Customer Reviews

Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the second book I have read recently that hasn't been reviewed yet on Amazon.com. Knowing how popular R.C. Sproul is this came as a great surprise. An even greater surprise was the subject matter of this book, titled "ABORTION (A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue)." Since most of R.C. Sproul's books are on Theology, Church history and Logic matters, it seemed unusual for him to write a book on a social issue like abortion. I'm very happy that he did.

The book is divided into three parts:

Part I: Abortion: The Ethical Dilemma of Our Time.

Part II: An Analysis of Pro-Abortion and Pro-Choice Arguments.

Part III: A Compassionate Response and Strategy

In Part I, Sproul points out how emotionally divided America is over the abortion issue, with the potential of ripping apart the social fabric of one of history's most successful nations. In doing this, he covers some of the core issues like "Is a fetus a living human person?" "When does life begin?" the sanctity of life from a biblical viewpoint, the sanctity of life in Natural Law and how abortion violates that sanctity. Sproul summarizes this as follows:

"A negative prohibition again actual and potential murder implicitly involves a positive mandate to work for the protection, sustenance, and respect for the sanctity of life. To oppose murder is to promote life. Whatever else abortion does, it does not promote the life of the unborn child. Although some people will argue that abortion promotes the quality of life of those who do not desire offspring, it does not promote the life of the subject in question, the developing unborn child."

I found Sproul's section on how abortion can be shown to violate Natural Law very interesting and which a brief history of abortion in both America and world history. He states that "Abortion--whatever else it may be--is an act against nature." This is great information for those who do not recognize or honor the scriptures. Sproul really begins to get to the crux of the matter when he addresses the central point of "When does life begin?", a question he covers from the biblical, medical and legal viewpoints. Being ever so thorough, Sproul even focuses a chapter on the role of Government in abortion. I haven't heard the issue of abortion presented from this vantage point before.

In Part II, Sproul provides an analysis of the Pro-Abortion and Pro-Choice (there is a difference) arguments. This part is where Sproul is at his finest, sifting through the often-heard cliches from these groups like "a woman alone has the moral right to her own body," "women have a legal right to privacy on abortion" and "men have no right to address abortion because it is a women's issue." He carefully peals back the arguments, revealing the underlying paper-thin arguments that cannot be honestly defended.

The Pro-Choice chapter is such a revealing study and asks questions every citizen in America needs to ask themselves and honestly answer. According to Sproul, there are relatively few in America who are Pro-Abortion and many more individuals who are Pro-Choice, or at least they think they are. Again, Sproul reveals just what is meant when we claim we are Pro-Choice. He wraps up Part II with a chapter on The Problem of Unwanted Pregnancies.

Part III covers the Pro-Life position and strategy. Sproul ends his book with a fascinating 33-page Appendix which includes a transcript of testimony provided by Jerome Lejeune, M.D., Ph.D, a Professor of Fundamental Genetics (holds the Kennedy Prize for being first to discover a disease caused by chromosomal abnormality--Down's Syndrome). Testimony was given during a court proceeding in August, 1989.

I was impressed with the way Dr. Sproul handled this sensitive and emotionally-charged subject. The only drawback I found was the book is 20 years old and, though the arguments are timeless, some of the data is in need of a updating. It is a fast read, yet at the same time very thought-provoking, just like most of Sproul's other books.

One of the most frustrating things about reading opinions on abortion is that otherwise intelligent people find it acceptable to be illogical in their arguments. The emotion involved in this issue makes them feel it's okay to name-call, make assumptions, ignore counterpoints and dismiss opponents as 'liars' without any evidence. Both pro-life and pro-choice voices have been guilty of this in newspaper op-eds, in elected office and as pundits on news shows (not to mention the Ground Zero of these tactics - rallies).

Dr. R.C. Sproul's book is a must-read for anyone who wishes to make their opinion known on this issue. His logical dissection of commonly-used arguments should simply be the end of them - if those who use those arguments would take the time to read this. The abortion debate has no shortage of closed-minded slogan shouters, and it's books like this on the issue that are in short supply.

