Letter: Abortion is not a political issue
I have a bachelor's degree in philosophy (Northern Illinois University) and a Ph.D. in philosophical theology (Northwestern University). I was adjunct professor of philosophy at Monroe County Community College for 18 years. I have taught courses in theology at several seminaries since 1977. I recently taught, again, at Faith Bible Seminary in New York City, and will teach, again, at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio (Feb. 28-March 3).
Philosophers study morality and ethics. Here, e.g., is a book I read last summer on metaethics — "The Morality Wars: The Ongoing Debate Over the Origin of Human Goodness." Theologians do the same. Here is a famous book on biblical and theological ethics, which I read several years ago: "The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation, A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics."
Philosophers and theologians study morality and ethical systems without reference to political outcomes. Then, they often state the implications of certain moral judgments for human existence, some of which concern how to govern the polis. (See, e.g., Plato's "Republic"; or Hobbes's "Leviathan"; et al. ad infinitum.)
Occasionally, someone accuses me of being political when I speak out against abortion. My response to them is to explain the distinction between moral matters and political matters. Yes, moral beliefs can influence certain political outcomes, but many, to include myself, have long believed abortion to be immoral and unrighteous, regardless of whether a vote is involved.
Philosophers mostly use logic to formulate and evaluate moral claims. Christian theologians use Scripture and logic to formulate and evaluate moral claims. All this kind of discussion precedes political application and can be done without spinning political implications into the discussion (an exception to this might be utilitarianism).
The statement, "It is morally wrong to kill innocent, defenseless human beings,"requires no support from political thinking. Moral judgments, such as, "Abortion is wrong," stand independently of political implications.
I have, and will continue, to write against abortion because I believe it is wrong to kill innocent, defenseless human beings. Anyone who thinks such a philosophical and theological position is "political" simply does not understand the distinction.
John Piippo, Ph.D.
Redeemer Fellowship Church, Monroe
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Letter: Abortion is not a political issue
