by Lorette C. Luzajic
Part 11 of the Pillars of Faith series
Life Doesn’t End at Birth
I saw a bumper sticker that said “Life doesn’t end at birth” and that sums up everything wrong with militant anti-choice groups like Operation Rescue. Beyond simply stating their ideas or faith, they idolize the fetus, going to ridiculous, macabre extremes. Once you’re actually born, do you have any rights at all?
Militant pro-lifers spread the moniker “Babykiller Obama.” That the prez didn’t personally legalize abortion in the U.S. — and that lifting the ban on contraception provisions for third world women saves millions from AIDS, prevents new hungry mouths, and reduces the number of already-born children from being orphaned — is beyond their reasoning abilities. The other tactic that really gets my ire up is the constant reference to Planned Parenthood’s supposed eugenic agenda. PP founder Sanger had racist affiliations, yes — as did everyone in the 1920s!
It wasn’t the founding fathers or Christians who dismantled American racism: indeed, slavery and racism are their legacy. Much is made of the fact that more black women are single mothers, and so the abortion agenda targets blacks for ethnic cleansing. Perhaps mention should be made instead that poor black women with options can have better chances at leaving the ghetto, at education, and future family?
Message in a Bottle
Pullquote: “George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God.”
But why should Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, be among thinking Christians, a rare breed? There’s much more glory in the macabre theater and emotional hype. His current show has women who’ve had abortions dressed in black at the Sotomayor hearings. Carrying coffins filled with tiny dolls and blood with the sound of infants wailing completes the grisly scene.
He also punk’d then-President Bill Clinton by mailing him a fetus in a bottle. And earlier this year, after abortion-provider was murdered in his church, Terry stated, “George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God.”
Terry’s family values are just as theatrical. A born again fundie, he met his first wife in Bible school. Terry was ministering to a pregnant prostitute who’d born two kids, one in prison. He convinced her to carry the child, and then at least had the decency to foster, and later adopt, Tila and her older siblings — whom he described as “three black foster children” on his “resume.”
Born Again Catholic
Pullquote: How embarrassing that this pillar of faith left his wife of 19 years for that model — a woman nearly two decades younger.
His mainline mission was to rescue the unborn. But “family values” campaigns were on the agenda, too — he decried infidelity, teamed up with his son to reveal the horrors of the gay agenda, and rallied support from churches for pregnant women.
In his book, The Judgement of God, he said, “Families are destroyed as a father vents his mid life crisis by abandoning his wife for a ‘younger, prettier model.’” How embarrassing that this pillar of faith left his wife of 19 years for that model — a woman nearly two decades younger. Terry was axed from his church for his indiscretion — it was rumored that the prettier pro-lifer wasn’t the first affair. Suddenly, he was no longer a virulent anti-papist — Terry converted to Catholicism, where he erased his divorce blight. Apparently, the first marriage wasn’t “sacramental.”
But What About the Children?
Pullquote: Terry tried to quell his embarrassment by publicly stating that a child born to a whore is bound to be confused.
What about them? Terry disowned the unmarried Tila when she decided to carry an unexpected pregnancy to term. Ebony also got pregnant as a teen — twice — and worse, converted to Islam, which Terry said is nothing but “terrorists” and “murderers.” And Jamiel? He came out as gay in Out Magazine, hoping to help self-hating fundie kids.
At first, Terry tried to quell his embarrassment by publicly stating that a child born to a whore is bound to be confused. He said Jamiel begged his help for “a cure” and that he’s eager to pay for it. Then he said that Out, a queer news and profile mag, made up the story, and preyed on a cash-desperate Jamiel by “paying” him, as they needed a “trophy” snare.
Umm, magazines pay their writers, Dad! In any event, Dad defended himself against Jamiel’s statement that he wasn’t welcome in the family home by saying “he could come for a holiday, make mental notes” and that he has to protect his new trophy wife and two small sons. Even though Jamiel’s not really gay, of course.
So it’s clear how this man really treats young black women who get knocked up, even when they’re his own daughters. And question: would you still rescue the gay fetuses, Mr. Terry?
