It never fails… If you talk with a Christian who is planning on voting for Donald Trump, inevitably the topic of abortion will come up. And the reason for this is clear: On a daily basis–often multiple times a day–Trump says things that are so starkly Anti-Jesus that even the most ardent conservative (who grew up believing “Christian” and “republican” were synonyms) can tell that this guy’s words and beliefs and policies are so directly opposite to the beliefs of a Jesus-follower that it seems intentional. He isn’t even trying. Even when he claims to be a Christian, he seems incapable of anything other than an self-aggrandizing, “I’m one of the best Christians” type of statement. He has put these confused “Christians” into a very difficult and awkward position–They have come to deeply believe that they are REQUIRED to vote republican, but to all but the most blindly ignorant, the republican nominee for president is Anti-Everything-Jesus-Stood-For to a disturbingly obvious degree. About everything except for one issue: Abortion. Well, before you go and do something stupid like voting for Trump, hear me out…
“There has to be some form of punishment.” Only for women, I assume…
Now, most of you probably already know that, until fairly recently, Donald Trump referred to himself as “very pro choice.” But there is literally no way someone can run as a republican (and have a chance of winning) without calling himself “pro-life.” So here we are, with a morally repugnant man running for president, but Christians can still rationalize voting for him because of his newly acquired “Pro-Life” moniker. Just under 80% of white evangelicals report that they plan on voting for Trump–A bewildering and depressing number that signals the end of a lot of things… Not the least of which is the end of any value connected to the term “Evangelical.” And when people like myself challenge these folks by naming Trump’s ever expanding list of disqualifying statements, it’s hard to get out of those conversations without them bringing up their “Trump Card” (if you will) of Abortion. Every time it reminds me of when the dog from the movie “Up” sees a squirrel… “Sure, he has said some incredibly racist and sexist things, and his immigration plan is pure evil, and he has called for an increase of torture and even the killing of terrorists’ fam… SQUIRREL!! I mean, ABORTION!!”
But before you cast your vote for a man who is objectively the worst major party candidate for president this country has ever seen (and arguably one of its worst representations of compassion or humanity) just because he’s calling himself “Pro-Life, I have some numbers I’d like to show you. Since 1970, the Center for Disease Control has kept track of the number of reported abortions that have taken place in the United States. This information is taken from the CDC’s report on Morbidity and Mortality… and next to the numbers, you can see how the President’s “Pro-Life” or “Pro-Choice” stance actually affected the numbers of abortions for that period of time…
This took me WAY too long to make. So read it…
I know that’s a lot of information, but please take a look at those numbers (by the way, HERE is the link to Nixon’s comments about abortion for biracial pregnancies). Also, it should be pointed out that in these last four years of Obama’s presidency, indications are that the number of abortions has continued to go down. When we have had presidents who support a woman’s right to choose, the number of abortions have gone way down. During pro-life presidencies, the numbers have gone up or stayed stagnant. If what you want is a president who is going to outlaw abortions even when some underage girl has been raped by her uncle, and the pregnancy is putting her life in danger, there are people you can vote for. But if your goal is fewer and fewer abortions, you should be voting for someone who is actually interested in changes in POLICY that give women better access to affordable healthcare, more access to birth control, and sex education that is more nuanced than “Don’t do it because Jesus.” And that person is NOT Donald Trump. You want fewer abortions? The numbers seem to suggest that you should be voting Democrat.
Shyster.
But then, if you are considering voting for Donald Trump, in all likelihood you are not the sort of person who is particularly interested in “facts” or “numbers.” Still, some of you might look at the timeline I put together, and you might–even for the briefest of seconds–consider the idea that you’ve been shystered by people who told you “Vote for me, because I’m against abortion.” When really, there isn’t a chance in hell that they would ever get rid of abortion… Because abortion is the only reason someone calling themselves a follower of Jesus could EVER consider voting for someone like Trump… A liar and a bigot and a charlatan and a narcissist and a philanderer and a fake Christian who is using people’s religious convictions in order to make a power grab. And even though I doubt this is going to change your mind, I’m going to go ahead and push “publish” anyway.