R.C. Sproul writes that abortion "may be the most serious ethical dilemma ever faced by the United States." It's certainly an issue that divides the nation and arouses strong emotion on both sides. This is no less true today than it was twenty years ago, when Dr. Sproul first published his book, Abortion: a Rational Look at an Emotional Issue.

Sproul says up front that abortion is not a simple issue to address:

"It is a multifaceted, complex matter that involves a conflict of perceived rights. No matter how the issue of abortion is resolved, someone's rights--or at least perceived rights--will be in jeopardy. Can such a web of interwoven and conflicting issues be untangled?"

In this reader's estimation, Sproul does a great job of untangling the issue with clear facts and skillful logic.

While the book is short and easy to read, it provides a good overview of the questions surrounding abortion. What is the proper role of government and law? What does natural law teach us about the sanctity of life? What does the Bible say about the sanctity of life? Does the sanctity of life have any bearing on abortion at all? When does life begin? What does science say? In each of his responses, Sproul shows that "abortion is against the law of God, against the laws of nature, and against reason."

Sproul's arguments probably won't move many who are firmly planted on either side of the debate. Those who are pro-life will agree with him; those who are pro-abortion won't. But his primary audience is those who aren't convinced. Those who are undecided or who, in an attempt to take a middle ground, call themselves pro-choice.

Why should anyone who is already pro-life read this book? By examining the issue from several angles, readers will be more equipped to present balanced and convincing arguments in support of their view. Sproul also answers the most common arguments in favor of abortion, further preparing readers to engage in informed discussion.

Unfortunately, many professing Christians don't act wisely when it comes to addressing abortion. Sproul discusses both appropriate and inappropriate responses. Most importantly, he reminds readers that, for those who are repentant, regardless of their sin, there is forgiveness in Christ:

"Though what I have done cannot be undone, I can be forgiven. Forgiveness is one of the marvels of God's grace. Its healing power is magnificent. If a woman has been involved in abortion, God does not require that she spend the rest of her life walking around with a red `A' on her chest. He does require that she repent of her sin and come to Him for the cleansing of forgiveness. When God forgives us, we are forgiven. When God cleanses us, we are made clean. That is a cause for great celebration."

The fact that everyone needs God's forgiveness should remind us that, though we may hate the practice of abortion, we are to extend grace and love to everyone, especially to those who are hurting.

Of all that I've read about our "most serious ethical dilemma," Dr. Sproul's book is the most convincing. And, regardless of what side of the argument readers are on, I'm sure they will agree that Sproul is both fair and, as the subtitle says, rational. To those who don't know where you stand, I encourage you to read this book. For those considering an abortion, I beg you to read this book. It may be the most worthwhile reading of your life. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a final word from the author: "The simple adage of common wisdom applies to you: `When in doubt, don't.'"

Take these stainless steel forcepts. Introduce them through the vaginal vault. On a 45 degree angle pass them through the cervical os. Now gently give it a nudge. Ok now you are inside the uterus. Now sweep the uterine cavity. There it is. Feel it? Now open the forcepts and get around the months old being. OH YES it's alive. It's curled up right there in it's mother's womb. That womb has been designed to protect it. Now grab it nice and hard. That being wants to live so desperately. That crunching feeling is it's bones and skull. If it's an older fetus you may have to break it up into pieces to get it out. Pull! Now pull it out.

There it is hanging off your forcepts. Don't look away. Get a good look at it. Because according to millions of you there's nothing wrong with what you just did. OK? Now pitch it into the trash.

If you could actually do that, then you have a voice in the debate about abortion. But if you could not perform that relatively easy procedure then you have no right to a pro-abortion voice in the debate. So then shut up! Civil law, natural law, religion, ethics pale in the face of experience.

Sounds ludicrous? Sounds logical!

Yesterday students across the nation took part in the National Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity which got me thinking about this book by R.C. Sproul. This was updated and released just in time for 37th anniversary for the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The goal was to get this book in the hands of every congressman and senator in Washington. If they read the book, it would not doubt have an impact.

