14:40:00.000-04:00BTW. It seems that evangelicalism uses the "greate...BTW. It seems that evangelicalism uses the "greater good" argument for "discipleship" measures. This is wrong headed to use a historical person's life as a universal. Disconnecting history, the real political and social situation in historical time, and theologizing about it, is bringing a universal to a particular. This is wrong-headed, as only God can be absolutized. And the Jews knew that he was above their understanding. The manifestation of the Logos in Christ was one form in human time, but not the universal form. As "All truth is God's truth", wisdom was personified within the "message of Jesus' life". Universalizing this 'wisdom" is misguided. "Wisdom" is understood within context. Jesus' context was within a political, spiritual and social "world" that doesn't quite match ours today...Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8355052.post-83255065736751081212008-09-13T14:31:00.000-04:002008-09-13T14:31:00.000-04:00I have been thinking about Guantanamo Bay and the ...I have been thinking about Guantanamo Bay and the "human rights" violations there. Do terrorists have a "right to trial", before being punished? Obviously, Bush did not think so. Even though terrorists have distortions about "God's will and God's means", they are human. And being human means certain rights should be allowed, such as being innocent until proven guilty and then the guilt must be pretty certain. That is the basis of our government's standards and humans rights in general...<BR/><BR/>Violations of human rights for terrorists only intensify their terrorists attacks...In the meantime, we must seek to shore up our nation's defenses to these types of attacks, which is what Wim has been involved....Angie Van De Merwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617299120618867829noreply@blogger.com