Protestantism

» Migisi - examining Phils other statements

Phil: Notice America's foreign policy?
Wendell: 1: Which religion(ism) plays a role here?
already answered... the religion of oil is the answer...
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While I agree with you re oil, it's not a religion. American foreign policy is pro-Israel. Any perceived enemy of theirs (or their God) is an enemy of the US (and its Judeo-Christian God).
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Wendell: 2: which religionism opposes abortion?
Christianity opposes abortion, so therefore, according to the statement that "religionism pervades society", it is evident that secular humanism is responsible for the legalization of abortion and the decline of morality within the USA.
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Not all Christians oppose abortion, Wendell. A few denominations supported abortion legislation in the 70s, and some accept abortion now under certain circumstances. So, "secular humanists" were and are in 'good' company. You might find this interesting. I did...
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Abortion:
Where Do the Churches Stand?
by Ernest L Ohlhoff
National Right to Life Director of Outreach
http://www.pregnantpause.org/people/wher...
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The United Church of Christ (UCC)
has strongly supported the legalization of abortion since 1971. The UCC supported FOCA and strongly opposed the PBA ban to the point of joining the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARRAL) in a statement affirming President Clinton's veto of the PBA Ban Act in 1996. The UCC has also called for the church to support abortion in any national health care bill.
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The Southern Baptist Convention
initially called for legislation in 1971 that would allow for the possibility of abortions under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe to fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother. In 1976, the convention changed its position to oppose abortions used as a means of birth control. In 1980, the convention strengthened its position by supporting legislation and/or a constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother. [But, they still support abortion for that reason, don't they.]
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American Baptist Churches
leaves abortion policy to local churches and individuals. A resolution adopted in 1988, updated in 1994 and accepted as current policy, "acknowledges diversity of ... convictions within our fellowship," making no distinction between those who believe that human life begins at conception (with the consequence that abortion is immoral), and those who believe it can be morally acceptable based on "compassion and justice."
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The Presbyterian Church (USA)
...In 1983, the PCUSA General Assembly adopted a policy which affirmed abortion as a "stewardship responsibility." PCUSA today actively supports the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC, formerly known as the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, or RCAR). In 1992, after restudying the issue, the General Assembly adopted a new policy which states that "there is a basis in our tradition not only for a woman's difficult choice for abortion, but also for the preservation of the lives of the unborn because they are human beings made in God's image." In 1997, the PCUSA broke with other pro-abortion churches to become the first major mainline denomination to take a position expressing "grave moral concern" about partial-birth abortions.
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The United Methodist Church
began in the early 1970s to view abortion as a "choice". The United Methodist position in favor of abortion has been so strong that two of its institutions helped organize and affiliate with the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights. For many years RCAR used office space in the United Methodist Building which is located across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court. In both 1996 and 1997 the United Methodist Church publicly supported President Clinton's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. While the 1996 United Methodist Church's Book of Discipline still maintains a strong pro-abortion position, it now includes wording recognizing the "sanctity of unborn human life." It further states, "We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection."
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The Evangelical Lutheran of Church in America (ELCA)
is a union of three smaller Lutheran denominations which merged in 1988. Each had different views on on abortion. In 1990, the ELCA adopted a statement that accepts abortion but only as a "last resort" in the most extreme circumstances. The statement goes on to say that it opposes abortion except in the cases of "clear threat to the life of the woman", "extreme fetal abnormality" incompatible with life, and in cases of rape and incest. Beyond these cases "this church neither supports nor opposes" other abortion-restricting legislation. At the ELCA's 1997 convention, a resolution to restrict ELCA funding of abortions to the three cases stated above was rejected 70%-30%. The ELCA funds elective abortions in the church's health care coverage for pastors and professional church workers, and some Lutheran-affiliated hospital perform elective abortions.
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Yes, secular humanists supported abortion legislation. But so did some Christian denominations. So, you're both correct, or both wrong.

-- posted by Migisi