This book is well worth the read, and I would encourage everyone objectively thinking about this issue to go out a buy a copy. One by one, Sproul tackles the objections of the pro-choice crowd and systematically and intelligently dismantles each of them. There is much discussion on issues such as the role of government, imposing morality, when life actually begins and the nature of sin in general. But, wait, there's more...

It seems as though most pro-life material out there seeks to either pull at the heart strings or outrage the civilized, clear thinking conscience. However, this book provides a well-thought out philosophical worldview that not only is not only useful in attacking pro-choice arguments, but grounds the Christian in a thoroughly Biblical foundation that promotes the sanctity of life in the image of God.

Here's just one example of what you will find in the book:

"In so far as we are still human, we retain the image of God in the wider sense. We are still valuable creatures. We may no longer be worthy, but we still have worth. This is the resounding biblical message of redemption. The creatures God created are the same creatures He is moved to redeem. Because Christians speak so tirelessly about human sin, do they have a low view of humanity? Indeed, they have a love view of human virtue, but not a corresponding love view of human worth or importance. It is precisely because the Bible has such a high view of human dignity that Christian take human sin so seriously. If one rat steals another rat's food, we don't get morally outraged. But, it one human steals another human's food, we rightly become concerned." (pages 22-23)

Clearly, R.C. Sproul's gift is his ability to explain difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. I taught through much of this material with my high school students and found it a huge help. The summary and discussion questions at the end of each chapter also help in taking in all this material.

I don't normally say this, but this is a "must-read." If you have any commitment to the life issue, buy this book! If you wonder why so many are committed to the life issue, buy this book! You will not regret it.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Note: I received a free copy of this title in exchange for publishing a review. You can see the review in a prettier format here: [...]

I'm reviewing the 20th anniversary edition of R.C. Sproul's pro-life take on abortion. It seems to me an odd or somber (or both) anniversary to choose to recognize with a re-release, but in any case it got my attention. The book is aimed at those who are at least somewhat undecided on the abortion issue (118). This includes Christians and non-Christians alike. It's hard to read objectively on a topic I have such strong pro-life commitments towards, but I tried to evaluate the work based on how effective it is in dealing with those somewhere in the middle of the abortion debate rather than how much I agreed with the author. So I could not help but root for Sproul to argue effectively, but that should not have kept me from noticing where he did not (thus hurting our shared agenda). The areas in which Sproul succeeds the most are 1) dispelling the notion that leaving the question up to the choice of mothers is actually a neutral position and 2) showing that the burden of proof for the beginning of life lies with the pro-abortion side.

Sproul explains how the pro-choice movement has successfully persuaded many who are in fact anti-abortion to settle for a pro-choice position. He points out that the "right of one's opinion is a sacred belief in United States tradition" (5), and that people feel intrusive if they regulate the goings-on in the bodies of someone who has an entirely different set of circumstances and opinions regarding abortion. But this is, ironically, a false between imposing (restricting abortion) or tending to one's own business (legalizing abortion); any ballot is a bullet (79), and the force of government is behind all law, abortion law included. We can't consistently leave matters of the law up to personal preference:


"Again, every law enacted limits or restricts someone's choices. That is the very nature of law. If we do not wish to restrict other people's choices through legislation, we must stop legislating and cease voting... No human being is an absolute law unto himself." (115)


Behind every law that allows or disallows any activity are fines, jail cells, or other penalties for violators, regardless of their personal beliefs and opinions and how theoretically tolerant we are of them.

