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| | :If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, .... | | :If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, .... |
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| − | Pro-life Christians point out that premature live birth does not mean death of the child; the phrase "yet there is no injury" suggests clearly that there is no injury done to either the child or the mother. Note also that the proscribed punishment is for ''accidentally'' causing a miscarriage; deliberately performing an abortion would be even more abhorrent to God.<ref>[http://www.abortion-and-bible.com/ C. Ratt, A Christian View of Abortion]</ref> | + | Pro-life Christians point out that premature live birth does not mean death of the child; the phrase "yet there is no injury" suggests clearly that there is no injury done to either the child or the mother. Note also that the proscribed punishment is for ''accidentally'' causing a miscarriage; deliberately performing an abortion would be even more abhorrent to God. |
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| | Numbers 5, where the Lord appears to give a curse that causes abortions in unfaithful wives. According to this passage, the Lord instructed Moses that a husband who suspected his wife of sleeping with another man could take her to the priest for a test that would either confirm or deny his suspicions. The test involved his wife drinking a cup of "bitter water," which consisted of holy water mixed with the dust of the tabernacle floor. If the woman were innocent, then no harm would come to her by drinking it. But if she were guilty, then she would be cursed with "bitter suffering;" namely, "she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb." | | Numbers 5, where the Lord appears to give a curse that causes abortions in unfaithful wives. According to this passage, the Lord instructed Moses that a husband who suspected his wife of sleeping with another man could take her to the priest for a test that would either confirm or deny his suspicions. The test involved his wife drinking a cup of "bitter water," which consisted of holy water mixed with the dust of the tabernacle floor. If the woman were innocent, then no harm would come to her by drinking it. But if she were guilty, then she would be cursed with "bitter suffering;" namely, "she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb." |
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| | ==Denominational stances on abortion== | | ==Denominational stances on abortion== |
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| − | The [[Catholic]] Church has always opposed all abortion.<ref>[http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=351 The Pew Forum: Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion]</ref> | + | The [[Catholic]] Church has always opposed all abortion. |
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| | Evangelical churches are virtually unanimous in opposing all abortion. | | Evangelical churches are virtually unanimous in opposing all abortion. |