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The Boeskool 
Thanks for the statistics. If women don’t have unwanted pregnancies then they won’t get abortions. We need to support affordable access to contraception.
And yet another brilliant entry from my favourite blogger.
I swear we share a brain some how. Thanks for putting my thoughts into words!
Keep writing B!!
Again…Well said!!!
I wonder if the emotional reaction to abortion among certain Christians is a stalking horse for other feelings, that perhaps certain Christians are so mixed up and anxious about sex and sexual acts that they want to use closing down access to abortion as a lever to close down sexual acts between people who are not “doing it according to God’s laws.”
One reason I wonder this is because the arguments seem to boil more and more down to shame and honor, where women who get pregnant out of wedlock are to be shamed, and women who follow the traditional conservative teachings and “wait until marriage” are honored.
Another reason I wonder this is because very, very few people who are anti-abortion show any evidence of a thorough pro-life commitment towards the children and women. Very, very few anti-abortionists consistently vote pro-life and support pro-life policies, including policies that would protect the fetus from environmental harm, would provide a safe environment for children and women, would provide access to free or very low cost health care for children and women, would provide safe, accessible housing for children and women, would provide access to nutritious food for children and women, would provide maternity/paternity leave for women *and men* when their children are first born, would provide job training for women to improve their lot when they have children and must work, would provide high-quality child care for mothers who must return to work, would provide high-quality, accessible education for children, would provide an environment where the safety and liberty of people are held up as the standard and not subservience to a brutal police force, eliminate the use of brutality and the death penalty as means to enforce judgment, and so on.
These are expensive things, which costs would be born by anti-abortionists along with the rest of society.
It’s much cheaper to use shame, guilt, and terror of death and penury to force women to obey conservative sexual policies.
And eliminating access to birth control, from condoms to the “pill” to abortion, is a way to force women to obey conservative sexual policies because if they get pregnant, they are in for a lifetime of punishment.
I think it’s part of the whole movement to put Christian obedience onto the backs of others. “If those women would just live according to my preferred sexual behaviors, they’d be good women deserving my attention.” (There doesn’t seem to be any angst about the men who are getting women pregnant, of course.)
Living as a pro-life person would be very expensive and burdensome. Living as an anti-abortion person is very, very cheap.
I think it’s money, not morality, that’s at play here.
This may be your opinion, but it doesn’t reflect the truth. You have no idea what you’re talking about. You may be surprised to find out that Christians have quite the healthy relationship with their spouses, and there is no shame in enjoying the pleasures of marriage. There are SOME in the church as are also in the world who have shame and guilt but that does not come from God or Biblical teaching. That comes from satan himself.
Exactly what NBH above said. How can anyone argue with that??
Interesting article…Did you ever consider that the numbers on your chart have to do more about technology and better ultrasounds so that when a mother sees her Baby moving and alive in her womb they refuse the abortion RATHER then who the president is. Trump if anything is a very young Christian. When someone says they are a Christian you ALWAYS need to ask, “what do you mean by that?”- (Greg Koukl- Stand To Reason Ministries-look him up on the Internet). Trump’s behavior reminds all Christians that NONE of us are perfect, in fact just the opposite- that is why we need the forgiveness of Jesus – and even when we accept His free gift, we still sin. There is no perfect candidate choice and we are not voting for a priest- we are voting for our freedom of religion, the right to speak what is on our minds, the right to be listened to without being called racist or bigoted…. That is what real TOLERANCE is….Please ask a Christian SPECIFIC questions about their faith and they will tell you- DO NOT assume or stereotype…Thank you😀
When Trump has been asked about his “faith,” he consistently gives answers that show he is the farthest thing from a follower of Jesus.
And yet, I’d be willing to bet that you probably think President Obama is not “really” a Christian because of his actions… even though he has articulated his faith over and over in an inspiring and authentic way.
So which is it? Our confession, or our actions? Or is it actions for democrats, and “their word is good enough for me” for republicans?