Choice would not be an ideal motor behind just abortion law, anyway, because "whatever happens to the Constitution or to American ethics will not determine when human life begins. That is an objective question, for better or for worse" (15). When questions of choice and an individual's autonomy become the bottom line for making one's mind up about abortion, this begs the essential question of murder, a much more serious matter than choice (114). Sproul sums up shakiness of such a moral foundation as choice: "Do we have the moral right to choose what is morally wrong? To ask such a question is to answer it" (115).
Sproul keeps pushing down these notions of choice while raising the issue of life itself. Our presuppositions must be examined; the basic questions about life itself need to be answered before we get bogged down with semantics, exceptions, and statistics that only seem to cement us further in our prior positions. And while Sproul acknowledges that life itself is hard to define and elusive, he doesn't grant that the mystery of life negates its supreme value:


"Even those who do not agree that life begins before birth grant that there is continuity between a child that is conceived and a child that is born. Every child has a past before birth. The issue is this: Was that past personal or impersonal, with personhood beginning only at birth." (48)


Our cultural behavior betrays a deep sense that the past of a born child is personal, such as the mourning stages after a miscarriage (55-57).

No one argues for the pro-choice position by saying life is unimportant, they simply argue that it is not as important until some point in a fetus's development (and that point varies depending on the person). Sproul shows that the scientific line U.S. courts have drawn between life and fetus is arbitrary at best (58), as is the right to privacy (59). The latter begs the question; Sproul points out that a celebrity's right to privacy doesn't allow them to murder annoying fans (96). He constantly takes care to place the bottom line back on the value of life. If a fetus is a life, or even possibly a life, that value trumps all others, period.
Sproul is careful from the onset not to incense his reader. Although abortion is murder in his opinion, he acknowledges that those who are moderately to extremely pro-choice are not consciously supporters of infanticide: "In the minds of pro-abortion activists, an unborn baby is not a living human person. Once birth occurs, however, a different set of rules applies" (6). Sproul also touches on the link between feminism and abortion, but makes it clear that he is not aiming at feminism in particular except for where those sentiments happen to coincide with pro-choice sentiments (147).

So Sproul refrains from emotionally badgering his would-be opponents, but he is not afraid of emotion. He argues that emotional rhetoric and imagery is not propaganda when it's the things itself, such as the film The Silent Scream (29). If emotional appeals were outlawed from all discourse, then all horrific acts would find a nifty loophole since they tend to make people weep when addressed head-on.

Where Sproul is not so careful is in his varied use of natural and Biblical law. Since he's addressing Christians and non-Christians alike, he desires to show that all of natural processes work towards life, while abortion works in the other direction, without relying solely on Christian Scriptures (37). He accomplishes this throughout, but at times slips in and out of Biblical exegesis to make or bolster points, sometimes assuming the reader will take Scripture as authoritative while at other times acknowledging this may not be the case. It would be better for him to give a more thorough defense of the Bible's place in the debate. Especially with this new edition, I would have welcomed an expanded appendix of his thoughts on page 46, where he explains that human is life hard to define apart from Biblical guidance. Without something like this, in a book meant to persuade, he should not assume his reader is like-minded concerning the theologies of the image of God, the fall of the human race, and value (22), to name a few. It's a shame that his appeals to Scripture may fall on deaf ears, since they are not unpersuasive on their own merits. Aside from the oft-cited passages of Scripture that address conception and life, Jesus's ethic given on the sermon of the mount regarding potential murder (28-29) is given more attention than usual. Sproul also dismantles the arguments based on manslaughter code from Deuteronomy used by liberal-leaning Christians (52-53).

Along the way, Sproul does a good job of pulling back presuppositions and pointing out fallacies, while also refuting some common arguments at the ground level. Some highlights:


* More women have died in abortion procedures since abortion's legalization than before (104)

* Rape and incest are outliers that shouldn't determine the norm (123-124)

* "Ideally, we should refrain from abortion altogether, because then neither the woman nor the baby would die" (105)

* He quotes Bill Crouse: "Feminists need to ask why the `sexist' establishment supports abortion. It may be that abortion enhances the male's freedom to exploit by sparing him from the worry of paternity" (93)

* On supposed the church/state conflict regarding moral laws: "The church is not asking the state to baptize human beings, but to protect the lives of unborn humans" (86) and virtually "all government legislation has moral ramifications" (87)

* "...the argument based on the concern for the harm that will come to women who have illegal abortions presumes that aborting unborn babies is a legitimate practice" (106)

