Dismantling <i>Roe</i> | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

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Christianity Today, February, 2008

Dismantling Roe

In Defending Life, philosopher Francis Beckwith argues with the sword tied behind his back.

Review by Douglas LeBlanc | posted 2/18/2008 08:56AM

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Thirty-five years and 50 million abortions later, Roe v. Wade stands as a nearly sacred text for the sexual revolution. Just as Christianity has its apologists, so does Roe. Philosophers and ethicists such as David Boonin, Eileen McDonagh, and Judith Thomson either defend associate justice Harry Blackmun's reasoning in Roe or build further justifications for what Roe established. Francis Beckwith, associate professor of philosophy and church-state studies at Baylor University, spends much of Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice (Cambridge) taking on these abortion-rights apologists.

This is important work. If the Supreme Court ever seriously curtails the laissez-faire abortion environment established by Roe, abortion-rights arguments will shape the movement that surely will persist. Beckwith, who last year reconverted to Catholicism, builds his argument without appealing to Christian revelation. Thus, he challenges the notion that restricting abortion would be tantamount to imposing Christian dogma on American law.

Defending Life is not the sort of book that a crisis pregnancy center can hand out to its younger clients in hopes of saving a life. It is a heavily technical debate with other specialists. Beckwith does, however, lighten the load with an occasional pop-culture reference. In the context of a discussion about the scope of the human community, here is one of his wittiest turns: "After all, if Christopher Reeve was identical to his embryonic self, then we were no more justified in killing an embryo to acquire its stem cells so that Mr. Reeve might walk again than we would be in stealing Mr. Reeve's eyes so that Stevie Wonder might see again."

Beckwith performs a most effective demolition job on the pro-choice movement's more hackneyed arguments. For instance, part of his answer to the annoying "Don't like abortion? Then don't have one" bumper-sticker position is "Don't like murder? Don't commit one." Beckwith argues forcefully that pro-choice advocates who offer such suggestions are practicing a subtle and patronizing intolerance that expects pro-lifers to act as if their "fundamental view of human life is false."

Beckwith's work is worthwhile reading for pro-life thinkers who wish to track Roe's deadly march through the American intelligentsia. It's more worthwhile still for pro-life thinkers who know that, while Roe may have won many battles since 1973, the war is far from over. Defending Life will equip pro-life activists to make a logically sound defense of human dignity.

The battle for American hearts, though, may require even tougher work. The challenge for the most talented pro-life activists will be to take the arguments in these pages and translate them into concepts readily grasped by gum-smacking teenagers who suddenly wonder whether a baby is in their immediate future—especially those teens raised in the shadow of the modern altar to Roe.

Douglas LeBlanc, CT contributing editor.

Related Elsewhere:

Beckwith keeps up with pro-life news on his blog.

Defending Life is available from Amazon.com and other retailers.

Christianity Today's coverage of life ethics issues and Beckwith's conversion are available in our full-coverage sections.

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February 2008, Vol. 52, No. 2

Comments (14)

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Displaying 1–5 of 14 comments

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John Funk

March 03, 2008 6:46am

Beckwith' Defending Life is a logical defense of pro life. But if logic could defeat satan he'd be long gone.!Co.8:1LeBlanc states, "the battle for hearts, may require tougher work."that's "FAITH working by LOVE - THE VICTORY'. "the battle for - hearts" is seldom won intelectually. "The challenge for" the church is faith to allow "(Jesus) to build (His) church, (instead of) making the word of God to no effect by (our) traditions. If a man loves (Jesus) he will keep (His) word", incl. (read all ch)Cor.14 .26, "How is it then brethern, when you come together everyone has a psalm has a doctrine etc. -" so Jesus can choose whoever, whenever to build his church. But tradition dictates that a little pope (daughter of "the mother of harlots" RC church Re 17) run the show while Jesus is told to sit and be quiet. The net result division, weakness, multitudes in hell, millions of babies aborted etc. We left "the simplicity that is in Christ". 2 Ch 7:14 says we are responsible. "If My people -"

Mozena

February 29, 2008 3:14pm

How about a bumper sticker that says "Don't like abortion? Adopt a child!" Instead of harassing women who are going into abortion clinics for services, engage them kindly and offer to adopt their unborn children if they will carry to term. Then, follow through.

George T.

February 22, 2008 8:24pm

It is heartening to read the latest statistics on the dramatic decrease(over 30%) in abortions in the past five years, in the USA. This article is a perfect complement to keep pushing the argument against Roe.

RJ Chavez

February 20, 2008 5:22pm

Beckwith's reasoning is beyond sound, though a bit obtuse for some of us in the trenches. His thoughts, reasoned arguments, and format are all exceptional in this book in that he dismantles actual ARGUMENTS made by pro-abort followers rather than submitting a typed sermon for their review. The breathing room available for pro-abortion arguments is shrinking every day. Between the quirky, yet powerful dialogues and essays of Peter Kreeft and the thorough and comprehensive argumentation of Beckwith, the utter absurdity of abortion is plain to see. The key now lies in those on the front lines--may they take these arguments and integrate them powerfully yet compassionately to all they (we) encounter.

Renee W

February 20, 2008 7:00am

If nothing else we can now begin to see that science will finally lead us to quit using abortion. How sad that the Church of the last 35 plus years will someday be remmebered as we now think back on the Church in Germany before WWII and the Church in the US during hundreds of years of slavery. In the long run future generations will wonder about our commitment to the God we claim to serve. Does that bother anyone ?

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