Terms relating to pregnancy and abortion

Overview of pregnancy and abortion terms:

There are fundamental differences in definitions used by pro-life and pro-choice advocates: Most Fundamentalist and other Evangelical Christians, pro-life advocates, and religious conservatives believe that: Pregnancy begins at conception. Human life, in the form of an ovum and spermatozoon (i.e. forms of life with human DNA), becomes a human person at conception. Any medication that terminates the life of a zygote, morula, embryo or fetus is an abortifacient -- it induces an abortion. The "morning after pill" (a.k.a. emergency contraception, EC) either is or can be an abortifacient. Essentially all m edical specialists, pro-choice advocates, religious liberals, etc. believe that : Pregnancy begins when the pre-embryo embeds itself in the wall of the uterus, about twelve days after conception. Human life becomes a human person later in pregnancy -- e.g. when the fetus attains sentience or at birth. Any medication that terminates the a pregnancy is an abortifacient. The "morning after" pill prevents a pregnancy from starting. It cannot induce an abortion. It is not an abortifacient. With such differences in the basic definition of terms, dialogue between pro-choice and pro-life advocates is essentially impossible.

Contrasting definitions:
Evangelical usage/term Some others' usage/term A medically induced abortion that involves the use of a medication. Comments This refers to the use of medication (e.g. RU-486) to terminate a pregnancy. "Others" include medical professionals, pro-choice advocates, etc. "Chemical"

Chemical abortion

implies that the embryo is burned out; "Medical" implies that a pharmaceutical is used to induce abortion. Pro-abortion, Pro-borts, In favor of abortion access Pro-choice Pro-abort and choice for others. References to physicians Abortionists, murderers Abortion providers who perform abortions. Favoring major restriction or Pro-life Anti-abortion, Pro-life. complete elimination of abortion access. Pregnancy starts when the "Others" include medical Pregnancy starts at fertilized ovum professionals, scientists, conception. is implanted in the womb. pro-choice advocates, etc. Each sperm cell is clearly alive and contains human DNA, from the time that it Human life starts at Human life starts weeks left a testicle until a few conception. before conception. weeks later, at conception. So too for an ovum. Both have been a form of human life well before conception. "Others" include many medical professionals, prochoice advocates, etc. The Human personhood starts Human personhood starts "morning after" pill may be at conception. later in gestation. considered an abortifacient by the former definition but birth control by the latter. These are largely medical terms. In popular use, the "The unborn," "pre-born," Zygote, fertilized ovum, term "baby" is used to refer "child," or "baby" morula, embryo or fetus. to any stage of development from pre-embryo to infant. An abortion is an A therapeutic abortion is an "Others" include medical intentional termination of a intentional termination of a professionals, scientists, pregnancy at any time from pregnancy, from some pro-choice advocates, conception to birth implantation to viability. etc. In a religious and moral Abortion becomes murder sense, but not at this time when the ovum, embryo or Abortion kills a developing in a legal sense, all fetus has become a human embryo or fetus. abortion result in the person. There is no murder of a human person. consensus on when this

A contraceptive device or medication prevents conception.

A contraceptive device or medication prevents pregnancy.

occurs. Physicians and pro-choice advocates generally define pregnancy as starting many days after conception, when the pre-embryo implants in the wall of the uterus.

Homosexuality and sexual orientation terms

Homosexuality terms, phrases and slogans:
We consider here the definitions used by some of the larger conservative Christian organizations, like the Christian Coalition, the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Promise Keepers, Traditional Values Coalition, etc. We compare them to definitions used by others -including many liberal and mainline Christians, followers of other religions, persons who don't identify themselves with any religion, therapists and counselors, as well as gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Barna Research found that 95% of fundamentalist and other evangelical Christians find the homosexual "lifestyle" to be unacceptable. This compares to 66% of born-again Christians and only 46% of the general population. Beliefs among conservative and mainline Christians about homosexuality are in a state of flux -similar to the divisions within religious groups in the 19th century about human slavery, in the 1960s about racial segregation, and in recent decades over equal rights for women. The phrase "common evangelical usage" definitely does not refer to all conservative Christians.
Common evangelical usage "Sexual preference" Usage by others * "Sexual orientation" Comments Preference implies choice; orientation implies a fixed nature.

"Promoting homosexuality"

Educating others about the Many evangelicals feel that to dynamics and diversity of human explain sexual orientation is to sexuality promote homosexuality.

Homosexual behavior is sinful if it Some "others" would add that all All homosexual behavior is sinful. is unsafe, manipulative, coercive sexual activity (same sex or or non-consensual. So is opposite sex) outside of a

heterosexual behavior.

committed relationship is sinful. Some same-sex marriages involve bisexuals. Enclosing the word marriage in quotation marks indicates evangelical rejection of the status of marriage for same-sex couples.

"Homosexual 'marriage'"

Same-sex marriage

Homosexuality is a behavior.

Homosexuality is an orientation, a This difference causes great feeling confusion. Homosexuality is a normal and natural sexual orientation for a minority of adults. Homosexuality is determined by The term "lifestyle" implies choice, genetics and triggered by as in choosing a single lifestyle, or unknown environmental factors urban lifestyle. By redefining "sexual orientation," Sexual orientation comes in three evangelicals can claim that civil varieties: heterosexuality, rights based on sexual orientation homosexuality, and bisexuality. may decriminalize abusive pedophilia. Homosexuals can change their behavior by becoming celibate, but they retain their homosexual orientation. Homosexuals seek equal rights. Restrict marriage to one man and one women, thus preventing gays and lesbians in committed relationships from enjoying the 1,400 or so benefits given by governments to married couples. Bisexuals can choose to confine their relationships to opposite-sex persons, and thus also appear to "leave homosexuality"

Homosexuality is an unnatural sexual deviant behavior.

Homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle; an act of rebellion. Some Evangelicals define sexual orientation as including: homosexuality, bestiality, necrophilia, abusive pedophilia, etc. Homosexuals can leave homosexuality and become exgays. Homosexuals demand special rights & privileges. "Protecting traditional marriage." "Preserve the sanctity of marriage." "Promoting natural marriage" "Battle to save marriage" "Defending true marriage," etc.

"undermine the institution of the Extend benefits enjoyed by married couples to gays, lesbians, family" 1 and heterosexual couples who

live together in loving, committed relationships. Children in public schools will be educated with facts about sexual orientation and sensitized to the discrimination felt by sexual minorities. Hate crime legislation which includes sexual orientation as a protected class gives precisely equal privileges and protections to everyone: heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals. Hate crime legislation only takes effect if a crime (e.g. murder, attempted murder, assault) has been proven in a court of law. It then increases the sentence that the defendant receives.

"children... will be subjected to homosexual propaganda... indoctrination" 1

Hate crime legislation gives special privileges to gays and lesbians

High suicide rate among gays and High suicide rate among gays and lesbians caused by the disordered lesbians is caused by the high nature of homosexuality itself, level of homophobia in the and being told that they have no culture, much of which has been hope of ever becoming internalized. heterosexual

"Others" include most mental health professionals, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, religious liberals, etc.