* History and cultures have relativized morals and so they are varied on abortion law. But even where abortion has been legal, it has not been without moral objection from thinkers within those cultures (42-43). Also, "in ancient cultures where abortion was legal, infanticide was legal as well. The Jewish and Christian communities outlawed both" (43)


The book is sound and should at least convince a moderate reader to be wary of accepting the pro-choice position at face value, if not convincing them to embrace the pro-life position altogether. He challenges those not already alongside him successfully. On the other hand, I felt his challenges to those within the Church were good but understated. His calls for Christians to start adopting black babies (126-127), speak up boldly (146), and to return to the cause of the oppressed (147), were very reserved considering the gravity of our failures. He doesn't really attempt to solve the riddle of civil unrest (152) for those passionately pro-life, which will inevitably leave him open to charges of sympathizing with domestic terrorists. He just isn't too concerned with any of these secondary issues in this book, sticking to his goal of fixing all eyes back to the significant question of life and death in the womb of a potential mother. Since he does such a fine job with his primary concern, the secondary faults I find with the book in no way keep me from recommending for anyone willing to take seriously one of the great moral questions of our time.

_Abortion: A Rational Look At An Emotional Issue_, by veteran theologian R.C. Sproul Sr., was originally published in 1990 and then again last year in a 20th anniversary edition. Sproul is clear as to the aim of the book. In the preface, he says, "In this book, I seek to examine the ethical implications of abortion. I look at the issue from the perspectives of biblical law, natural law, and positive judicial law." The book is a "brief case against against abortion." Not one to mince words, Sproul says from the outset that he is convinced abortion on demand is evil.

The content of the book is arranged in three parts. The first part concerns itself with the ethical issues surrounding abortion. Says Sproul, "At the heart of the abortion issue rests one overarching question: Is abortion a form of murder? In other words, does abortion involve the willful destruction of a living human person?" He goes on to clarify that the debate is not one of whether murder should be legalized, but whether abortion belongs to the category of murder.

Sproul looks at the Bible's teaching on abortion and concludes that the implicit teaching is against abortion. He makes several arguments against abortion from natural law as well. Along the way, the history of abortion legislation in the U.S. context and a discussion of the role of government are interwoven with the material.

Sproul makes clear that his primary target in the book is "those who are not sure about the ethics of abortion. If you remain uncertain," says Sproul, "I urge you again not to engage in abortion unless you are absolutely certain for clear and sound reasons (which I'm not aware of) that abortion is an ethically justifiable action. The simple adage of common wisdom applies to you: 'When in doubt, don't.'"

In the second part of the book, Sproul addresses some of the arguments used in defense of the pro-abortion position (e.g., the woman's right to her body, pregnancy as a result of rape or incest). Part three contains a chapter on whether abortion is the unpardonable sin and offers a pro-life strategy in the final chapter.

As always, I appreciate Sproul's writing style. He writes clearly and articulately. His contribution to the abortion debate is respectable, but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong pro-life case. Admittedly, Sproul's book is a brief case against abortion, so it shouldn't be judged for failing to be the be-all end-all on the abortion debate. That said, I find many of the arguments - particularly the natural law ones - to be a less than optimal way to engage the debate. In my opinion, a better introductory book on the issue with more helpful arguments would be something like Scott Klusendorf's, _The Case for Life_.

I hate to sound negative because I've read a lot of Sproul and genuinely appreciate his writings. Most certainly the reader who is new to the abortion debate can gain a lot from reading this book. However, I think other introductory books do a better job. So, if your time and/or book budget are limited, you may want to consider looking to other sources for an overview.

I first heard about the book when Ligonier decided to send a copy to every member of Congress at the convening of the next congress, January 2011. (Ligonier gave the opportunity for their followers to purchase a copy for a congressman, which I did...hopefully he or she will read it. I love the idea that the copy I paid for might end up on Nancy Pelosi's desk!)

