Balancing the Abortion Debate
The abortion debate has been largely polarized and confrontational over the years. And many in the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice camps are out of touch with what the other side really believes. For instance, not many pro-choice people support promiscuity, or abortion as the first option to deal with it. And not many pro-life people feel that you should totally disregard the plight and condition of the pregnant mother. Plus, there is more than one main issue. There is the debate over the human status of the fetus, and the extent to which the government should interfere in people's choices.
A complex issue like this cannot be boiled down to a simple battle of "us versus them". There is much common ground, which if cultivated, will defuse much of the battle and greatly help those stuck in the middle, the pregnant women in difficult dilemmas, and subsequently those in the womb.
The Bigger Picture
Often, when two groups cannot agree, there is a bigger whole, a bigger picture, that some of them are not seeing. This website explores this issue and suggests tools for opening our hearts, minds and vision to a better future for us and those who are still to be born. Here are some "What if ...?"s that we may not be seeing, to help us explore this subject:
What if ...
1. What if … it were not financial circumstances, logistics or reluctance to care for children that led most women to the abortion clinic, but lack of support among those closest to them, like parents or boyfriends? According to the book Real Choices: Listening to Women; Looking for Alternatives to Abortion by Frederica Mathewes-Green, this is the case. See more on this in the "Beyond Debating and Taking Action" section below.
2. What if … we were mostly operating at 10 percent (or less) of our normal potential, not just brain capacity, but everything, including self-control? What if all the geniuses and great people through history were just being "normal", and we have allowed ourselves to be drawn down into our lower animal nature and sexual addictions by society, including the advertising and entertainment media? If this is so (and there is mounting evidence), and we came up higher, much of the abortion issue would disappear. For more thoughts on sexual balance,
3. What if … we were all part of a much bigger whole that we were out of touch with, that had the solutions we needed and that needed us to manifest through? This may seem far out, but it is a concept with many variations that is starting to catch on, for instance in the book Presence by Senge, Scharmer, Jaworski, and Flowers. (Depicted on the right.) Among other things, it helps us break free from our self-limiting habits of judging and stereotyping people and issues, so we can tune into a better solution for all.
4. What if … we have a soul, and our soul started integrating with our body in the womb? Some of the material covering this issue is Wanting To Be Born by Dr N. Duffy (Depicted on the left) and Nurturing Your Baby's Soul by E. C. Prophet. (Depicted on the right.)
My personal view on this aspect and on the abortion debate is as follows:
Timing Needed for Pro-Choice
We surely have the right to choose
A precious gift from God above
And He will honour our free will
So great is His unending love.
And yes, we'll be accountable
For every choice we make
As we now sow, so shall we reap:
God's plan to learn from each mistake.
If it's harm we bring to life
Or hinder souls in any form
We will repay each rueful deed
On young or old, or life unborn.
Once a life has been conceived
A plan of God has just begun
Around each sacred bonded gene
The warp and woof of soul are spun.
Life's a wondrous mystery
As precious as a beating heart
Do we show our gratitude
By tearing one apart?
True freedom's not in selfishness
It's in the joy of giving.
The choice, no doubt, is yours, dear soul.
I pray it's made before conceiving.
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"warp and woof": The cross-threads in weaving.
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What if ... continued.
5. What if ... some people and websites are correct in their beliefs that reincarnation is a major factor in the abortion debate, and that each soul who is conceived needs to come through that mother to help them balance mutual "karma" and fulfill a specific mission? I have no proof of this. I'm just saying "What if ...". If they are right, we've missed a pretty big boat. The website www.soulchoice.org takes this subject up further.
6. What if ... ... ...
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. There is much we do not know in this world. We do not even fully have a handle on the common cold, never mind on life and death issues. It is usually better to play it safe, seek balance with humility and try to find the common ground between our differences. Then act out of love by taking action where we know it counts.
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