Darrow Miller and Friends

Brave New World: Ideology Trumps Science Regarding Human Life

For years abortion supporters argued that the science supported their cause, that pro-lifers were functioning only from “religious convictions.” But recent developments in biology support the pro-life argument that science and theology are not in conflict.

science is on the side of pro-life

In fact, the science is so strong that the pro-abortion crowd has lost whatever “foundation” it once claimed. Science now firmly supports the fact that the unborn baby is human, and that he/she is alive. Thus the culture of death side has become anti-science. For pro-abortionists, ideology trumps science.

Our friend Nancy Pearcey is an award-winning writer and Director of the Francis Schaeffer Center at Houston Baptist University. She has written an excellent article—“Why Pro-Abortion is Anti-Science”—which comprises a solid challenge to abortion on the basis of science. Nancy writes:

Now is the time to turn the tables and make the case that it’s the pro-abortion stance that is actually anti-science.

In the past, abortion supporters simply denied that the fetus is human: “It’s just a blob of tissue.” Today, however, due to advances in genetics and DNA, virtually no ethicist denies that the fetus is human — biologically, genetically, physiologically human. Even the arch-radical Peter Singer acknowledges that “the life of a human organism begins at conception.”

How do liberals get around that scientific fact? By denying the relevance of science!

Liberals argue that the sheer fact of being human does not confer any moral worth. Nor does it warrant legal protection. The turning point is said to be when an individual becomes a “person,” generally defined in terms of self-awareness, autonomy, or other cognitive capabilities. … 

Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on merely personal views and values. … 

… just being part of the human race is not morally relevant. Individuals must earn the status of personhood by meeting an additional set of criteria — the ability to make decisions, exercise self-awareness, and so on, depending on the ethicist setting the criteria.

When ideology trumps truth, power is the means of enforcing the argument. Read Nancy’s fine piece here.

– Darrow Miller

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About 
Darrow is co-founder of the Disciple Nations Alliance and a featured author and teacher. For over 30 years, Darrow has been a popular conference speaker on topics that include Christianity and culture, apologetics, worldview, poverty, and the dignity of women. From 1981 to 2007 Darrow served with Food for the Hungry International (now FH association), and from 1994 as Vice President. Before joining FH, Darrow spent three years on staff at L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland where he was discipled by Francis Schaeffer. He also served as a student pastor at Northern Arizona University and two years as a pastor of Sherman Street Fellowship in urban Denver, CO. In addition to earning his Master’s degree in Adult Education from Arizona State University, Darrow pursued graduate studies in philosophy, theology, Christian apologetics, biblical studies, and missions in the United States, Israel, and Switzerland. Darrow has authored numerous studies, articles, Bible studies and books, including Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Culture (YWAM Publishing, 1998), Nurturing the Nations: Reclaiming the Dignity of Women for Building Healthy Cultures (InterVarsity Press, 2008), LifeWork: A Biblical Theology for What You Do Every Day (YWAM, 2009), Rethinking Social Justice: Restoring Biblical Compassion (YWAM, 2015), and more. These resources along with links to free e-books, podcasts, online training programs and more can be found at Disciple Nations Alliance (https://disciplenations.org).

1 Comment

  1. Jon

    June 21, 2013 - 10:17 am

    Science once again has discovered the obvious: human life begins at conception.

    🙂

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