Difference between revisions of "Personhood"

m
 
(5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''Personhood''' is an unsuccessful political approach to abortion that attempts to define legally that every unborn baby is a "person" with God-given, constitutionally protected rights. Personhood thereby seeks to compel typically pro-[[abortion]] judges to protect the [[right to life]] of the unborn.
+
'''Personhood''' is a branch of the pro-life movement that strives to achieve legal recognition and protection for every human being at every stage of development as legal "persons" with God-given, constitutionally protected rights. Personhood ultimately seeks to extend the equal protection of the law to preborn human beings and to all other vulnerable human beings at every stage of biological development.  Unlike other pro-life approaches, proponents of personhood do not limit their activities to fighting abortion, but to all assaults upon the intrinsic dignity of the human person.
  
−
Most major [[pro-life]] organizations and leaders, and the Catholic Church, oppose this political approach of "personhood" for many good reasons, including its disastrous track record and the naivety of expecting that pro-abortion judges can be compelled to rule in a [[pro-life]] manner.  After this gimmick of "personhood" lost by a landslide for the third straight time in three years, it was observed that:<ref>http://www.denverpost.com/opinioncolumnists/ci_19316846?source=rss#.TsHfufW14Fk.email</ref>
+
==Background==
−
{{cquote|personhood measures, particularly in toss-up states, help [Democratic candidates]}}
+
The Personhood movement is predominantly a Christian movement supported by both Protestant and Catholic individuals and churches.  However, there are many  [http://www.feministsforlife.org/we-remember-nat-hentoff/ secular] adherents and proponents of personhood.
−
Endorsement of the misguided "personhood" approach has led to the defeat of several pro-life candidates, including [[Ken Buck]] in Colorado (2010) and [[Ken Cuccinelli]] (2013).<ref>"McAuliffe made sure women were aware of Cuccinelli's support of 'personhood' legislation that critics say restricts abortion and some forms of birth control." [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/05/democrat-terry-mcauliffe-wins-virginia-governors-race-cnn-projects/].</ref>
+
The modern  personhood movement arose from the opinion of Justice Blackmun in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton which unilaterally decided to deny the child in the womb the status of a legal person to justify the denial of their right to life.
 +
Among the early proponents of Personhood were the late constitutional law professor from Notre Dame, Charles Rice.  In a 1983 [http://www.cin.org/cf2.html essay], Professor Rice wrote that "[T]he solution to legalized abortion, in constitutional terms, is the restoration to our basic law of the principle that all human beings are persons. This was the key focus of the right-to-life movement from 1973 through 1980, which made headway because it was united in the conviction that, whatever differences might exist over wording of amendments, exceptions, etc., the essential remedy is the restoration of personhood." Other early proponents of personhood were [http://www.all.org/about/leadership/ Judie Brown], of the American Life League, John Archibold co-Founder of National Right to Life and Americans United for Life, Joe Scheidler Founder of the Pro-Life Action League, Princeton Professor Robert George and many more.<ref>https://townhall.com/columnists/stevedeace/2012/06/30/personhood_is_prolife_principles_in_action</ref>
 +
 
 +
The [http://www.personhood.org Personhood Alliance] represents state and national organizations that promote personhood measures throughout the United States as well as internationally.  Other notable organizations that have promoted the personhood strategy are [[Personhood USA]], a Colorado-based organization, which placed several constitutional initiatives on the statewide ballot from 2008 to 2014 and the American Life League one of the nation's oldest pro-life groups.
 +
 
 +
==Characteristics==
 +
 
 +
The Personhood movement is known for it's 100% pro-life ethic and insistence upon the equal protection of all human beings at every stage of development.
 +
== Atheism and personhood ==
 +
[[File:4335281098 237ce959bd.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In a naturalistic, atheistic worldview, the [[universe]] is merely the outcome of an accidental arrangement of atoms and eventually all the suns in the universe will eventually burn out (see: [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]).]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and personhood]]
  
−
==Background==
+
Under a [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]], [[atheist worldview]], human beings a collection of [[atom]]s that are merely the outcome of an accidental collection of atoms.
−
[[Personhood USA]] is a Colorado-based organization having unknown funding, which placed an initiative on the ballot that obtained less than 30% of the vote in 2008.  Despite opposition by most pro-life organizations, Personhood USA is attempting to repeat its strategy in other swing states, potentially causing many pro-life candidates to be brought down on Election Day by a poor showing for this referendum.
+
 
 +
In a naturalistic, atheistic worldview, the universe is merely the outcome of an accidental arrangement of atoms and eventually all the suns in the universe will eventually burn out (see: [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]). And unlike [[Bible]] believing [[Christianity|Christians]], there are atheists who actually assert the universe popped into existence from nothing (see: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]). For instance, the atheist [[Stephen Hawking]] asserted: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing".<ref>[https://creation.com/stephen-hawking-god Hawking atheopathy] by Jonathan Sarfati</ref>
  
