Truthspresso

Another discussion with an abortion advocate on X!

Shrugging off ad hominems, I pressed him to provide an absolute standard that can distinguish "medicine" from "murder."

Eventually, he was kind enough to provide a theory from an article. This is the "brain-life" theory for when human life functionally begins. The article was from neuroscientist Dr. Michael Gazzaniga. He acknowledges that human life begins biologically at conception, but his practice leads him to believe bioethics can't realistically begin for a human until at least six months gestation.

I walk through some statements in this article that try to build an ethical case for human life beginning around week 24, when the human brain starts working in the way we might determine death occurs when it stops working.

I contend in all this that an absolute standard (from the God of the Bible) is necessary to distinguish "medicine" from "murder."

Sources Referenced:

Michael S. Gazzaniga, "The Thoughtful Distinction Between Embryo and Human," Chronicle of Higher Education 51, no. 31 (2005): B10-2.

John M. Goldenring, "Humanity Begins With a Functioning Brain," The Washington Post, September, 16, 1986.

Hannah Echols, "UAB Hospital delivers record-breaking premature baby," University of Alabama News, November 10, 2021.

Paula Newton, "Canadian siblings born four months early set record as the world’s most premature twins," CNN, Updated March 19, 2023.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3208

Augustine of Hippo, "Chapter 86. If They Have Ever Lived, They Must of Course Have Died, and Therefore Shall Have a Share in the Resurrection of the Dead." in The Handbook on Faith, Hope and Love.

Scriptures Referenced:

Genesis 9:6

Proverbs 3:5

John 17:17

See also:

Truthspresso episode 0012: Abortion Fiction: Part 2 - The Pro-Life Bible and Early Church

Truthspresso episode 0055: Shutting Down the Pro-Life Position?

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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In part 2 of studying the legacy of Margaret Sanger, we look at what she had to say in speeches, books, and articles.

Sanger's "birth control" may seem as innocuous as she articulated sometimes, but her goals were far more top-down.

Eugenics, Malthusian population control, and racial bias all played a role in Sanger's totalitarian prescriptions for society.

After we see some of what she proposed as laws for the U.S. government, we can be thankful it never materialized.

Sources Consulted:

Margaret Sanger: An Autobiography (archive.org)

Margaret Sanger, The Pivot of Civilization, (New York: Brentano's Publishers, 1922) [Google Books]

Margaret Sanger, Woman and the New Race, (New York: Truth Publishing Company, 1920)[Google Books]

Document 17B: W. E. B. Du Bois, "Black Folk and Birth Control," Birth Control Review, 16, no. 6 (June 1932): 166-67, by W.E.B. Du Bois. Included in What Perspectives Did African American Advocates Bring to the Birth Control Movement and How Did Those Perspectives Shape the History of the Harlem Branch Birth Control Clinic?, by Carole McCann. (Binghamton, NY: State University of New York at Binghamton, 2006).

John J. Conley, S.J., "Margaret Sanger’s extreme brand of eugenics," America: The Jesuit Review, July 28, 2020.

Brian Fisher, "The ABC’s of the American Baby Code," Human Coalition, accessed November 25, 2023.

Jonah Goldberg, "A Dark Past," National Review, June 24, 2008.

Scriptures Referenced:

Deuteronomy 7:14

Psalm 113:9; 127:3-5

1 Timothy 2:15

2 Corinthians 4:1-4

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In part 1 of studying the legacy of Margaret Sanger, we look at a short biography of her life.

Margaret Sanger believed large families caused poverty and that "prudish" laws like the Comstock Act forced women into "unwanted pregnancies."

She was a relentlessly defiant advocate for "birth control" via contraceptives. Facing several arrests and trials, she ultimately and gradually succeeded in her quest.

Sanger started two organizations that would come together into what we know as Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Whereas Planned Parenthood's function today is mostly as an abortion mill, Sanger herself saw abortion as "barbaric" and to clarify that her "birth control" was a civilized alternative.

To understand Sanger's mindset and not to defend her, we will see from her words in the next part how terrifying some of her goals really were.

Sources Consulted:

Margaret Sanger: An Autobiography (archive.org)

Biography.com s.v. "Margaret Sanger," updated May, 6, 2021.

Claudia Nunez-Eddy and Malladi Lakshmeeramya, "Margaret Higgins Sanger (1879-1966)" in Embryo Project Encyclopedia (Arizona State University, October, 13, 2016).

VCU Libraries Social Welfare History Project, s.v. "Sanger, Margaret," accessed November 18, 2023.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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After Ohio Issue 1 passed, enshrining abortion access virtually up to birth into the Ohio state constitution, I saw a post from Laura Klassen on X explaining that abortion kills someone else's body.

One woman replied that this justifies abortion even more because an unwanted pregnancy makes the baby a trespasser.

I had a brief exchange with this woman over whether an unborn baby is a trespasser. I also asked if she considered alternatives to abortion. Naturally, she expected a fully socialized society that could erase any financial impact a child would bring.

Source Referenced:

Justice For All

Choice 4 2

Choice42 YouTube channel

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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Chelsea and I cover what went on over the summer since we last covered Colorado's evil ban on abortion pill reversals.

