Abortion

Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue addresses the ethical, theological, and legal dimensions of abortion, offering a careful and measured case for the sanctity of human life.

Dr. R.C. Sproul approaches the abortion debate with a commitment to clarity and fairness, drawing on Scripture, natural law, philosophy, and scientific testimony. The book is organized in three parts. The first examines abortion as an ethical dilemma, exploring the sanctity of life, the question of when life begins, the role of conscience in moral uncertainty, and the proper function of government. The second part analyzes common pro-abortion and pro-choice arguments—including appeals to bodily autonomy, the problem of unwanted pregnancies, and cases involving rape and incest—engaging each with careful reasoning rather than rhetoric.

The third part turns to pastoral and practical concerns, addressing the guilt experienced by those who have had abortions and outlining a compassionate pro-life strategy that calls for tangible action, including adoption. An appendix presents courtroom testimony from geneticist Dr. Jerome Lejeune on the beginning of human life. Throughout, Sproul seeks to identify the precise point of disagreement in the abortion debate and to ground the discussion in principled moral reasoning accessible to a broad audience.

Key Themes

• The sanctity of human life as the foundational principle in the abortion debate
• When human life begins according to Scripture, science, and law
• The moral limits of bodily autonomy and the status of the unborn
• The role of government in protecting human life
• A compassionate pastoral response to post-abortion guilt

Featured Quotes

“The abortion debate is not over whether or not murder should be legalized; it is a debate over whether or not abortion is a kind of murder.”

“Abortion—whatever else it may be—is an act against nature.”