Anti-Abortion Talking Points

World-View		Talking Points
Biblical		Psalm 139:113-116: King David contemplates the origin of his life and confesses that God was there forming him in the womb. Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6: Human beings are created in the image of God. Exodus 21:22-25: Suggests that killing an unborn baby would carry the same penalty as killing a born baby. A baby inside the womb has the same legal status as a baby outside the womb
Medical		At conception the embryo is genetically distinct from the mother To say that the developing baby is no different from the mother's appendix is scientifically inaccurate. A developing embryo is genetically different from the mother and also different from the sperm and egg that created it. A human being has 46 chromosomes (sometimes 47 chromosomes). Sperm and egg have 23 chromosomes. A trained geneticist can distinguish between the DNA of an embryo and that of a sperm and egg. Definition of life and death: If death is defined by stoppage of heartbeat why is life not identified with beginning of heartbeats. The heart is formed by the 18th day in the womb. Brain wave activity (EEG - electroencephalograph): If the cessation of brain wave activity can define death, could the onset of brain wave activity define life? Individual brain waves are detected in the fetus in about 40-43 days. Fetal pain during abortion: When an 8-week-old human fetus is pinned in the palm of his hand he opens his mouth and pulls his hand away. He or she feels pain. Imagine what happens during abortion. Baby (fetus) is unique: Unique fingerprints, genetic patterns, well distinguished body parts, not a piece of protoplasm but a baby growing in the womb.
Legal		Roe v/s Wade case: The Supreme Court decided not to decide when life begins and then turned around and overturned the laws of 50 different states. Most of the Supreme Court's verdict rested upon two sentences. "We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to an answer." Presumption of the innocent: The burden of proof should lie with the life-taker, and the benefit of the doubt should be with the life-saver. Put another way: "when in doubt, don't." A hunter who hears rustling in the bushes shouldn't fire until he knows what is in the bushes. Likewise, a Court which doesn't know when life begins, should not declare open season on the unborn. The burden of proof in law is on the prosecution. The benefit of doubt is with the defense. This is also known as a presumption of innocence. The defendant is assumed to be innocent unless proven guilty. Again the burden of proof is on the entity that would take away life or liberty. The benefit of the doubt lies with the defense.
Philosphical		Where do you draw the line? When is a human a person? Every case for abortion is a case for infanticide and even euthanasia.

 
 

Adapted from
Arguments Against Abortion by Kerby Anderson and other sources (such as my miniscule brain).