No one should be this angry this early in the morning. I hope he keeps up his antics though, it’ll show the world how intoxicating religion is.
Fetuses can’t be gay, they haven’t yet been brainwashed by Spongebob into gayness.
Indeed. Being Gay(TM) is a Lifestyle Choice(TM).
Funny, really. I’ve never chosen to be straight – I just am. On the other hand, I’ve had some amazing male friends who I’d totally have been into if they were women, so being gay would have been quite handy at times – but I couldn’t “choose” to be gay.
A friends comment while sitting in the pub many years ago … “wouldn’t it be great if you could marry your mates and then just carry of having sex with women”
“brainwashed by Spongebob” LOL!!!! :)
Spongebob is gay? Who invents these things?
It’s not obvious?
Thanks for this article. I knew the guy was crazy, but nothing about his nasty, circus-like “family life.” I feel very sorry for those poor children he adopted.
What really bothers me is this quote, though. Terry stated, “George Tiller was a mass-murderer. We grieve for him that he did not have time to properly prepare his soul to face God.”
How does he know that? Was he there when Dr. Tiller was shot? In the ambulance? At the hospital? Is he priviy to Dr. Tiller’s last words or even inner thoughts?
Apparently, he was and is.
And so many of these jerks claim atheists are arrogant know it alls.
It always amazes me that the people who judge others the most often have shady histories in their own past. What the hell gives people like him a right to be so high and mighty when it comes to abortion, yet turn his back on other “religous principles,” if you will? Completely ridiculous.
If I was shocked every time some arsehole’s religion conflicted with his basic nature, I’d never stop gasping.
Is this guy related to Fred Phelps? What a nutbag…
Jacqueline S. Homan said the following a few posts back and it bears repeating:
“men feel unjustly entitled to deny women some basic fundamental human (and Constitutional) rights because the Judeo-Christian god “says so.” Namely the right to have self-determination which means fundamentally, the right to have control over our own bodies, health, and lives…you know, the same rights men in the US get to enjoy known as “liberty”,”freedom”, “equal protection under the law”, and “the right to be secure in their person.” ”
‘Nuff said.
Long time lurker, first time commenter here. I was raised Lutheran and am extremely questioning my faith and religion itself these days. I wouldn’t consider myself an agnostic/atheist yet, but I’m definitely on a journey that may well end up there. This blog has been extremely helpful in the journey thus far.
The reason I finally am drawing myself out is because this article asked what I’ve been wondering for quite some time: would you still rescue the gay fetuses? I have several very, very religious friends (like, they majored in religion, preach at their churches, run Bible studies, etc) that I’ve been dying to ask this question to, but haven’t because I don’t want to be disrespectful and we often avoid these topics, since I’m not even remotely as “hardcore” as they are.
Anyway, does anyone know how the religious right would answer that question? If they KNEW some people were born to be homosexual, and that they couldn’t “change” them, would they be okay with abortion? Also, I have often wondered about how their viewpoint that all life comes from God–if God made someone homosexual, then he’s automatically damning that person–there’s no chance for him/her. And I don’t buy the “challenge to overcome” argument that I’ve heard others say (in real life, not here). Challenges include poverty or disabilities, neither of which automatically damns you in the church’s/God’s/Bible’s eyes. But being born homosexual does. It makes no sense to me.
Anyway, I’m back to lurking. Thanks for reading my comment and questions.
Inquiring you won’t get an answer to this question from a fundie. As I understand the views of most fundies, no one is born gay instead they choose to be gay. I figure they would tell you that a demon or satan is what causes them to go gay and that with the proper training they can regain their heterosexual status.
Anyway, does anyone know how the religious right would answer that question? If they KNEW some people were born to be homosexual, and that they couldn’t “change” them, would they be okay with abortion?
The religious right wouldn’t grant your premise. They deny that people are “born gay” as it were. For them, “being gay” isn’t a reality; instead, homosexuals choose to indulge a perverse lust of the flesh.