First, the list of names in the endorsements section is a roll call of superstars of evangelicalism: Jim Daly (Focus on the Family), Marvin Olasky (World Magazine), Randy Alcorn (author), Russell D. Moore (pastor and seminary dean), John MacArthur (pastor and author), Chuck Swindoll (pastor and author), Peter Jones (apologist and author), and others.

The book is not long; about 150 pages plus appendices, notes, bibliography, and an index. The book was first published in 1990. This is the 20th anniversary edition.

Part One is titled, Abortion: The ethical dilemma of our time.

Ch 1- 'A Nation Divided'- Abortion is a divisive issue intertwined in our culture; a core question is, "Is abortion a form of murder?" Sproul also discusses these questions- what is a fetus?...when does life begin?; what is the philosophical basis for making decisions about right and wrong. This chapter is a good introduction to some of the problems in thinking about the issue of abortion.

Ch 2- 'The Sanctity of Life'- The second chapter moves to some philosophical foundations for why both believers and unbelievers can understand the value of human life. These issues are highlighted in this chapter- the nature of man; biblical roots of the concept of sanctity of life; the relation (morally) of the death penalty to abortion; the potential destruction of actual life versus the actual destruction of potential life. This chapter moves the reader into deeper thinking about the issues involved in abortion, as well as general issues related to life and death.

Ch 3- 'The Sanctity of Life and Natural Law'- Sproul continues to develop the themes from chapter 2 in this chapter. Here, he deals with these issues- abortion as an act against nature; our culture's intense concern for living individuals but not for the unborn; the early church's opposition to abortion; the connection between abortion and infanticide in early cultures.

Ch 4- 'When Does Life Begin'- Sproul deals with some of the key issues in the legal realm as well as the philosophical realm in this chapter- scriptural support for the idea of the fetus as human life; scriptural distinction of the unborn baby from the mother; the power of prejudice in decision making and the forming of opinions; 'What should we do if we remain unsure of the answer?' Dr. Sproul will more fully develop this last idea in the next chapter.

Ch 5- 'What if You Are Not Sure about Abortion?'- In a continuation from the last chapter, Sproul deals with these issues- the argumentum ad populum; the logic of dealing with the rightness/wrongness of abortion; the conscience and abortion (Luther- 'To act against conscience is neither right nor safe'). Dr. Sproul makes a cogent logical argument for the moral duty of anyone who may have doubts, one way or the other, about any moral dilemma. This is a valuable chapter for what is probably the majority of non-believers on the topic of abortion...not sure about what is right or wrong.

Ch 6- 'The Role of Government in Abortion'- Sproul moves to the political side of the issues in this chapter- 'Is abortion a private ethical issue or does it fall within the scope of government regulation and control?' (p. 75); the role of government in restraining evil in society; separation of church and state; the moral implications of law (and how this does not entangle church and state); how Roe v. Wade was the state's greatest failure at being the state. This chapter breaks down some of the mythology that has developed around the 'wall of separation' issues between the church and the state, and shows why the state's dealing with moral issues falls fully within the appropriate sphere of activity for a state.

Part Two is titled, An Analysis of Pro-abortion and Pro-choice Arguments.

Ch 7- 'A Woman's Right to Her Body'- Sproul deals with these issues in this chapter- the constitutional 'rights' to privacy; are a woman's rights to her own body absolute?; is the fetus a part of the woman's body?; does a father have rights in reference to the fetus?

Ch 8- 'Three Frequent Assertions'- In this chapter, the three basic assumptions of the pro-abortion argument are considered: (1) If abortion is illegal, women will have dangerous 'back-alley' abortions; (2) It is inconsistent to be anti-abortion and pro-capital punishment; and, (3) Men should not speak about abortion because it is a women's issue.

First, Sproul logically argues that for those who believe abortion is the killing of a human being, continuing to protect those who are having abortions is 'ethically intolerable' (p. 105). He also argues that if abortion is unjust, then the protection of those who engage in the practice is not a duty of the state. (In other lectures, I've heard Dr. Sproul more fully develop this idea that laws against abortion are not a matter of asking the state to be the church, but rather asking the state to be the state. I wish he developed these ideas a bit more fully here.)

