# Abortion and prayer for the unborn's well being **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520 "2015-07-07T22:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/41 "2015-07-08T22:34:31Z")
It now does appear like people understand the OP all along though they claimed they did not, perhaps protecting their beliefs and their personal view of the world which may be challenged by a fetus may be a soul. I did suspect that from the former postings but the more recent postings confirmed that. Others I feel are angry and they chose to direct that anger towards that soul (why should the baby get the prayer, I’m the one that needs it sort of stuff - I never denied that they should also receive love). To me denying a unborn child ‘personhood’ is equal to denying a woman, black, or homosexual personhood and as equally despicable and ultimately indefensible. Yes, to me. the woman has the unquestionable right to decide the fate of the unborn within her but that does not negate the personhood of the aborted, and the respect given. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/42 "2015-07-08T23:00:51Z")
So…you asked so you could be dismissive and belittling of our responses, delivery your little speech and feel morally superior to all of us? Well done good Christian! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/43 "2015-07-08T23:15:15Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > So…you asked so you could be dismissive and belittling of our responses, delivery your little speech and feel morally superior to all of us? > > Well done good Christian! I feel the exact same way, well done Christian Yes I mean that in the exact same way I said it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/44 "2015-07-09T05:29:04Z")
I think, in general, people are being honest. Why did you post this if you didn’t want the answers? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/45 "2015-07-09T11:53:52Z")
I’m an atheist and I don’t pray for anything. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/46 "2015-07-09T12:24:03Z")
I think people were more confused about why you were making reference to a simple pole, and wondering what you were going to be dancing around. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/47 "2015-07-09T12:26:22Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > I try very hard to be atheist now, but I still have leanings towards the spiritual. I have a philosophical path very similar to WhyNot’s comment above, and my memories of what I did (there and in other places) as a child are very painful for me. I’m curious why you are trying hard to be an atheist. Seems like if you have to try, you’re not an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/48 "2015-07-09T13:05:56Z")
What the heck do you mean by “personhood”? If a fetus were a person, it would be the worst kind, a moochy parasite that puts someone else in a position of having to choose to support it or forcibly remove it. With rights come duties, but it can perform no duties. If/when it is born, it is never held responsible for the costs borne by its host. If it’s a person, shouldn’t it be forced to pay up if it does not do so willingly as soon as it is able? Go hang out at a hospital on life support for a while, recover, and leave. There will be bills involved, as you are a person. Take your dog to the vet. You, the person, will be expected to pay, not him. You can try to get him to do labor to repay you, but society will not help you collect. If you feel that a lot of fetus-souls are stacking up at the gates of heaven, unable to enter as no one has prayed for them, why don’t you just go ahead and take care of that? Set an alarm to pray every couple of hours so they don’t have to wait long. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/49 "2015-07-09T13:20:11Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > So…you asked so you could be dismissive and belittling of our responses, delivery your little speech and feel morally superior to all of us? > > Well done good Christian! Yes, if this confused and sneering effort by Kanicbird represents Christianity, I’m staying well clear of that religion. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/50 "2015-07-09T14:06:07Z")
If there is a God he must surely be more offended by his adherents, than non believers, these days, I should think. Some of them seem to believe displaying moral superiority to others, at every opportunity, is one of the commandments! My understanding of Christianity is that it prescribes humility, while dictating the Lord alone shall judge, you need focus on your sins alone. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/51 "2015-07-09T14:29:03Z")
If Jesus saves, well he better save himself. - J. Tull ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/52 "2015-07-09T14:31:35Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > If there is a God he must surely be more offended by his adherents, than non believers, these days, I should think. Some of them seem to believe displaying moral superiority to others, at every opportunity, is one of the commandments! Why couldn’t there be a narcissistic God who just wants sycophantic followers telling him how great he is? What about the vengeful cruel God described in the Old Testament, or a distracted God, bored with this creation, moved on to better things long ago? Maybe God loves nothing more than conceited jerks gloating about their favored status. We cannot know the mind of God after all. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/53 "2015-07-09T14:31:40Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m curious why you are trying hard to be an atheist. Seems like if you have to try, you’re not an atheist. I’ve known a few people who woke up to rational thinking after growing up in a religious home. Falling back into magical thinking is a common thread with that sort of history. Just one example of trying hard to be an atheist. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/54 "2015-07-09T15:49:04Z")
Does “thank God that’s overwith” count? ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/55 "2015-07-09T16:28:26Z")
Doesn’t witnessing belong in Great Debates? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/56 "2015-07-09T17:03:13Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Many will bitch, nitpick, argue, and deliberately obfuscate, but few will just answer your question. Many more will simply be confused by an incoherent question. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/57 "2015-07-09T19:19:55Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Many will bitch, nitpick, argue, and deliberately obfuscate, but few will just answer your question. Thus spake the prophet Scumpup, and thus did it come to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/58 "2015-07-09T19:24:28Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Thus spake the prophet Scumpup, and thus did it come to pass. It takes no prognostic prowess to anticipate that people would not be able to respond to the OP. I mean, can a brother get a pronoun? Also, active tense is your friend. Learn to love it. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/59 "2015-07-09T19:29:29Z")
And yea, the unwashed did cry out against Scumpup, for he knew the name and the number of their many-headed deity. This, most of all, knew Scumpup: that arrogance is predictable. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520/60 "2015-07-09T19:34:35Z")
Perhaps if there was an option for “Saw no need for prayer”, the poll wouldn’t seem so lopsided? edited to add: Also, references to “the baby” and “the unborn” tend to show a bit of prejudice on the side of the pollster, I think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-prayer-for-the-unborns-well-being/724520.md?page=4)