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http://www.abortion-and-bible.com

That wasn't real hard, gematria.  Try googling "abortion bible verses."

If birth control were more effective and widespread, then abortion wouldn't be so common.  Of course, the same people who object to abortion on moral grounds also often believe that birth control is morally wrong.

Look, if nicotine and alcohol are legal with restrictions, then why not weed? 

Sam: [coughs] Get outta here, Dewey!
Dewey Cox: What are y'all doin' in here?
Sam: We're smoking reefer and you don't want no part of this shit.
Dewey Cox: You're smoking *reefers*?
Sam: Yeah, 'course we are; can't you smell it?
Dewey Cox: No, Sam. I can't.
Reefer Girl: Come on, Dewey! Join the party!
[takes a hit off a joint]
Sam: No, Dewey, you don't want this. Get outta here!
Dewey Cox: You know what, I don't want no hangover. I can't get no hangover.
Sam: It doesn't give you a hangover!
Dewey Cox: Wha-I get addicted to it or something?
Sam: It's not habit-forming!
Dewey Cox: Oh, okay... well, I don't know... I don't want to overdose on it.
Sam: You can't OD on it!
Dewey Cox: It's not gonna make me wanna have sex, is it?
Sam: It makes sex even better!
Dewey Cox: Sounds kind of expensive.
Sam: It's the cheapest drug there is.
Dewey Cox: [at a loss and out of excuses] Hmm.
Sam: You don't want it!
Dewey Cox: I think I kinda want it.

Not if you ask most religious people.  Since many verses refer to "in the womb," it's assumed that unborn babies have souls.

Depending on which time period you examine, the position has been that a child is a person: at the moment of conception, when the mother feels the baby moving inside her, at birth, or even that all eggs and sperm are potential people and need to be treated as such.

How exactly is it bad for you, gem?

Is it worse than alcohol?  What about nicotine or caffeine?

So does alcohol.

Oh, debates.

Abortion:

I consider myself a very religious person. I got to church whenever possible, etc. But I strongly support the separation of church and state. The US, despite what anyone will say, is a secular country, or rather it should be. The practice of religion is something that one must decide to do or not to do. So if we outlaw abortion based on the fact that it is religiously incorrect, that is not right. What if an atheist wants an abortion? Why should he/she have to follow the rules of a religion he/she does not practice? I personally support the choice of abortion from a secular viewpoint. It should be up to the woman to decide whether to abort or have the child. From a religious point of view, I would not ask my wife to have an abortion. It'd be a team decision, although she would have the final say. So I personally would not choose to have an abortion, but that's my CHOICE. It should be up to the individual to CHOOSE. That's what America is all about. Now, in terms of morality, that too is a choice that all people are entitled to.

Marijuana, etc.:

Ugh. Drugs. Once again, I'm a religious person, and religion has tought my morals, one of them is to not do drugs. Personally, it's an easy choice. Call me manipulated by parents, etc., but frankly it's as useful as crying about Noob Toobs in CoD4. Now, school. I know kids who do drugs - illegal drugs. Unfortunately, I have no power to stop them from doing that, and I'm not going to rat them out. It's a choice they individually have to make. I cannot cheat them out of the truth by ratting them out. Now, law. I don't believe Marijuana or any other currently illegal drug should be legalized. Nicotine and the like SHOULD be outlawed, however. We must break free of the corruption that cigarrette companies have shackled our country with. Obviously, the government would help smokers quit smoking with therapy. It's not perfect, no. But nothing ever is. Now, alcohol. I've seen many commercials saying "Please Drink Responsibly" as blatantly as their slogans. I'm glad they have those. Since alcohol is a traditional drink, it can only be regulated by the individual. That's yet another moral choice for the person to make.

In conclusion, morality is the answer to the questions. No, it is not as powerful as some might want it, but that's how America SHOULD operate.

Very good point Anubis, what some people want is to restrict others' freedom. Because you don't *have* to abort if it is legal. Besides that, when abortion is banned people just seek dangerous, unhygenic "back alley" abortions, which is far worse.

And Seth, this is quite true, opinions on abortion depend on the age at which you believe someone becomes a thinking, sentient being. Sperm and eggs though, is really, really rediculous. The female body has mechanisms that kill millions of sperm to ensure only the strongest make it through (score another point for evolution), so is helping that process with birth control pills mass murder? Religion seems to want to maintain the "natural" status quo, after all.

The human brain does most of it's development in the first years of childhood (interacting with environment, learning to speak and think) , and people's personalities take a lifetime to grow. No-one has memories of the womb. IMO, a ball of cells is not a sentient being. Foetuses close to birth should not be aborted, but since there is no way to prove sentience in an unborn baby the best thing would be to have the abortion as soon as possible.

Anubis-

alcohol is a traditional drink so it should be regulated, but nicotine should be outlawed?!  What happened to morality? 

Exactamente.  People want to legislate their own personal morality.

I ain't saying we don't pretty well agree on some things- i.e. killing people and taking their stuff is wrong, even if you're an atheist.

The anti-abortionists would say that killing a fetus is not a matter of personal choice, since the wishes of the fetus are not being considered.  However, these tend to be the same people who say only abstinence is an acceptable method of birth control, and who stigmatize sex out-of-wedlock.

Hey, you know who never get abortions?  Homosexuals.

"Hey, you know who never get abortions?  Homosexuals."

Nice.

Alcohol, or at least wine, can have some nutritional value. Plus, it is traditional. Nicotine isn't, though. It's basically stealing someone's money and life. Awesome. Plus, I can't think of one person / family that considers smoking a tradition.

I see what you're saying, but there are differences.

I think alcohol is just less damaging than smoking. Smoking is more addictive, produces more harmful effects that are harder to cure. I think the "tradition" thing counts for something - people know how to deal with alcohol, practically anyone can make it. Smokes, on the other hand, have their prices jacked up by cig companies and the government of course gets their cut in taxes - which is really just a bribe.

Producers have more to gain by keeping people addicted to smokes than to alcohol, because the average person can't make smokes.

Ah well, at least people have stopped using x-rays to lose hair.  And advertising it on televison.

Smoking is a tradition among many cultures.

Do you mean weed smoking or tobacco/tar smoking?

Is everyone arguing whether or not certain substances should be regulated? 

I'd rather ask then read over the thread. :p

No, he was just asking us to debate on the topics. He had already given his report.

I have a mixed opinion on abortion. Yes, it's taking a life away before it has a chance, but if there is a rape case or any other major circumstance, then I say do it.

Hm, I read an editorial about abortion the other day.  It was pretty good, except for that it was a total attack on others, so anyone who might disagree with them would normally just shut them off at the first few sentences.

It was against my beliefs, but whatever.  I read it, and it was pretty sick, but for its intended audience, it'd be good.  My stance on abortion:  I don't think I could ever abort my unborn child... But, given that I'm not everyone's mother, fuck it.  Let them do what they want.  Babies die all the time, it sucks, but until it happens to me, through abortion I didn't consent to, I don't care.  

As for alcohol:  More or less the same thing.  If you want to get drunk and stupid, do it in a bar or where you can't screw someone else's life up.  Aside from that, go for it.  Get alcohol poisoning for all I care - it's just one less person to have to deal with.

Though, practiacally speaking, that's not going to happen.  People will still drink in public and ruin other's lives, although, I believe it to be far worse to try and prohibit, and I use that word for a reason, alcohol, not only because people will revolt, but because your taking away people's freedoms and probably rights. :p