The answer to your question would be, “No,” I think, for that very reason. Their reasoning would be, even those who become the worst of sinners deserve the chance not to be so.
Yeah. In my experience, anti-gay people insist that homosexuality is a choice. It’s critically important. All arguments against gay marriage etc seem to come down to “homosexuality is wrong”.
Thanks to all who have answered my question, I appreciate it.
So then what would happen if scientists found a gene or chromosome or something that determines sexuality. . . would the religious people just claim that the science is wrong?
Thank you again.
Dunno. The fact that no “gay gene” has been found is frequently trumpeted from the castle walls. Because, you know, lack of absolute proof of something means the opposite is true.
would the religious people just claim that the science is wrong?
You’d need to refine how you’d put it, but there are already a lot of ‘religious people’ who think the science is wrong. Take Young Earth Creationism as a case in point example.
But, to your point specifically about homosexuality:
There are plenty of Christians who acknowledge and accept that homosexuality is linked to biology and genetics. Some of those Christians accept homosexuality and bless homosexual unions.
On the flip side, others would argue that homosexuality is an orientation, and orientations don’t determine behavior. Thus, while the orientation is not a choice, one must still choose to indulge or repress the desire to engage in homosexual behavior. So, some would argue that homosexual behavior is still wrong and expect celibacy.
They use the science is wrong thing all the time, so would say yeah they would use it again.
Here’s what Answers in Genesis- a literalist-Bible site says:
The Bible—the “history book of the universe”—provides a reliable, eye-witness account of the beginning of all things, and can be trusted to tell the truth in all areas it touches on. Therefore, we are able to use it to help us make sense of this present world….By definition, no apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record.
Now, eye- witness? Whose eyes? Moses didn’t write the book until 1440 BC or possibly the 700s BC! Moses likely didn’t write it at all, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Nonetheless, even if the earth was made in 6 days 6000 years ago as this site proclaims, no one writing the infallible Bible was eyewitness.
Second, if no history, facts, whatever, can be valid if they contradict scripture, I guess epilepsy and birth defects are still demon possession.
The gay thing is my own personal contention as my childhood community’s beliefs tortured my best friend, whom emerged as gay and it was traumatic as we grew from kiddies into teens and discovered what was unravelling. He did think he was demon possessed and families arranged for cures and blamed mothers and bla bla bla. As we both left the church to have our own private faith, we found the fun world of gay nightlife was a whole lot of Abba and nothing too sinister. As a result of my early adulthood, most of my friends are gay. I now go to Toronto’s awesome gay church, sometimes- I’m pretty agnostic now, atheist on some days, but have nothing against the kind of lovingkindness and social justice work our church is actively involved in.
Being gay may not turn up a gay gene, but even more reviled than gays is transgendered people, rejecting the role God gave them! It’s pure ignorance that anyone would want to make such heartwrenching trouble and confusion for themselves. A simple bit of research turns up the science: one in 2000 give or take is a hermaphrodite. About one in 200 has both male and female stuff, not necessarily visible- so invisible hermaphrodite. For example, you’re born looking full on male, but have female chromosones, too. Or even ovaries, inside, unknown to you. Or you are female, but never menstruate, and are quite hairy. They used to chop off whatever parts looked wrong, guessing what you were, at birth. Now intersex rights groups decry this as abuse. Intersex people are not male or female. They are both. They are born this way. It happens from ancient incidents of incest that might rear up, or by fluke, or by the fragile fact of maleness- fetuses start female, or by the fact that chimeras are quite common- many of us began as twins and one fetus absorbed the other. Clearly, you can’t bark that these pepole have problem with God-given gender roles. “God” gave them a challenging gender role, but they are fully human.
But yes, if like my childhood faith, every answer is “because of sin” then the answer will be, ‘science is wrong.’
Sorry for rambling. I just thought the stats on intersex say a lot about biological diversity, and it has nothing to do with ‘roles’ and rejection of them, but everything to do with how science might work, and speak to us, if we are listening.
It won’t matter, at least for a LONG time. Fundies used to talk about how if evolution was true, we’d have whale fossils with feet. But there was no such thing.
