Is It Morally Proper to Impose My Professional-life Convictions on Others?

A Double Commonplace

Lots of people say issues like they personally oppose abortion, however they wouldn’t need to impose their morals on others. Now, think about how foolish it could sound if I stated to you, “I personally oppose slavery, however if you wish to personal a slave, we shouldn’t legislate in opposition to slavery,” or “I personally oppose spousal abuse, however if you wish to do it, I don’t suppose the legislation ought to cease you from doing it.”

Instantly you’ll suppose there’s one thing incorrect with my ethical compass. Slavery and spousal abuse aren’t issues of non-public desire, like selecting chocolate ice cream over vanilla. And other people immediately acknowledge goal ethical truths once we’re speaking about slavery or speaking about, for instance, torturing toddlers for enjoyable, or spousal abuse.

However on the subject of abortion, they mechanically suppose, Oh, that’s only a private problem.

You see this type of pondering in bumper stickers that say issues like, “Don’t like abortion? Don’t have one.” Nevertheless it misses the purpose totally. When the pro-lifer says abortion is incorrect, he’s not speaking about what he likes or prefers; he’s speaking about what’s proper or incorrect no matter preferences.

So what I’ll usually do when individuals say to me, “I personally oppose abortion, however I need it to stay authorized,” I’ll say, “Why do you personally oppose it?” They usually’ll inevitably say, “Nicely, it kills a child.” Once more, if it doesn’t, why be opposed in any respect? After which very gently I’ll say, “So if I’m listening to you proper, what you’re telling me is you personally oppose abortion as a result of it kills a child, however you need it to be authorized to kill infants?”

Scott Klusendorf is the creator of The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Interact the Tradition.

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