I would love for you to give me the links to his articulation of his faith… Then I can answer your question. It seems like (and I may be wrong) that he believes in pluralism… There are many paths to God…As far as Trump- I would have to have a conversation with him to see if he was a Biblical Christian… Once you become a Christian your life should begin to show your faith… Your actions prove it. So to answer your question it is first your confession then your actions, but your actions are not always perfect.
Good answer Alison! Trump has gathered a team of Christian ministers to advise him, btw.. (James Dobson and several others..) Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean you have to snap to attention from that moment, you may have a heart change, but it takes time to renew one’s mind from living in the world. Trump cannot help it that he was born and raised in a wealthy family, and he has his weaknesses from that experience for sure. But there are more strengths he has to offer as well and his (WORKS/Deeds show that, ie; flood victims as well as other acts of kindness and compassion to those who aren’t so fortunate.), The fact that he has EMPATHY is something I don’t see in the pro abortion movement. Compassion for women who are raped etc is what the church is all about, and the child they carry is God’s way of turning their experience into a healing blessing. Encouraging a women to end the life of her own flesh and blood bring blood guilt upon her, and that only makes her situation worse. The numbers for lower abortion rates recently have to do with women discovering the selling of their baby’s parts, and exposing of the truth that their baby is not a blob of tissue after all, but a human life. The lies have to stop. The bottom line for pro abortion has to do with population control, not money. Laws have been in place since Roe vs. Wade legalizing abortion, so who was president at the time has nothing to do with the numbers during their term.
@Alison, nothing leaves me shaking my head more than some supposed “Christian” saying that I need to ask the forgiveness of Jesus. I did nothing to Jesus, therefore have no reason to ask his forgiveness. No one understands how life began, or what happens when we die, but that is no reason to make up fairy tales or believe fantastical stories. It’s ok to say, “this is something science hasn’t figured out yet” and leave it at that. Use your brain and you’ll be a lot better off in this world. If everyone treated others as they’d like to be treated, we’d have no place or need for religion.
Everyone has the right to believe in the Biblical Jesus or not believe in Him. I never said that you or anyone had to😀 The Bible is history, not fairy tales… Read Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ to explore this concept…what do you have to lose? As far as treating everyone the way you want to be treated, that is all relative isn’t it? If that happened there definitely would not be any consistency…. Who is to judge and the “standards” keep changing…As far as the concept of “doing nothing” or something to Jesus, I’m not sure what you mean?
Why should I ask forgiveness from Jesus? It’s such a bizarre concept, to teach children that they are born sinners and should be asking for forgiveness from someone they don’t know, will never meet, and whom they’ve never wronged. It’s something that’s been beaten into the heads of children for so many years that they grow up brainwashed. You are Christian because you were born into a Christian family and it’s what you were taught from the time you were old enough to understand words. The same goes for Jews, Muslims, and all the rest of the gullible masses. And the bible is NOT history. That’s a ludicrous statement.
Once again you are free to believe what you want… It would interesting though to do some reading about why Christians believe what they believe. Take a chance and read the book I mentioned. There are some similarities, but more difference between Christianity and all the other religions you mentioned…in all those other religions (do the research) your “good” needs to outweigh your “bad” in order for you to get to “Heaven”… Christians do not believe that….What do you believe will happen to you when you die? What is your hope?
Of course, everyone is free to believe what they want. Is someone disputing that? You are incorrect about the other religions requiring your good to outweigh your bad to go to heaven, and you certainly don’t need to school me on Christianity. I have a masters degree from a highly respected divinity school and I’m sure I’ve forgotten more about religion than you ever learned. I was raised Jewish, converted to Christianity, and then realized that we had it all wrong. I “know” what happens when we die (as much as anyone can “know.”) We live on in the memories of those who love us. Which is why we need to be as good as we can in this life, because this is all we get.
What caused you to be enlightened that we have it all wrong? What did you learn? What does it mean to be good? Is your “good” the same as everyone else’s good? What does being good get for you on this earth if this is the only life you are to have? Why be good? Wouldn’t it be better to be bad? You would enjoy life more wouldn’t you? How do you believe the earth was created?
