--- In [email protected], "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: [...] > > What do the Jews say in the Talmud? >
http://www.libchrist.com/other/abortion/exodus.html [...] Theologian Millard Erickson notes that in this view, "the lex talionis [life for life] is applied only if the mother is harmed. On this basis it is concluded that the fetus was not considered a soul or a person, and thus is not to be thought of as fully human." Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1985), p. 555. Further related to the abortion argument there are many other bible passages that are more clearly about abortion and never a word about it being wrong. Since the passage is in the OT, the Jewish view is also of some value to evaluate the passage: Jerome's Commentary, a highly respected source explains: "If a pregnant women should suffer a miscarriage as a result of a blow, the guilty party need only make a monetary compensation demanded by her husband; however should the woman die, capital punishment is proscribed for the offender." This is confirmed by the Jewish teachings that abortion is never considered murder. If the fetus had been considered an independent entity, there would have been an life for a life penalty for murder. The Talmud says that a fetus is its mothers thigh (Hulin 58a and Gittin 23b), and it has no legal rights. Even once the birth process starts the fetus can be destroyed to save the women from physical or mental harm. In order for a fetus to be considered a nefesh adam (a living person), its head must have emerged from the birth canal. Sanhedrin 72b states: it (the fetus) is not a person and therefore its life is inferior to its mothers life. If it was a live birth the verse would have said something like "Tinoch ha' nolad". "tinoch" being the word for baby or infant. The verse HAS ALWAYS been translated by the Jews to mean miscarriage. Another more direct abortion example in the Sanhedrin is a discussion of what to do with a pregnant women who has been sentenced to death. They conclude she should be beat on the stomach prior to the execution; thereby preventing her from going into labor. It makes no difference how far along she is, the fetus dies with the mother. "I cite this Halacha because it puts the status of the fetus into a Halachic perspective. Even if it could be viable it has no rights unto itself." - Norman Slurzberg In Exodus the lost fetus was a property offense only. The fine was required since it deprived the Husband the property rights and value of a future child (to work in fields if boy, or marriage price if girl). Since no life taken, no life for a life penalty only to compensate husband for potential property loss. Many get caught up in fetal envy emotions and think abortion is terrible and they assume God feels the same way. However, the Bible does not back them up. What they are doing is projecting their own personal belief systems onto God and then claiming Him as an authority to promote THEIR beliefs, not the original Word of God. To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
