Does It Matter that Evangelicals Became Prolife Recently?
Dudley says he was trying to prove that it is "apparent" that our current views on abortion are merely due to our social/political conservatism, and that this "unacknowledged worldview, and not the Bible" is what we "are actually defending." First he fails to note that progressive evangelicals are also ardently prolife. But second, he simply fails to prove his point even about conservatives. He has only shown that many 1960s evangelicals were pro-choice, and that for some evangelicals the Religious Right played a role in their conversion to pro-life. Points taken. But he fails to appreciate the complexity of human motives and the variety of historical forces that make for large social changes such as this one.
He also thinks he's proven that knowing the historical provenance of an ethical truth in itself makes that truth relative and time bound. This is a philosophical and not a historical assumption, and of course, he's failed to prove it or even discuss it. And yet his essay hinges on whether history and ethics relate to one another like this.
I grant that there are biblical, theological, and ethical arguments about evangelical prolife exegesis worth debating. But I fail to see how this historical argument, especially one cast in such a narrow political way, is germane. It only tells us that there has been a recent change, and assumes that this change was arbitrary and bad. It certainly cannot imagine that we've witnessed recently another stellar historical moment, when one more people finally grasped the preciousness of all human life.
Mark Galli is editor of Christianity Today.
A Fractured and Beautiful Faith
Streaming This Weekend, May 24, 2013
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Claire Guest
John Holecek, you say, "Mainline Protestantism folded long ago on same-sex marriage..." This is partly true, but not wholly true. What has actually happened is that schisms have arisen in mainline Protestant denominations over this issue as Bible-believing, God-honoring believers have obeyed His admonition to "come out from among them and be ye separate" (2 Corinthians 6). Christ Jesus prophesied this would happen, and the apostles echoed His warning. Many Catholics have been co-workers in crisis pregnancy refuge centers, and I appreciate them very much. At the same time, there are many other Catholics who are pro-"choice", support re-defining God's definition of marriage, vote Dem in every election (as is true of many Protestants, as well). So I don't understand how you can see this as a Catholic/Protestant issue. Perhaps I misunderstood you. If so, please feel free to clarify.
Claire Guest
Robert Starr, I can only speak for myself and fellow Christians whom I have known for years IRL. I know for a fact that no politician ever influenced us to be pro-life, period. What influenced us (as I've often referenced here) is God's own Word - Jeremiah 1, Psalm 139, Jesus' words, other Scriptures as well. When I first began voting, there was no such divide between Reps and Dems - abortion was a non-partisan issue. Ironically, it seems that Jimmy Carter, who ran on a "born again" platform, had a major part in making support for abortion on demand a Dem issue. Feminists of that day chose the Dem party as their party and made deals with Dem leaders to advance their agenda (a former New York Times editor recently mentioned this in a book). The pro-life position IS very important to me, for the reason I cited earlier (as is definition of marriage). The Dems' hard Left position has definitely alienated and disenfranchised many Americans whose standard of truth is God's Holy Word.
Robert Starr
I see Dudley conflating two points: 1) Republicans influenced Christians to become Pro Life. 2) Republicans used this issue to gain political support. Re Point 1, Galli is correct to say that the Republican party had a relatively minor affect on the theology behind the Pro Life position. Able scholars made contributions apart from political considerations. But the Republican party is not in the business of pushing the Pro Life view. They are in the business of getting votes, and whatever sincere support they have for Pro Life is way, way behind their interest in other issues, such as taxes. Just look at the recent election rhetoric. Galli totally misses Point 2. The Republicans have succeeded in spades to convince Christians that Pro Life is THE most important political issue and therefore that voting Republican is morally imperative for Christians. At the same time they won't make any other compromises, e.g on taxes or health care, for the sake of Pro Life. Great bargain (for GOP)