Tell me about those other religions… If they don’t believe you need to have your good outweigh the bad….tell me what they believe?
Good answer Alison! Trump has gathered a team of Christian ministers to advise him, btw.. (James Dobson and several others..) Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean you have to snap to attention from that moment, you may have a heart change, but it takes time to renew one’s mind from living in the world. Trump cannot help it that he was born and raised in a wealthy family, and he has his weaknesses from that experience for sure. But there are more strengths he has to offer as well and his (WORKS/Deeds show that, ie; flood victims as well as other acts of kindness and compassion to those who aren’t so fortunate.), The fact that he has EMPATHY is something I don’t see in the pro abortion movement. Compassion for women who are raped etc is what the church is all about, and the child they carry is God’s way of turning their experience into a healing blessing. Encouraging a women to end the life of her own flesh and blood bring blood guilt upon her, and that only makes her situation worse. The numbers for lower abortion rates recently have to do with women discovering the selling of their baby’s parts, and exposing of the truth that their baby is not a blob of tissue after all, but a human life. The lies have to stop. The bottom line for pro abortion has to do with population control, not money. Laws have been in place since Roe vs. Wade legalizing abortion, so who was president at the time has nothing to do with the numbers during their term.
V, just because you have a masters, doesn’t mean you have a better or worse chance of using your head than someone without the formal education. Actually, those who lean more on their “intellect” get blinded by it and can’t grasp what faith is. To belittle a Christian and telling her to use her head tells me you need to bully because you can’t see what she is talking about.You tried Christianity but the fact that you gave up tells me you weren’t serious enough, didn’t put your whole heart into it, and that is the reason it didn’t stick. Christianity is a relationship, and until you believe, you will never “see”. There are millions and millions of personal testimonies of genuine Christians who have this relationship with God, and there is no one on this earth who can take that away from them, period.
How long do I have to wait for a critique on Hillary? Just because you have a pen, remember that God will hold you accountable for what you write…
How do you feel about Hilary?
This is probably coming way out of left field, but I recently followed a link out from your blog, and read through Rob Bell’s stores that you recommended. Which was fantastic, by the way. The Nixon link in this article got me thinking, though, since it seems like a great way to view the legal precedent in the bible is the same way that we view US legal precedent in the US, you know? There’s a bunch of dissenting and inconsistent opinions running amuck, and then, at critical points, we have an interjection, to tell people right from wrong… and sometimes, (Dredd Scott, 1Sam15:3, Bowers v Hardwick, Hosea 13:16) we have some real shit come through, that takes way too long for people to realize was flawed. But we eventually do, and yet nobody is arguing against the validity of the Supreme Court or the truth of their rulings, despite the fact that over time they have proven to be both inconsistent and kind of mostly horrible. But the cool thing is that they’re consistently getting less awful.
Safe, legal, and rare. That about sums it up for me.
Thanks, Chris, for doing all the research and pulling together this article. If it causes even one person to re-think their support for Trump, then it was worth the effort.
Sorry Chris, we didn’t mean to hijack your column. @Alison, this isn’t the right place to be having a discussion about religion and the origins of our world. Chris meant for this to be about Trump, and abortion, and other important issues facing us in the election. I appreciate the tone and courtesy your responses have shown, but it’s a discussion for another time. Enjoy the long weekend 🙂
Thank you, V. Ellum, I have enjoyed our discussion too…. Have a wonderful weekend:). It would be great to chat with you another time. Addietoo12@gmail.com
Allison if the only thing that keeps you from being a horrible person is the threat of going to hell, you are already a horrible person
That is not actually what being a Christian is all about Kathy.. God is Love. Knowing God teaches us about Him and we become what He is, Love. Love conquers all, including the desire to live a sinful life. We can’t be totally sin free through life because all humans have a sinful nature, but the closer we walk with out Father in heaven the better we get at walking in rightness with God. However, all of our “righteousness is as filthy rags, and being in Jesus covers us with His righteousness and THAT is what is pleasing to God. When God sees a believer’s life, He sees the covering of Jesus.
