A Christian, intra religious translating dictionary

Terms relating to pregnancy and abortion

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Overview of pregnancy and abortion terms:

There are fundamental differences in definitions used by pro-life and pro-choice advocates:

Most Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Christians, pro-life advocates, and religious conservatives believe that: Pregnancy begins during the process of conception when a unique DNA is constructed. Human life, in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon (i.e. forms of life with human DNA), becomes a human person at conception. Any medication that terminates the life of a person, whether in the form of a zygote, morula, pre-embryo, embryo or fetus is an abortifacient -- it induces an abortion. The "morning after pill" (a.k.a. emergency contraception, (EC) either is or can be an abortifacient.

Essentially all medical specialists, pro-choice advocates, religious liberals, etc. believe that : Pregnancy begins when the pre-embryo embeds itself in the wall of the uterus, about twelve days after conception. Human life becomes a human person later in pregnancy -- e.g. when the fetus is viable, or when higher functions of the fetal brain first turn on and the fetus attains sentience, or at birth or at some other time. Any medication that terminates a pregnancy is an abortifacient. The "morning after" pill acts as a contraceptive in that it prevents ovulation -- the release of an ovum from an ovary, and inhibits conception. If conception has already started, it cannot induce an abortion. Thus, it is not an abortifacient.

With such differences in the basic definition of terms, meaningful dialogue between pro-choice and pro-life advocates is essentially impossible -- even if the desire were present.

If the two groups were able to work together they could achieve their common goal of reducing the abortion rate in the U.S. by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies. Since about half of the pregnancies are unintended, and about half of all unintended pregnancies end in abortion, the abortion rate could be cut to a fraction of its present value if the use of contraceptives, including EC, were encouraged. Some countries in Europe have an unwanted pregnancy rate and thus an abortion rate than is a fraction of those seen in the U.S. Unfortunately, the lack of consensus on meanings of terms, and the level of animosity between the tro groups makes joint activity difficult.

Contrasting definitions:

It is important to realize that when one group defines something differently from another group, this does not make one group clueless, ignorant. backwards, etc. They are simply two groups using differing definitions. Denegrating others happens often in areas where religion impacts people's sexual behavior, as in abortion access, rights of persons with a minority sexual orientation or gender identity, access to marriage, etc.

Copyright © 2000 to 2010 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2000-OCT-02
Latest update and review: 2010-JUN-20
Author: B.A. Robinson

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