Towards a new civilization of life
WILLIAM FORRESTALL
COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
Published Monday April 30th, 2007
Appeared on page A5
The English poet, John Donne, expressed his appreciation of the intrinsic value of all human life when he wrote: "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
His words reflect an a profound appreciation of the complex and interrelated "life" we all share, and a very human need to affirm every individual life.
Today the bell tolls, sadly and far too often, for those whose life is only ever recognized by those in the pro-life cause.
Pro-life advocates who support recognition for the pre-born are part of a history that has affirmed the value and dignity of human life for centuries.
From Moses freeing the Jews and William Wilberforce's ending slavery, to Mother Teresa's love and respect for the poorest of the poor, the best of history is written by those who have defended the weak from the strong, the meek from the dominate, and have overcome overwhelming odds.
Although the pro-life movement in its many incarnations has been around for centuries, and has been critical in the demise of ancient infanticide, human sacrifice, slavery, and the fall of the 20th century's worst dictatorships, it has more recently found a new and growing cause in the recognition of the right to life of the pre-born.
Three decades ago the current pro-life movement was dismissed as the work of a few Catholics that would soon fade away; today it is stronger than ever. It is a growing coalition of Protestant, Catholic, Baptist and other churches.
The pro-life cause has not only strengthened the unity of the Christian churches, it has opened the door to important dialogue and understanding with other faith groups. The pro-life movement has found support from a global constituency encompassing virtually every religion and cultural tradition that values human life; Sikhs, Islamists, Jews, Buddhists and even a few secular humanists are now pro-life. The pro-life movement is becoming an important part of a global resurgence of religious belief, commitment and identity.
The rationales that population control, convenience, financial concerns or gender selection justify abortion, have their basis in the objectification of one human life to the agenda of others, hardly respectful of life or individual personhood.
Globally the weak ideological premise (or deceptions) of "pro-choice" advocates are eroding fast, and with the recent advent of new media, eroding faster. Most people who support "choice" are still often unaware of the discredited Marxist/ materialist "definitions" of personhood that justify abortion, and the parallels to both ancient and contemporary political cultures, including some nationalisms that still objectify personhood to the political or economic convience of others.
Just as the denial of personhood to First Nations people or Jewish people lead to social disaster, the denial of recognition to the pre-born sanctions the current and unfortunate status-quo.
Sadly, Canada still offers no legal recognition and therefore no protection for the pre-born. Most nations offer better recognition for the pre-born as consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as a person existing before birth (preamble paragraph 9) and as having an inherent right to life (article 6). Encouraging Canada to meet the democratic norms that define life is one goal of the Canada's domestic pro-life movement, and one (according to recent polling) most Canadians support.
Hope for a better world has motivated the pro-life movement throughout history, and such hope has a wide diversity of support. One of the world's most influential intellectuals, the French cultural theorist Renee Gerard, recently elected as one of the 40 "immortals" of the French Academy, has predicted a new life-affirming Christian Renaissance.
Girard believes that the history of mere politics is over: "ideologies are virtually deceased; political theories are almost altogether spent" and that the world is entering a new era, a life-affirming era.
In his latest book, Truth or Weak Faith: Dialogue on Christianity and Relativism Gerard says that "we are on the eve of a revolution in our culture that will go beyond any expectation and... a change... of which the renaissance will seem like nothing" and that "we will live in a world that will seem and be as Christian as today it seems scientific."
Gerard's work has traced the cultural patterns of history, and he foresees a renaissance that will end the objectification human life, and the emergence of a "civilization of life" premising the values that the poet John Donne would understand, that our lives can only be truly valued when all life is valued.
A cultural renaissance that recognizes the intrinsic value of all persons may to some seem naive, but to others, to those heroes of history and our times, it is as natural and as hopeful as a new born baby.
William Forrestall is a husband, father and artist. He lives in Fredericton and can be reached at willforall@mail.com
His words reflect an a profound appreciation of the complex and interrelated "life" we all share, and a very human need to affirm every individual life.
Today the bell tolls, sadly and far too often, for those whose life is only ever recognized by those in the pro-life cause.
Pro-life advocates who support recognition for the pre-born are part of a history that has affirmed the value and dignity of human life for centuries.
From Moses freeing the Jews and William Wilberforce's ending slavery, to Mother Teresa's love and respect for the poorest of the poor, the best of history is written by those who have defended the weak from the strong, the meek from the dominate, and have overcome overwhelming odds.
Although the pro-life movement in its many incarnations has been around for centuries, and has been critical in the demise of ancient infanticide, human sacrifice, slavery, and the fall of the 20th century's worst dictatorships, it has more recently found a new and growing cause in the recognition of the right to life of the pre-born.
Three decades ago the current pro-life movement was dismissed as the work of a few Catholics that would soon fade away; today it is stronger than ever. It is a growing coalition of Protestant, Catholic, Baptist and other churches.
The pro-life cause has not only strengthened the unity of the Christian churches, it has opened the door to important dialogue and understanding with other faith groups. The pro-life movement has found support from a global constituency encompassing virtually every religion and cultural tradition that values human life; Sikhs, Islamists, Jews, Buddhists and even a few secular humanists are now pro-life. The pro-life movement is becoming an important part of a global resurgence of religious belief, commitment and identity.
The rationales that population control, convenience, financial concerns or gender selection justify abortion, have their basis in the objectification of one human life to the agenda of others, hardly respectful of life or individual personhood.
Globally the weak ideological premise (or deceptions) of "pro-choice" advocates are eroding fast, and with the recent advent of new media, eroding faster. Most people who support "choice" are still often unaware of the discredited Marxist/ materialist "definitions" of personhood that justify abortion, and the parallels to both ancient and contemporary political cultures, including some nationalisms that still objectify personhood to the political or economic convience of others.
Just as the denial of personhood to First Nations people or Jewish people lead to social disaster, the denial of recognition to the pre-born sanctions the current and unfortunate status-quo.
Sadly, Canada still offers no legal recognition and therefore no protection for the pre-born. Most nations offer better recognition for the pre-born as consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as a person existing before birth (preamble paragraph 9) and as having an inherent right to life (article 6). Encouraging Canada to meet the democratic norms that define life is one goal of the Canada's domestic pro-life movement, and one (according to recent polling) most Canadians support.
Hope for a better world has motivated the pro-life movement throughout history, and such hope has a wide diversity of support. One of the world's most influential intellectuals, the French cultural theorist Renee Gerard, recently elected as one of the 40 "immortals" of the French Academy, has predicted a new life-affirming Christian Renaissance.
Girard believes that the history of mere politics is over: "ideologies are virtually deceased; political theories are almost altogether spent" and that the world is entering a new era, a life-affirming era.
In his latest book, Truth or Weak Faith: Dialogue on Christianity and Relativism Gerard says that "we are on the eve of a revolution in our culture that will go beyond any expectation and... a change... of which the renaissance will seem like nothing" and that "we will live in a world that will seem and be as Christian as today it seems scientific."
Gerard's work has traced the cultural patterns of history, and he foresees a renaissance that will end the objectification human life, and the emergence of a "civilization of life" premising the values that the poet John Donne would understand, that our lives can only be truly valued when all life is valued.
A cultural renaissance that recognizes the intrinsic value of all persons may to some seem naive, but to others, to those heroes of history and our times, it is as natural and as hopeful as a new born baby.
William Forrestall is a husband, father and artist. He lives in Fredericton and can be reached at willforall@mail.com