Life Matters

Western Civilization underscored the uniqueness of every human life, particularly in the Hippocratic Oath where the doctor swears he will never, ever kill even the most vulnerable. Christianity reinforced this commitment to individual innocent lives. Christians, more than anyone else, should now be committed to protecting the value of each and every life.

Western Civilization underscored the uniqueness of every human life, particularly in the Hippocratic Oath where the doctor swears he will never, ever kill even the most vulnerable.  Christianity reinforced this commitment to individual innocent lives.  Christians, more than anyone else, should now be committed to protecting the value of each and every life.

Welcome Back to Life Matters. We are your program on the right to life, on culture and the very real battle of ideas. Today's program is a special program - you know many Christian stations run this program and while we focus on the right to life as a very clear and non-sectarian commitment to the founding principles of this nation, it's actually a commitment to the founding principles, if you will, of Western civilization.

Western Civilization is unique and America is the distillation of the ideals of Western Civilization. That's what happened in 1776. Our Founders took the best ideals of civilization and assertively placed them as their Foundation. There's a Common thread through Western Civilization about the nature of man. He is extraordinary.

After the the fall of the Greek culture and its inheritance by the Roman culture, the rule of law and protection of the innocent continued to be affirmed. This thread was reaffirmed by Christianity as Christianity became the dominant cultural influence. The Hippocratic Oath had spelled out the importance of protecting vulnerable lives, but in other aspects of Western Civilization we see reverberating throughout its history a message- and that is the unique nature of the human person. There's something unique about the human person and that's always been a guidestar for Western Civilization.

If you have other questions about that premise, go to the podcast site and go to the program on Western civilization and why the Hippocratic Oath has been recognized by anthropologists as the dividing line - as the beginning point of Western Civilization. This was specifically because it meant that those who cared for the most vulnerable would care for, but never kill them. Primitive and savage cultures before this lived under the law of the jungle, the lex talionis, that freely allowed such killings

Under Hippocrates code, those who cared for the most vulnerable human beings swore they would never kill that vulnerable human being because there's something extraordinary about even the most 'limited' human life.

Again this 'rule' is more often demonstrated and its breaking as Shakespeare said, but that truth has echoed throughout human history, particularly in western civilization.

So on today's program again, because we're aired on many Christian stations, we're going to get into a little bit of Christian theology for the specific reason that you may go to a Christian church and be appalled that people from your church don't understand or support the right-to-life issue.

It can be surprising there's a lot of people, who even though they are Christians and involved in Christianity, it's very clear one of the premises of Christianity is: That you and I are made in the image of God. So not only is there something unique about every human being, but God has endowed us with these unique rights. For Christians to not get that is appalling.

Today's program comes from a trip I took to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We visit with Congressman Bill Redmond. While he has served in Congress, he is now very active in the Christian Community in Albuquerque. I think it's very enlightening - again in the right to life we approach in a non-sectarian matter because our founders said it is according to the laws of nature and of Nature's God and so they don't go further than that - but Christians do!! Christians say they have a relationship with Nature's God!!! And so Christians more than anyone else should be able to explain why the right to life is important and it really is disappointing when you find fellow Christians who can't or won't stand for the vulnerable innocent. Bill Redmond takes a shot at explaining why that is.

Welcome Back to Life Matters. We are your program on the right to life, on culture and the very real battle of ideas. Today's program is a special program - you know many Christian stations run this program and while we focus on the right to life as a very clear and non-sectarian commitment to the founding principles of this nation, it's actually a commitment to the founding principles, if you will, of Western civilization.

Western Civilization is unique and America is the distillation of the ideals of Western Civilization. That's what happened in 1776. Our Founders took the best ideals of civilization and assertively placed them as their Foundation. There's a Common thread through Western Civilization about the nature of man. He is extraordinary.

After the the fall of the Greek culture and its inheritance by the Roman culture, the rule of law and protection of the innocent continued to be affirmed. This thread was reaffirmed by Christianity as Christianity became the dominant cultural influence. The Hippocratic Oath had spelled out the importance of protecting vulnerable lives, but in other aspects of Western Civilization we see reverberating throughout its history a message- and that is the unique nature of the human person. There's something unique about the human person and that's always been a guidestar for Western Civilization.

If you have other questions about that premise, go to the podcast site and go to the program on Western civilization and why the Hippocratic Oath has been recognized by anthropologists as the dividing line - as the beginning point of Western Civilization. This was specifically because it meant that those who cared for the most vulnerable would care for, but never kill them.  Primitive and savage cultures before this lived under the law of the jungle, the lex talionis, that freely allowed such killings

Under Hippocrates code, those who cared for the most vulnerable human beings swore they would never kill that vulnerable human being because there's something extraordinary about even the most ‘limited’ human life.

