“What is the difference between killing a foetus and a new born?” “

The Carthagenians did not think that there was much difference when they sacrificed both for their god Moloch.

[Daphne – How tiresome, all these men bossing women around. It really is too much.]

“What is the difference between killing a foetus and a new born?”

You will find the reply in my 3rd post under this topic.

‘This is worse than a divorce – I’ve lost half my net worth and still keep my wife’.

A thirteen year old does not have enough experience to take a well judged decision. For heaven’s sake she is just a child. If you believe that this is possible then at this point we can do away with the art of parenting skills. Maybe this is already the case given with what our society is experiencing at the moment ie these supposedely young adults who think they know it all…

[Daphne – Our society treats children and teenagers as chattels, or more specifically, their parents’ chattels. So no, I don’t think parents have the right to impose on this girl. Without seeing her, or hearing her argue her case, you can’t speak. Lawyers I know have just told me of a dreadful case in which a 14-year-old, during his parents’ separation case, begged not to be sent to his father for weekends. His wishes were ignored by the court and he was ordered to spend weekends with the father he loathes. Apparently, the father has a ‘right’ to see his son who, at 14, doesn’t want to see him. But parents don’t have rights. Children do.]

But speaking of conscience (and going a little off-topic), conscience is a product of the mind, and not of some abstract “soul”. Evidence? Here goes. Without going into the merits of animal rights, my conscience tells me that I should not eat meat unless absolutely necessary. I can safely assume that the conscience of most of the readers of this blog would not trouble them on this particular issue. If conscience is “God-given” and God is fair, conscience would work similarly on everyone and for all time. Just something to think about.

“This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we’re going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is”.

Of course it matters which one it is. Sentience and consciousness are incremental, and that’s what matters. The issue is as much a no-brainer as asking who would we kill if we had to – a brain-dead person or a fully conscious one.

[Daphne – Yes, and post-partum depression is far more well documented than post-abortion depression, but nobody cites that as an argument against giving birth.]