Rape, Abortion and Involuntary Servitude

[KitKatMatt]

It feels like I just opened a chain email.

Please use bold responsibly, otherwise everything looks terrible.

 

[CurtisNeeley]

*SNIP*
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Knowing someone before they are born does not mean their soul was present. Human souls develop naturally around the "age of accountability".
*SNIP*

Jesus knows all things and is all powerful. Nothing happens unless He allows it.

I agree that Jesus is all powerful via prayer. Jesus still does not know the season, day, or hour God will choose for Christ to return. He and most in heaven know the year. Jesus knew the generation living when Israel was restored would not pass away before He would return. (1, 2, 3)

*SNIP*

If you believe there are extenuating circumstances justifying abortion in some instances, then you are taking control. There is no justification for abortion under any circumstances.

This is wildly incorrect and not consistent with the Bible. There were periods of time in history documented in the Bible where God aborted "innocent" lives. {1, 2, 3}

Christ said there were coming times when having no children would be blessed. (1)
This has already occurred three times for Israelis. (AD 70, AD 1945, now)

"Just as the sky is high with sparrows flying and the earth is low growing seeds without tilling and nourishing worms below, your attempts to explain are as low as the seeds and often are below the worms below the flowers."

 

[Jay Brooks]

Knowing someone before they are born does not mean their soul was present. Human souls develop naturally around the "age of accountability".
*SNIP*
'Say's who? All those aborted babies are not in heaven?

I agree that Jesus is all powerful via prayer. Jesus still does not know the season, day, or hour God will choose for Christ to return. He and most in heaven know the year. Jesus knew the generation living when Israel was restored would not pass away before He would return. (1, 2, 3)
'Jesus is God'!

This is wildly incorrect and not consistent with the Bible. There were periods of time in history documented in the Bible where God aborted "innocent" lives. {1, 2, 3}
'Key word, God'. And by the way, no one is innocent accept through the blood of Christ.

Christ said there were coming times when having no children would be blessed. (1)
This has already occurred three times for Israelis. (AD 70, AD 1945, now)
'Taken out of context'!

"Just as the sky is high with sparrows flying and the earth is low growing seeds without tilling and nourishing worms below, your attempts to explain are as low as the seeds and often are below the worms below the flowers."
'Say what? Try Isaiah 55:8,9 King James version

 

[Crowns&Laurels]

When women treat pregnancy like it's some sort of disadvantage or disorder, there is a big problem. Having qualms with your humanity is disturbing.

 

[Jay Brooks]

Wonderful and thank you.

 

[Khalila RedBird]

How so? In the case of pregnancy the woman is providing service to the fetus. Just who is an injured or ill person serving?

The woman is providing service to the state or other entity which had the power to force her to continue the pregnancy against her will.

 

[Khalila RedBird]

Section 1 of the 13th Amendment provides as follows:

"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Some who oppose abortion go so far as to insist that even women who were victims of rape should be required to carry the fetus to term. However, if the rape victim does not want to carry the fetus to term does this not place her into a position of involuntary servitude in violation of the 13th Amendment?

In addition the 14th Amendment provides that citizenship begins at birth. If a rape victim is a US citizen and is required to carry the fetus to term, wouldn't that give a non-citizen greater rights than a citizen?

Thoughts please.

I posted this same thread in the Christians only section, but am also posting it here so it will be open to non-Christians.

----
I have been a committed follower of the teachings of Jesus since 1962, a Quaker since 1967, a mother since 1973, and ordained minister and priestess since 1995, with a BS and an MDiv, serving in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling since 2008. I am committed via affirmation to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia. I speak for myself.

Involuntary pregnancy is involuntary servitude to whatever agency or body exerted its power to require the pregnant person to continue the pregnancy despite her intentions or efforts to terminate it. Post Roe, that agency would be the state enforcing its antiabortion laws.

There is a May 23, 2022 article in Ms. Magazine which speaks my mind on this.

My body is my own, and I am responsible for what I do with it. When I became pregnant, I was still responsible for it -- for my life and for the new person growing within me. The life of my child began with a cell which was alive in my body when I was born, lacking only the half set of chromosomes to specify the unique child who would continue its progression towards birth. It was my responsibility to nurture that life and my responsibility to end that life with as little suffering as possible if allowing it to continue would bring harm. If, in all conscience, I had to take steps to end that life, that responsibility was still mine, and there is/was no one to whom I could delegate it.

I was blessed. Both of my children were born healthy and in circumstances where they could survive, as was my grandson. Others have not had that good fortune and have had to suffer the agonies of ending a pregnancy, for reasons known only to themselves and the Divine.
Forced Pregnancy Is Involuntary Servitude, Violates the 13th Amendment