Bella Health and Wellness, a comprehensive, life-affirming family healthcare clinic sued the state administration of Colorado to prevent them from enforcing the terms of SB23-190. This law went into effect in April and restricts how life-affirming clinics can advertise and bans the current abortion pill reversal protocol.

Federal District court Judge Daniel Domenico granted a narrow preliminary injunction against Colorado from enforcing SB23-190 against Bella Health and proports that they will likely succeed in their claims.

While this battle isn't over, we praise God for truth prevailing and exposing evil and protecting women and babies against Satan's attacks.

Sources Consulted:

Bella Health and Wellness v. Weiser et al

[Amended Complaint]

[Declaration of Monique Chireau Wubbenhorst]

[Preliminary Injunction]

Caitlin Cruz, "Federal Judge Sides With Religious Clinic That Wants to Lie to Patients About Abortion Reversal," Jezebel, October 23, 2023.

"Division of Pediatric and Maternal Health - Clinical Trials in Pregnant Women," FDA.gov, Accessed November 4, 2023.

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What did Paul mean by "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"?

We look at Philippians 2:12 and some surrounding verses to see that the context is sanctification, humility, and testimony.

Perhaps this was a common quip from Paul to church members when they were striving and bickering with each other.

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In this episode of Truthspresso I chat about Jesus and socialism.

A coworker a while ago made the claim to me that Jesus was a socialist. I have certainly heard this claim before, but I figured I would address it.

In part 9 we look at the claim that Jesus taught against property rights and owning wealth because He said in Luke 14:33 that one must give up all he has to be His disciple. We also examine Jesus' instructions for inviting guests to feasts in the context of Gentiles coming for salvation.

A look at some Christian socialist articles and blog posts reveal that "sinners" in their minds can only be the "privileged" who directly or indirectly exert power over others.

Sources Cited:

Mike Rivage-Seul, "Bernie Reminds Us that Christianity Is Communism & Jesus Was a Communist!" Mike Rivage-Seul's Blog, April 21, 2017.

Karl Kautsky, Foundations of Christianity, (London: Forgotten Books, 1908), 367.

Herb Montgomery, "Political Jesus," Renewed Heart Ministries, May 18, 2018.

Scriptures Referenced:

Luke 14:12-14,15-24,28-30,33

Luke 15:1-2,10

Matthew 8:11-12

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We cannot even begin to understand the terrorist brutality from Hamas and their slaughter of civilians in Israel.

What compounds the shock amid the rubble and barbarous deposits of dead men, women, and children are the surprising numbers of people in Western nations cheering on the carnage and defending Hamas' actions.

A single episode cannot do justice to what all has transpired since the shocking events on Saturday morning, October 7, 2023.

Mourn with those who mourn! Pray for Biblical justice and the peace of Jerusalem!

Sources Consulted:

Sean Previl, "TIMELINE: What has happened since Hamas attacked Israel?" Global News, Updated October 12, 2023.

Australian Jewish Association, X Post, October 9, 2023, 3:37 PM.

Hillary Vaughn, X Post, October 10, 2023, 6:55 PM.

i24NEWS English, X Post, October 10, 2023, 6:19 AM.

Matt Gilbert #RIPDoriMonson, X Post, October 15, 2023, 10:15 AM.

BLMChicago, X Post, October 11, 2023, 7:21 AM.

Nur Ibrahim, "Were Israeli Babies Beheaded by Hamas Militants During Attack on Kfar Aza?" Snopes, Updated October 13, 2023.

Josh Dickey, "Journalist Who First Reported Israeli Child Beheadings Says She Saw Atrocities ‘With My Own Eyes’ (Video)," The Wrap, October 11, 2023.

Scriptures Referenced:

Proverbs 6:17

Isaiah 59:3-4

Psalm 122:6

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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No Christian podcast worth its salt can avoid answering the all-important question: just who were those Nephilim, anyway?

After analyzing three theories about the Nephilim in the previous episodes in this series, Chelsea and I present our own theory using ideas from those three.

Theories about the Nephilim seem to depend on who were "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men" in Genesis chapter 6.

Join us as we present our theory.

Sources Consulted:

Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes on Numbers 13:3, BibliaPlus.org. Accessed October 8, 2023.

"Numbers 13 Commentary," Precept Austin, Updated December 27, 2021.

Scriptures Referenced:

Luke 17:36-30

Genesis 3:1

Revelation 12:9

Matthew 8:29

Numbers 13:33

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No Christian podcast worth its salt can avoid answering the all-important question: just who were those Nephilim, anyway?

Chelsea and I present the third of three popular theories about the Nephilim: that they are the offspring of wicked rulers taking wives from among the peasantry by force.

Theories about the Nephilim seem to depend on who were "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men" in Genesis chapter 6.

Join us as we explore arguments for this theory and arguments against it.

Sources Consulted:

Book of Jasher, Chapter 2

Book of Jasher, Chapter 4

Scriptures Referenced:

Exodus 7:1

Ezekiel 28:2,9; 32:21

Psalm 82:1,6,7

Genesis 10:8-9

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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