Your last paragraph speaks volumes: I know that you are not stupid at all. I know and you know that Roe & Doe are “VERY BAD LAWS” You and I have a tremendous amount in common in the context of this paragraph. This is a monumentally complex situation that our world has put itself into, and requires much time to start to fully appreciate it’s magnitude. (many years for me—and I still pull my hair out!)
As a Christian, I am called to care about all of God’s children (EVERYONE), so regarding your “I thought the issue was about the value of human life, not just about how people treat each other. Apparently a fetus only has value if another person is making efforts to harm it.” I will answer thus: God creates—parents pro-create. God gives us everything (Most importantly our immortal souls) He makes us in His image and likeness (with intellect and will) we are each a Masterpiece in the eyes of our Creator, so much so that A pastor once remarked that Heaven is so enthralled with each of us, God’s unique masterpieces, that angels walk before us crying “Behold, a child of God!” I believe this includes U.S. citizens waiting to be born!
The reason that I am a “pro-lifer” and tend to focus on the fetus (Latin for “Little Child”) Is that they are the most in need of assistance. They are not “more important” than toddlers or anyone else; HOWEVER, they are the only people being systematically butchered by a global killing machine that is getting bigger on a daily basis (truly a cancer). If we don’t destroy it, it will destroy us—all of us, born and unborn when we get in it’s way, or are not to it’s liking. EXACTLY like Adolph Hitler. "They came for the Jews but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t a Jew. They came for the Gypsies but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t a Gypsy. They came for the homosexuals but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t a homosexual. They came for the mentally retarded but I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t mentally retarded. Finally they came for me and no one said anything because no one was left to speak." I don’t want to have to say the same thing about myself with regards to today's culture of death as that Lutheran pastor said about the Nazis.
Now that you know me a tiny bit, perhaps my website could prove somewhat helpful (also you can communicate with me if you would like)
Your friend
I have tried to be frank. Most of us avoid frankness in discussing Hobson's choices because the choice we necessarily support, in isolation, makes us appear as monsters. Frankness should, I believe, merit frankness in polite debate. It appears to me that in referring to God's authority you are obfuscating to hide your own responsibility for the choices and values you hold.
You have not, to my estimation, denied my summation of your view: that you value all humans equally. This can lead to unpleasant choices, as I previously described. I suggest that you not avoid analyzing the consequences of your beliefs.
EXACTLY like Adolph Hitler.
Instead of furthering the debate, you restate the point of disagreement. What saddens me more than people who are cold to those uniquely human qualities, are those who refuse even to recoqnize their existence.
Good day, and thank you for your time.