Again this ‘rule’ is more often demonstrated and its breaking as Shakespeare said, but that truth has echoed throughout human history, particularly in western civilization.

So on today's program again, because we're aired on many Christian stations, we're going to get into a little bit of Christian theology for the specific reason that you may go to a Christian church and be appalled that people from your church don't understand or support the right-to-life issue.

It can be surprising there's a lot of people, who even though they are Christians and involved in Christianity, it's very clear one of the premises of Christianity is: That you and I are made in the image of God. So not only is there something unique about every human being, but God has endowed us with these unique rights. For Christians to not get that is appalling.

Today’s program comes from a trip I took to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We visit with Congressman Bill Redmond.  While he has served in Congress, he is now very active in the Christian Community in Albuquerque.  I think it's very enlightening  - again in the right to life we approach in a non-sectarian matter because our founders said it is according to the laws of nature and of Nature's God and so they don't go further than that  - but Christians do!! Christians say they have a relationship with Nature's God!!! And so Christians more than anyone else should be able to explain why the right to life is important and it really is disappointing when you find fellow Christians who can't or won’t stand for the vulnerable innocent. Bill Redmond takes a shot at explaining why that is.

The State of California is unique in the nation when it comes to abortion. When Roe versus Wade is overturned and states again have the ability to protect unborn children, many states will immediately enact such law.

But, California is dramatically different. Not only is abortion allowed at all times and can even be performed by non-physicians, but the state coffers of California are now underwriting the abortion industry. Every aspect of abortion marketing is paid for by state funds. The rent, the overhead expenses in the day-to-day operation of abortion clinics are all eligible for state financing. It is not just the 'doctor' with blood on his gloves who is being paid for the abortion, it is the entire infrastructure of the abortion culture and industry.

But the State of California has gone even further, and is now forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to violate their conscience and promote abortion to every young pregnant mother that enters their facility. Assembly Bill 775, which passed on a party line vote, forces California's crisis pregnancy centers to offer mandatory information that there is a free abortion available, and instructions to the nearest abortion clinic to each and every pregnant woman who walks in the door.

In this episode, host Brian Johnston discusses the coming court battles over AB775 with Scott Scharpen of the Scharpen Foundation. The foundation underwrites the ongoing day-to-day operation of a mobile crisis pregnancy counseling center, which offers pregnancy tests, ultrasound, and the many resources available for a young mother to care for the child in her womb. ABC 775 will force this mobile crisis pregnancy center clinic, and all pro life crisis pregnancy centers in the state, to force abortion promotion against their will. A federal court case has been brought and a state case is being pursued. It is interesting to note that the state's freedom of speech clause had been interpreted as giving much more freedom than even the federal free speech clause, so this California state court case may have an even greater chance of being upheld.

The California Prolife Council is supporting both of these cases, and provides many opportunities for Californians to stand for life.

The State of California is unique in the nation when it comes to abortion. When Roe versus Wade is overturned and states again have the ability to protect unborn children, many states will immediately enact such law.

But, California is dramatically different. Not only is abortion allowed at all times and can even be performed by non-physicians, but the state coffers of California are now underwriting the abortion industry. Every aspect of abortion marketing is paid for by state funds. The rent, the overhead expenses in the day-to-day operation of abortion clinics are all eligible for state financing. It is not just the ‘doctor’ with blood on his gloves who is being paid for the abortion, it is the entire infrastructure of the abortion culture and industry.

But the State of California has gone even further, and is now forcing pro-life pregnancy centers to violate their conscience and promote abortion to every young pregnant mother that enters their facility. Assembly Bill 775, which passed on a party line vote, forces California’s crisis pregnancy centers to offer mandatory information that there is a free abortion available, and instructions to the nearest abortion clinic to each and every pregnant woman who walks in the door.

In this episode, host Brian Johnston discusses the coming court battles over AB775 with Scott Scharpen of the Scharpen Foundation. The foundation underwrites the ongoing day-to-day operation of a mobile crisis pregnancy counseling center, which offers pregnancy tests, ultrasound, and the many resources available for a young mother to care for the child in her womb. ABC 775 will force this mobile crisis pregnancy center clinic, and all pro life crisis pregnancy centers in the state, to force abortion promotion against their will. A federal court case has been brought and a state case is being pursued. It is interesting to note that the state’s freedom of speech clause had been interpreted as giving much more freedom than even the federal free speech clause, so this California state court case may have an even greater chance of being upheld.

The California Prolife Council is supporting both of these cases, and provides many opportunities for Californians to stand for life.

In this edition of Life Matters, Brian Johnston interviews Joyce Unangst, a paraplegic volunteer and activist.

Joyce has been involved for many years in supporting those who cannot defend themselves in a long-term care setting.

