Atheists and abortion

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I don’t know if this is a Philosophical question or not.

I assume most atheists are atheists first and “pro-choice” second. In other words, being “pro-choice” follows from being an atheist.

I’m wondering how many people became atheist second because they were pro-choice first. In other words, if a person had strongly liberal feelings about abortion, would that person, in order to justify his abortion position, feel compelled to deny the existence of God?
 
It would help to justify their feelings to themselves. Sometimes I think the whole atheist thing is like the out & proud thing. It is what you do if you are “with it”.

I just remind them no one stays an atheist forever.
 
There is no connection between atheism and whatever one’s personal stance is on abortion.

I’m obviously an atheist but I would like to see zero abortions. Let’s be clear about something ap straight up: No-one is pro-abortion.
 
Dirk_Skene said:
It would help to justify their feelings to themselves. Sometimes I think the whole atheist thing is like the out & proud thing. It is what you do if you are “with it”.
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This is just a shot in the dark, Dirk, but I’d guess that you don’t know many atheists.
 
Bradski said:
This is just a shot in the dark, Dirk, but I’d guess that you don’t know many atheists.
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I know several, and they are invariably pro-choice. I know correlation doesn’t prove causation, but still…

Then again, I know several “Christians” that are also pro-choice, so I know religious affiliation or lack thereof doesn’t have as much to do with the question as it should.
 
Bradski said:
Let’s be clear about something ap straight up: No-one is pro-abortion.
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Exactly, nobody can forget the Natural Law. We just come up with stupid rationalization as to why we don’t do what we ought and instead do as we want:

Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable (G. K. Chesterton).

Christi pax,

Lucretius
 
From our point of view, the evil of abortion is known from the Natural Law, and so one doesn’t need religion for him to know how wicked the act is.

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the number of atheists who think abortion should be tolerated?

Christi pax,

Lucretius
 
on_the_hill said:
I’m wondering how many people became atheist second because they were pro-choice first. In other words, if a person had strongly liberal feelings about abortion, would that person, in order to justify his abortion position, feel compelled to deny the existence of God?
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I think that you’ll find that someone supporting the availability of abortions under some set of conditions isn’t indicative that a person is non-religious. While it’s not supported by the doctrine you can even find Catholics that conditionally support the availability of abortions and even birth control.

I’ve always found this description odd, that there are people that are convinced there is a God, but think it would be convenient if there were not God, and have the volitional control of their convictions to perform a targeted removal of one’s own convictions.
 
A better question might be why atheists in America tend to be pro-choice.

Christi pax,

Lucretius
 
Prior to becoming Catholic I was an atheist. I was also adamantly pro-life. It is not as incongruous as you might think; I believed that one of the foundations of social living is the understanding that the human person has fundamental dignity, and that society is geared towards the betterment of human individuals.

Since science indicates that the human individual begins to exist at conception, and a fetus can’t commit any crimes that would mitigate against its fundamental dignity, and society is geared towards the betterment of all individuals, abortion is a crime against a defenseless and innocent human being.

Any society that permits the deatruction of the most innocent and most defenseless is fundamentally flawed, and does not serve its purpose, therefore abortion should be illegal (though I allowed for exceptional circumstances like saving the mothers life, but not rape). I held all of this as an atheist with no Catholic moral foundation, and I wasn’t the only one. I was actually more staunchly pro-life than any Christian I met prior to my conversion.

Peace and God bless!
 
I believe there are those who are pro-abortion. They think it is a good thing. Sad but true.
 
I have heard some local Baptist preachers here that came out pro-choice, which I just could not believe, and these were supposed to be Christian community leaders. I thought it was monstrous. [This came out in the immediate aftermath of the abortion clinic hidden camera story]

I believe atheists are easy to stereotype as pro-choice, but it is misguided to do so. There are many that are kind and lead moral lives. **
 
ProdglArchitect said:
I know several, and they are invariably pro-choice. I know correlation doesn’t prove causation, but still…

Then again, I know several “Christians” that are also pro-choice, so I know religious affiliation or lack thereof doesn’t have as much to do with the question as it should.
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I don’t think there is any correlation whatsoever. What does belief in God or no belief in God have to do with health care choices?
 
I know plenty of Christians who are pro-choice. And at least one atheist that is anti-abortion. I’m not sure there is a solid link between atheism and abortion.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
I don’t think there is any correlation whatsoever. What does belief in God or no belief in God have to do with health care choices?
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An abortion is not a “health care choice.” It is consciously deciding to end life.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
I don’t think there is any correlation whatsoever. What does belief in God or no belief in God have to do with health care choices?
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I agree there isn’t a logical connection, but, in our culture at least, atheist do seem to be more likely pro-choice.

I wonder if there is something that motives people to be both?

Of course, I think most people form their views on sentiment in our culture, and since they are easily manipulated the the spirit of the age (and corporations), it could just be because both views are two major fads right now.

Christi pax,

Lucretius
 
Not all atheists are pro choice. I worked for a pharmacist a few years ago who was an atheist. He was extremely pro life and he also was against contraception. To him being prolife was based on his knowledge of chemistry and biology. He believed murder was wrong and he said any scientist knows fetuses are alive and therefore abortion is murder. I’m not really sure why he was opposed to contraceptives although he did talk about how unhealthy most are and since the rise in condoms usage, latex allergies are much more common in the general population. I’m pretty sure that’s why he was opposed to them. Maybe many atheists become pro choice but not all do. Not sure if it ever happens the other way, that being pro choice leads to atheism. I would find it hard to be pro choice and try to reconcile that with God though.
 
on_the_hill said:
I don’t know if this is a Philosophical question or not.

I assume most atheists are atheists first and “pro-choice” second. In other words, being “pro-choice” follows from being an atheist.

I’m wondering how many people became atheist second because they were pro-choice first. In other words, if a person had strongly liberal feelings about abortion, would that person, in order to justify his abortion position, feel compelled to deny the existence of God?
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Too broad a brush to use. I can think of one atheist who is very pro life. Being an atheist doesn’t mean you are a liberal nor pro choice.
 
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