Then archeologists found whale fossils with feet bones. Now they just skip that argument, but they didn’t change their minds.
It seems to have been a critical point but why is that. A sociopath is a ‘natural’ condition but nobody would argue that it should not be treated as a medical condition? So the real argument is why is homosexuality treated different to so many any human activities, whether natural or not. In general things are considered wrong due to their consequences not their cause, being gay is treated differently. So if a ‘gay gene’ was suddenly found do you honestly a certain set of believers would suddenly go, oh that’s ok then we’ll stop being bigots? No the argument would just move on to a new premise while still not saying what the real argument is i.e. that they believe it’s a sin according to their holy text. In same ways I have more respect (if that’s the right word!) for the likes of Fred Phelps, who doesn’t try to dress his argument up become and just says what he actually believes. The problem as I see it is that certain believers don’t like to say the real reason as they will have to quickly move on to why, for which the only answer is ‘because god says so’.
Ask most fundies whether they believe babies go to heaven, they’ll say yes.
Ask them if most people go to heaven, they’d say no — they have to believe a certain set of things, live a certain way, etc, and Jesus said “the way is narrow.”
You’d think they’d be thrilled all those children get to skip out of hell and go right to the Bearded Almighty. Instead, they throw a fit about it and want them to have a small chance to get to heaven the hard way.
The road is narrow…that leads to Life (Christ Himself being “the way” as early followers used to call themselves, people of the way). He is not speaking strictly of “heaven” here in the sense of a destination, an afterlife but this (as with nearly everything He speaks) is a NOW word. He goes on to say…but broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are them who go that (unfortunate) way.
“Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the King’s pool: but there was no room for the beast that was under me to pass” Nehemiah 2:14. If we would “enter in” upon this narrow path, we must lose the beastly man of Self and pride. There is not room for both, for it is a “narrow way”.
The paradox is that once we fully “enter in” upon that narrow way (Christ, not “church”) it becomes a wide open expanse, a wonder, a beautiful, grace-filled meadow and journey. All the best.
Translation dysfunction. Nehemiah is not talking about a beast in the sense of a monster or some symbolic feral animal. He’s talking about a beast he’s riding on, in the sense of a steed.
Compare Neh. 2:12 NRSV version: “Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode.”
Nehemiah is simply talking about the horse he’s riding, which should be obvious from the previous verse and from the overall context – he’s recounting his journey through the Jerusalem area. He’s not alluding to some fancy allegory of spiritual hardship. The Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool were actual places.
A typical example, I suppose, of apologists wanting to ascribe some mystical meaning to a rather straight-forward Bible verse. Believe it or not, sometimes what the Bible tells us is quite mundane, like how a guy traveled on a horse.
Keep in mind, John C never seems to be able to tell when someone else is using a metaphor.
TRJ-
“scripture” morphs. It has literal, deeper and spiritual connotations. But here’s the catch…we (our inner man) must be in one of those three to “hear” the truth of what is being said. The Bible is not a book in the way other books are mere books. I know this wont be accepted, but I have learned this the hard way.
Btw…the Fountain Gate and Kings pool, while literal “places” also have siginificant, higher meanings.
All the best.
I declare that Beast has a spiritual meaning of the flavor blueberry. I declare the gate to be symbolic of a pie crust. I declare that the verse is all about the fabulous taste sensation of blueberry pie. I rest my case.
mmmmm….pie…..
Keep dimissin’, keep on missin’…out.
There is a life, there is MORE.
All the best…to all.
So, in order to get into heaven, we must get rid of our inner horse.
Yes, that certainly makes a lot of sense.
So it’s a meadow now.
With poppies!
Everybody loves puppies!
Yea, but no grown ups allowed, its for children only. You’d have to grow down.
But you’re invited…anytime.
You are invited to join the real world. A world where sugar coated bullshit is still bullshit.
Mr. Florien, what’s your opinion on abortion? Did it change when you became an atheist? I’ve always wondered about how atheism would impact something like that.
Or, hell, anyone in the same boat is free to answer.