Abortion: An Argumentative Research Essay

Introduction

I was raised to believe Abortion was wrong. There were always other options. My best friend, Kimberly, had a sister who used abortion as a form of birth control; we were aware of three before graduation. If she had only known her choices, she might have saved innocent lives (Gordon, pp. 97-127).

Discussion

In 1994 a friend of mine found herself in an unwanted pregnancy. She had only one year of college left; she knew she couldn't disappoint her parents by going to them with the dilemma. She felt her only option was abortion. I remember having very long, in depth conversations with her, trying to persuade her against the abortion (Gordon, pp. 97-127). I also told her I was there for her no matter what her decision would be. Going through this experience with my friend is what brought me to argue pro-life.

The biblical argument against abortion is a little tricky. The Bible doesn't say anything about abortion directly; I believe that is because during that time abortion was an unthinkable act (Tabarrok, pp. 89-93). First, children are viewed as a gift or heritage from the Lord. Secondly, the scriptures state that God opens and closes the womb and is sovereign over conception. Third, childlessness was seen as a curse.

Exodus 21:22-25 states " If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."

This verse teaches us that if a woman gives birth prematurely, but the baby is not injured, then only a fine is appropriate. However, if the child dies then the law of retaliation should be applied. In other words, 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.

If you don't believe in the bible there is also the medical argument. One argument is the definition of life and death. One set of criteria, which defines death, could also be used to define life. Death used to be defined by the cessation (stopping) of the heartbeat. A stopped ...