How can this be answered? Life/abortion

[SpeakKindly]

Without involving God, is there a way to argue that a human life is any different than an animal’s? I’ve seen this asked before when a conversation about abortion comes up.

I recently read about this:

The geneticist’s latest Twitter row broke out after he responded to another user who said she would be faced with “a real ethical dilemma” if she became pregnant with a baby with Down’s syndrome.

Dawkins tweeted: “Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.”

Source: theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/21/richard-dawkins-apologises-downs-syndrome-tweet

So, I wish to know how we can discuss these things with an atheist (so no bringing up God, souls, etc), since many (should) believe that Dawkin’s statement is logical, if they also follow his way of thinking. Obviously, we can try to argue that suffering does not mean there’s no hope, or that abortion is not the answer, but I think there’s a much deeper issue with people assuming that life is not sacred, and humans are “just” animals, so if we put down our pets, we should put down humans without issue.

 

[TimothyH]

Dawkins tweeted: “Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.”

Here is the mistake.

Morality does not come from what people think nor from agreements between people. When you talk about morality you automatically talk about God because God is the source of all morality.

-Tim-

 

[Scottgun]

Without involving God, is there a way to argue that a human life is any different than an animal’s?

You are driving down the road and two dogs jump out from the left and a young girl with Down’s Syndrome jumps out from the right. You must serve one way or the other meaning you will kill one of the other. If we really are no different than an animal, then by that logic you should swerve and hit the girl since there are two dogs and only one girl.

I assume you see the absurdity of running over the girl.

Morality does not come from what people think nor from agreements between people. When you talk about morality you automatically talk about God because God is the source of all morality.

Moreover, by what authority does he proclaim this is immoral? He can’t do that without being a) arbitrary. b.) subjectivist to the point of absurdity or c.) reliant on first principles just as scientifically untestable as the existence of God. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the special pleading and question-begging in the gnu-atheism.

 

[Jobis]

Most children with down syndrome enjoy their lives, many live perfectly normal lives, maintain jobs and get married. Likewise, they bring joy to their parents; parenthood is never easy, and down syndrome children may be more difficult to raise, but equally rewarding as any other child. What kind of parent kills their own child for being difficult, or unexpected? It is abominable cruelty.

There is no reasonable time to determine when human life begins, except at conception. Even scientists have to recognise this; an embryo’s DNA is HUMAN, and size should not be a factor in right to life. Likewise, capacity to feel pain has no place in judging the morality of murder; if I were to give someone pain killers and then murder them it would still be immoral. Consciousness has no place in defining the morality of murder; If I were to kill someone in a coma or who was asleep it would still be immoral.

There are no legitimate arguments for abortion; it is murder for the sake of convenience. How anyone can support it in clear conscience is staggering to me.

As for human life, ask your friend if they would consent to being murdered, or their brother, or a total stranger. Ask them if this can be equated to putting down a dog.

 

[Adamgu_Dalibi]

Without involving God, is there a way to argue that a human life is any different than an animal’s?

No. Because without God it isn’t. That’s the choice offered to us.

If the universe was meaningless, brains would be meaningless, so their conclusions about the universe would be meaningless.

Thankfully, then, it’s not.

 

[TheSurvivor]

Well, like others have said if one does not believe in God and objective truth how can morality be discerned? Perhaps you could bring up depression one would suffer after committing such an act. There is also a link between breast cancer and abortion I have heard. Maybe ask them why murder is wrong, then ask them why would an opinion be held that because a human is small and cannot be scene makes it acceptable.

God Bless you and Help you

 

[RubyT]

Some would say that what separates man from animals is cognitive thinking rather than pure instinct.

I say it is because Man was made in God’s image and God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. God’s love rises man above beast. My 2 cents.

 

[Holly3278]

Dawkins’ statement is typical of that of a eugenicist if you ask me.