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The Bible is frequently invoked in the ongoing national debates about abortion, almost always to show that abortion is murder and strictly forbidden. Is that true? This episode is not meant to resolve the issue about whether abortion should ever be considered a legitimate procedure or not. The focus is on what the Bible actually says. Does it condemn abortion? Does it indicate that the fetus is to be considered a human with human rights, so that abortion constitutes murder? When, according to the Bible, does life begin. The overarching point of the episode is that those who cite the Bible in support of their social and political views should at least read what it says and be clear about what it means.

Megan asks Bart:

- When did you first go abroad?

- Why is this important?

- Let’s start with a pretty basic question - do we know if abortion was either permitted, or a regular occurance in the ancient world?

- Do either the old or new testaments actually say anything about abortion directly?

- What are some of the passages that people use to “show” that the bible is for or against abortion?

- Can you give us any other examples?

- When does the bible consider life to have begun?

- Are there other passages that talk about the start of life, and then a person is considered a person?

- Are there any passages used to argue in favor of abortion?

- Would you say that the biblical text prioritizes the life of a fetus, or that of a pregnant woman?

- Do you think it’s reasonable to use the bible to make any kind of argument in this debate?

- When do Christians start to condemn abortion?

- Do we know what prompted this shift in doctrine?

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