Brian joins Joyce at a local nursing home in the Sacramento County area. Joyce describes the actual life within a nursing home, the abandonment of many individuals, and family members assuming that professional care, paid by the state or insurance, is adequate. But, that care is overworked and often very unprofessional. Institutionalized neglect and abuse has become rampant in America and Joyce explains what you can do about it.

In this edition of Life Matters, Brian Johnston interviews Joyce Unangst, a paraplegic volunteer and activist.

Joyce has been involved for many years in supporting those who cannot defend themselves in a long-term care setting.

Brian joins Joyce at a local nursing home in the Sacramento County area. Joyce describes the actual life within a nursing home, the abandonment of many individuals, and family members assuming that professional care, paid by the state or insurance, is adequate. But, that care is overworked and often very unprofessional. Institutionalized neglect and abuse has become rampant in America and Joyce explains what you can do about it.

So in the broadest sense, Western Civilization is actually dependent upon a view of the human person, that there's something extraordinary about the human person and therefore, the human person should be respected in a certain way. We see that in the Hippocratic Oath, very specifically the most vulnerable human persons, when at their weakest, should actually be protected. That's the opposite of the law of the jungle. That's the opposite of savage civilizations. That's the opposite of many civilizations that give the powerful absolute authority.

Western Civilization started it with the Hippocratic Oath. The Judeo-Christian model reflecting the teachings of Scriptures confirm that and affirm that man is made in the image of God. The value system, therefore, that came out of the Greco-Roman Judeo-christian model continued on. The Hippocratic Oath was embraced by the Romans as well and then when Roman culture was imbued with Christianity, they continued to honor the Hippocratic Oath. The value of the human person continued to be affirmed and in the European tradition that emanated out of England in 1215, it was declared that your values don't come from the king. And the divine right of kings was brought into question by the Magna Carta and the 39th Chapter the Magna Carta it was clearly codified. It was written down that no one should be deprived of their life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Of course, that was in Latin but that principle is very much at the heart of the American system.

In the American view of the human person we know that the right to life was established by the founders as a primordial right - a right that does not come from the king or the government, that it's the human person that is special and because of the value of human life government derives its just powers from the value of human lives and not the other way around. So the right to life is the finest expression and defending the right to life of the vulnerable is the finest expression of Western Civilization.

Now to be honest, it's most often been demonstrated as a rule by its breaking. We've seen it throughout history and even recent history - in wartime, if soldiers intentionally kill innocent people. For example in My Lai in Vietnam, well unfortunately, they were killing the innocent and they had to be brought to trial and that's the case in Western Civilization.

What defines us from other civilizations is how we view those who are vulnerable and dependent. Will we protect those who are vulnerable and in need? That's the issue. Will the law protect lives of the innocent? And that's where the right to life is at the very foundation of Western Civilization.

So in the broadest sense, Western Civilization is actually dependent upon a view of the human person, that there's something extraordinary about the human person and therefore, the human person should be respected in a certain way.  We see that in the Hippocratic Oath, very specifically the most vulnerable human persons, when at their weakest, should actually be protected. That's the opposite of the law of the jungle. That's the opposite of savage civilizations. That's the opposite of many civilizations that give the powerful absolute authority.

Western Civilization started it with the Hippocratic Oath. The Judeo-Christian model reflecting the teachings of Scriptures confirm that and affirm that man is made in the image of God. The value system, therefore, that came out of the Greco-Roman Judeo-christian model continued on. The Hippocratic Oath was embraced by the Romans as well and then when Roman culture was imbued with Christianity, they continued to honor the Hippocratic Oath. The value of the human person continued to be affirmed and in the European tradition that emanated out of England in 1215, it was declared that your values don't come from the king.  And the divine right of kings was brought into question by the Magna Carta and the 39th Chapter the Magna Carta it was clearly codified. It was written down that no one should be deprived of their life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Of course, that was in Latin but that principle is very much at the heart of the American system.

In the American view of the human person we know that the right to life was established by the founders as a primordial right - a right that does not come from the king or the government, that it's the human person that is special and because of the value of human life government derives its just powers from the value of human lives and not the other way around. So the right to life is the finest expression and defending the right to life of the vulnerable is the finest expression of Western Civilization.

Now to be honest, it's most often been demonstrated as a rule by its breaking. We’ve seen it throughout history and even recent history - in wartime, if soldiers intentionally kill innocent people. For example in My Lai in Vietnam, well unfortunately, they were killing the innocent and they had to be brought to trial and that's the case in Western Civilization.

What defines us from other civilizations is how we view those who are vulnerable and dependent. Will we protect those who are vulnerable and in need? That's the issue. Will the law protect lives of the innocent? And that's where the right to life is at the very foundation of Western Civilization.