Profiles Index

Abortion Rights & Privacy Rights: Political, Religious, and Ethical Debates
Abortion is a contentious issue in American society. Some regard it as an immoral abomination while others regard it as fundamental to reproductive liberty and privacy. Contraception is starting to be treated in a similar manner. Is there a fundamental right to abortion? Is there a right to privacy that protects contraception and use of contraceptives?

Emergency Contraception & Conscience: Christian Right Attacks on Contraceptives
There is a growing movement of pharmacists who want the right to refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control pills, especially for the purpose of emergency contraception (also known as Plan B or morning after pills) arguing that the pills may 'terminate pregnancies' and they don't want to be complicit in abortions. The problem is, though, that this requires a rhetorically useful but nevertheless dishonest change to the definition of 'pregnancy.'

Contraception, Birth Control, and World Religions: Religions on Birth Control
When religious positions on birth control are discussed, we usually hear how contraceptives are forbidden. Religious traditions are more pluralistic and varied than that, however, and even within the religions most publicly opposed to birth control we find that there are traditions which would permit the use of contraceptives, even if only in limited circumstances. It’s important to understand these traditions because not every religion regards birth control as a simplistic issue.

Abortion, the Bible, and Personhood: What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?
Christian Right opposition to abortion frequently includes numerous references to the Bible; according to them, the only valid Christian position on abortion must be based upon what the Bible says. The Bible, in turn, unequivocally condemns abortion and endorses the idea that a fetus is a person endowed with rights. Why, then, are so many Christians conflicted about abortion and/or support abortion rights? Why doesn’t Judaism condemn abortion unequivocally? Because the Bible is ambiguous.

Christianity and Contraception: History and Development of Christian Perspective
Christianity has a complicated relationship with contraception. Like most religions with roots in the ancient world, Christianity has a generally pro-natalist position, which means that fertility and having children is valued highly. This makes sense given how precarious life could be in the ancient world. Over time, though, support for birth control and family planning has increased and come to play a larger role in the lives of Christians.

Contraception & Birth Control: How the Christian Right Undermines Birth Control
Opposition to birth control is increasing in evangelical circles which are, curiously, relying heavily on Catholic teachings. While Catholic teaching officially rejects the use of contraceptives, you don't see Catholics trying to undermine access to them - but that's what some evangelicals seem to have in mind. This is strange given the traditional Protestant support for family planning, but it makes sense in the context of the Culture Wars and some Christian traditions.

Atheists and Abortion: Godless Views on the Legality and Morality of Abortion
Abortion debates in America tend to focus on religious perspectives and what religious believers think. Godless views on whether abortion is moral and whether a woman's right to choose abortion should remain legally protected are almost never consulted. This is somewhat understandable, given the fact that there is no single atheist position on abortion and no authority to determine what atheists are supposed to think. This doesn't mean, however, that atheists have nothing to offer.

Ethics of Abortion: Is it Moral or Immoral to Have an Abortion?
Usually debates about abortion focus on politics and the law: should abortion be outlawed and treated like the murder of a human person, or remain a legal choice available to all women? Behind the debates are more fundamental ethical questions which aren't always given the specific attention they deserve. Some believe that the law shouldn't legislate morality, but all good law is based upon moral values. A failure to openly discuss those values can obscure important discussions.

Abortion & Religion: Diverse Religious Traditions on the Morality of Abortion
When religious positions on abortion are discussed, we usually hear how abortion is condemned and regarded as murder. Religious traditions are more pluralistic and varied than that, however, and even within those religions most publicly opposed to abortion, we find that there are traditions which would permit abortion, even if only in limited circumstances. It's important to understand these traditions because not every religion regards abortion as a simplistic, black & white decision.

Was Roe v Wade Correctly Decided? Reconsidering Roe v Wade & Abortion Rights
It has become increasingly popular among liberal supporters of abortion rights to argue that while women should be able to obtain abortions, it is a mistake to rely on Roe v Wade as a guarantor of abortion rights. Some say that it was decided incorrectly and that abortion rights would be better based on some other argument - or more controversially, that the abortion debate should be turned over to state legislatures and courts, eliminating it from federal politics.

Undermining Abortion: How the Christian Right Undermines the Right to Abortion
The most important issue for the Christian Right is criminalizing abortion. There is disagreement on the penalties for abortion (few want to treat it as murder, despite the rhetoric) and whether there should be exemptions (like for rape, incest, or the health of the mother), but there is agreement that abortion must end. There is no prospect of a total ban any time soon, so in the mean time they work on undermining it and hindering women's ability to actually obtain an abortion.

Fetus, Humanity, Personhood: When Does a Fetus Become a Human Person with Rights
Abortion is the focus of some of the most intense social, cultural, political, religious, and ethical debates in modern American society. Some regard abortion as something people should be able to choose while others say abortion is a great evil which is destroying the moral fabric of society. Many of the debates turn on the status of the fetus: Is a fetus a person? Does a fetus have moral or legal rights? How we define a person and the fetus may decide the abortion debates.

Abortion Rights, Privacy, Sexual Autonomy: Christian Right is Wrong on Abortion
Americans' right to abortion is founded upon a more fundamental right to privacy -- particularly when it comes to matters involving marriage, children, and sexuality. The Christian Right never fully accepted privacy rights, especially where sex was concerned, and abortion gives them a stronger reason to fight it. They are on the wrong side of this argument, though, because eliminating privacy rights - including those dealing with sex - would undermine much of what America takes for granted.

Pro-Life, Anti-Choice Inconsistencies: What Do Abortion Opponents Believe?
The rhetoric coming from anti-choice activists can be very heated and aggressive. They insist that abortion is murder - that aborting a pregnancy is morally equivalent to infanticide or killing an adult human being. Do they really believe this? This is implausible at best. As heated as their rhetoric is, there is little evidence that anti-choice activists, leaders, or organizations believe what they say because they simply don't act like they believe it. This is good for the rest of society.