Second, he refutes the second objection by showing the logical inconsistency that even if anti-abortion people are wrong on the issue of capital punishment, that doesn't make them wrong on abortion. This is an example of poor logic and is easily illustrated to those who use such an argument.

Third, Sproul shows how the third argument about abortion only being a women's issue is 'specious' (p. 107). Jesus was a man...does he have a right to speak on the issue? All arguments such as this one are ad hominem.

Ch 9- 'The Pro-Choice Position'- Because of time and political tactic, the real difference between 'pro-abortion' and 'pro-choice' has been obscured in this country. Sproul give a good historical analysis of the two, and how they become one. This chapter is very different than what we usually hear on the subject of abortion from either side of the issue, and may be the most helpful and most informative chapter in the book for many people.

The following paragraph from page 115 answers Dr. Sproul's question, "Do we have the moral right to choose what is morally wrong?" In other words, is the argument opposing laws against abortion because they restrict freedom-of-choice a valid one?

"Again, every law enacted limits or restricts someone's
choices. That is the very nature of law. If we do not wish to
restrict other people's choices through legislation, we must stop
legislating and cease voting. I think that most people will grant
that freedom of choice is not an absolute freedom. No human
being is an absolute law unto himself. Unless we are prepared to
buy into an ethical system of pure relativism by which law and
society become impossible, we must flee as the wind from the
proposition that the individual is autonomous."

In moving to application of the abstract, Sproul says on page 116,

"To move from the abstract into the concrete, I wonder
whether pro-choice activists object to laws protecting their
personal property rights? Does the thief breaking into a home
to steal someone's television have the inalienable right to make
that choice? Does a man have the right to choose to rape a
woman? These extreme examples make it obvious that freedom
of choice cannot be considered an absolute right."


Ch 10- 'The Problem of Unwanted Pregnancies'- Sproul deals with the important idea that the central issue, abortion on demand, should not be clouded by peripheral issues such as rape or medical abortions. Undesirability is never a moral justification to kill a child, either after or before birth. He then confronts the actual statistics around the number of pregnancies resulting from rape or necessary in therapeutic (medical) abortions. Those numbers are small, but real to the person in the situation. Sproul offers reasons why and how to avoid killing the fetus in these situations.

Part Three is titled, A compassionate response and strategy.

Ch 11- 'Is Abortion the Unpardonable Sin?'- This is a short but effective chapter. Sproul starts with David and explains how God deals with sin in our lives. He leaves no uncertainty about abortion being a forgivable sin. He then explains clearly how to apprehend that forgiveness.

Ch 12- 'A Pro-Life Strategy'- Sproul attacks the issue of what to do in this chapter. He uses comparisons between Wilberforce's work against slavery in England two hundred years ago with our work against abortion today. On page 144, he says, "On one occasion, Lord Melbourne stated, 'Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade public life.' Doesn't that sound like today's media quotes in the United States?"

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Sproul says we should speak up where appropriate, target pro-choice (not pro-abortion...see chapter 9 for the difference), target (liberal) churches that support abortion, target the medical community (which has been done effectively already), target political officials, and target parents and families. The strategy for each of these groups varies, but is not complex, and he gives short descriptions of each.

He ends with the idea that the struggle must continue until the time when, "...no human child is destroyed under the sanction of law." (p. 153)

I heartily agree.

There are two appendices included in the book: (A) Testimony on the Beginning of Human Life, and (B) Pro-Life Resources.

The testimony section is fascinating. It is the recorded testimony of a geneticist at a trial about a dispute involving frozen human embryos. Just this testimony is worth the price of the book. I wonder why this hasn't made wider rounds?

The second appendix has contact information, including URLs, for various pro-life organizations.

There are summaries and discussion questions at the end of each chapter for group or personal study use. There is a bibliography, not exhaustive but very good, and a useful index.

I suppose the best summary of the whole thing, and the best way to end the discussion might be a question Dr. Sproul asks in page 115-

"Do we have the moral right to choose what is morally wrong?"