−
In Florida, the Catholic Church has prohibited the collection of signatures for this initiative at any of its parishes.  It released a statement criticizing the poorly designed initiative and its hurtful strategy.
+
=== Atheism and consciousness ===
  
−
Jill Stanek, who writes for Worldnet Daily, is one of the few supporters of this movement.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=114423 'Personhood' movement explodes in 32 states, WorlNetDaily, October 31st 2009]</ref>  American Life League, which is heavily involved in direct mail fundraising, also supports it.  Virtually every other pro-life and conservative group opposes it as being counter-productive.
+
See: [[Atheism and consciousness]]
  
−
== Text of Colorado Personhood Amendment (2010) ==
+
=== Atheism and human worth ===
  
−
The text of the Colorado personhood amendment that is on the ballot for voters November 2010 would, if approved, add this new Section 32 to the Colorado Constitution:
+
*[[Atheism and personhood#Atheism and human worth|Atheism and human worth]]
  
−
:Section 32. Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of Article II of the state constitution, the term "person" shall apply to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.
+
=== Atheism and the devaluing of human life ===
  
−
The law failed to be ratified by voters and future attempts should be halted. Millions of dollars were poured into the state of Colorado from pro-abort groups [[Planned Parenthood]], [[NARAL]] and others because of Personhood. This directly and negatively affected the solid [[conservative]] campaigns held by pro-life 2010 Midterm candidates like [[Tom Tancredo]], [[Ken Buck]], and [[Ryan Frazier]].
+
*[[Atheism and personhood#Atheism and the devaluing of human life|Atheism and the devaluing of human life]]
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
Line 27: Line 38:
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
−
==External Links==
+
==External links==
 
* [http://www.personhoodusa.com/ Official Personhood USA website]
 
* [http://www.personhoodusa.com/ Official Personhood USA website]
  
 
[[Category:Abortion]]
 
[[Category:Abortion]]
 
[[Category:Right to Life Movement]]
 
[[Category:Right to Life Movement]]

Latest revision as of 02:25, September 10, 2019

Personhood is a branch of the pro-life movement that strives to achieve legal recognition and protection for every human being at every stage of development as legal "persons" with God-given, constitutionally protected rights. Personhood ultimately seeks to extend the equal protection of the law to preborn human beings and to all other vulnerable human beings at every stage of biological development. Unlike other pro-life approaches, proponents of personhood do not limit their activities to fighting abortion, but to all assaults upon the intrinsic dignity of the human person.

Background

The Personhood movement is predominantly a Christian movement supported by both Protestant and Catholic individuals and churches. However, there are many secular adherents and proponents of personhood. The modern personhood movement arose from the opinion of Justice Blackmun in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton which unilaterally decided to deny the child in the womb the status of a legal person to justify the denial of their right to life. Among the early proponents of Personhood were the late constitutional law professor from Notre Dame, Charles Rice. In a 1983 essay, Professor Rice wrote that "[T]he solution to legalized abortion, in constitutional terms, is the restoration to our basic law of the principle that all human beings are persons. This was the key focus of the right-to-life movement from 1973 through 1980, which made headway because it was united in the conviction that, whatever differences might exist over wording of amendments, exceptions, etc., the essential remedy is the restoration of personhood." Other early proponents of personhood were Judie Brown, of the American Life League, John Archibold co-Founder of National Right to Life and Americans United for Life, Joe Scheidler Founder of the Pro-Life Action League, Princeton Professor Robert George and many more.[1]

The Personhood Alliance represents state and national organizations that promote personhood measures throughout the United States as well as internationally. Other notable organizations that have promoted the personhood strategy are Personhood USA, a Colorado-based organization, which placed several constitutional initiatives on the statewide ballot from 2008 to 2014 and the American Life League one of the nation's oldest pro-life groups.

Characteristics

The Personhood movement is known for it's 100% pro-life ethic and insistence upon the equal protection of all human beings at every stage of development.

Atheism and personhood

 
In a naturalistic, atheistic worldview, the universe is merely the outcome of an accidental arrangement of atoms and eventually all the suns in the universe will eventually burn out (see: Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism).

See also: Atheism and personhood

Under a naturalistic, atheist worldview, human beings a collection of atoms that are merely the outcome of an accidental collection of atoms.

In a naturalistic, atheistic worldview, the universe is merely the outcome of an accidental arrangement of atoms and eventually all the suns in the universe will eventually burn out (see: Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism). And unlike Bible believing Christians, there are atheists who actually assert the universe popped into existence from nothing (see: Atheism and the origin of the universe). For instance, the atheist Stephen Hawking asserted: "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing".[2]

Atheism and consciousness

See: Atheism and consciousness

Atheism and human worth

Atheism and the devaluing of human life

See also

References

External links