I wish you could see how mentally ill the above comment makes you sound, Bonnie. Maybe one day you’ll come around to see logic and common sense. I hope so.
I agree, Bonnie.
You have a different worldview, TR… It is ok to have a different worldview than others…:)
after your great chart, the following paragraph states:
During pro-choice presidencies, the numbers have gone up or stayed stagnant.
I think you mean pro-life.
J
>
Haha Jonathan, saw that too. 😉
Larry and Chris, so right on and thank you! As a woman – nothing attached please- not a Christian nor other religion, not a Republican nor Democrat, not a single nor married, but a human woman, I beg of humanity to see me as such.
We are not your props for political posturing, the shame of YOUR religion, nor your outlet for paternalistic insecurities- we birth the planet. Seriously.
Take a moment and truly think if the tables were turned and please try and tell me there would not be outrage at the of the lack of care, bodies used by religion and politicians. Shame on you Trump wanna be pro- lifers. Simply try supporting one.
I should’ve added that every unintended pregnancy involves a man. Surprise! Haha.
Most unintended pregnancies are a result of despicable violence, failed contraception (I have two daughters this way- woohoo) and the statistically proven failed abstinence “educational” program and the lack of access for women’s health care. Even so, most states require a woman if they are not married to petition the court, set a date (where you can bring your newborn and it’s father), pay money and let them decide if he has paternity or not.
If men were solely responsible and the woman didn’t show up for court, I don’t think abortion would be an issue, religious or political.
Everyone may have their own opinion… That is what tolerance is all about:)
Yes, Allison, everyone may have their opinion and their own worldview. However, everyone is not entitled to force their worldview nor their religion on my body. Vote democrat if you are truly looking for tolerance.
Bravo, Lucy! Perfectly said.
I’m sorry, who is “forcing” who here- please quote where that was stated— we are asking that you just accept that other people can have other opinions… We are accepting that you have the right to yours… No forcing here…😀👍
As far as abortion, Biblical Christians do believe that abortion is murdering a life of a human. We believe that the Bible is our authority and God’s inspired Word, just like Buddhists believe in their sacred text that states the same thing… That is called freedom of religion.😀
Lucy, when do you believe life begins?
In in Genesis 2:7, He “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and it was then that the man became a living being”. Although the man was fully formed by God in all respects, he was not a living being until after taking his first breath. In Exodus 21:22 it states that if a man causes a woman to have a miscarriage, he shall be fined; however, if the woman dies then he will be put to death. It should be apparent from this that the aborted fetus is not considered a living human being since the resulting punishment for the abortion is nothing more than a fine; it is not classified by the bible as a capital offense. According to the bible, destroying a living fetus does not equate to killing a living human being even though the fetus has the potential of becoming a human being. One cannot kill something that has not been born and taken a breath. This means that a stillborn would not be considered a human being either. Of course, every living sperm has the potential of becoming a human being although not one in a million will make it; the rest are aborted. .
God has decreed, for one reason or another, that at least one-third of all pregnancies shall be terminated by a spontaneous abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy and that a number will be terminated after the first trimester. It would appear that God does not have any more regard for the loss of a fetus than he does for the loss of a placenta or a foreskin despite the fact that these were living tissue as the result of conception.
Numbers 5 describes “the Lord” ordering an abortion. Many argue that this is a misinterpretation. It’s clearly stated in verse 22, “May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”
Before false teachers turned the issue of reproductive choice into a political football, in 1973, Wallie Amos ‘W. A.’ Criswell, President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1968 to 1970, said this:
“I have always felt that it was only after a child was born and had a life separate from its mother that it became an individual person, and it has always, therefore, seemed to me that what is best for the mother and for the future should be allowed.”
Bonnie, do you think Mormons sound a bit crazy when they speak of their magic underwear? Muslims sound more than a little wacko when they talk about 72 virgins? Jews and their stories about wandering in the desert for 40 years? Go back and read your post above and try to see your words through the eyes of someone who is not Christian. A man is born of a virgin teenager, murdered, and rises from the grave? Just as crazy. You reject all the thousands of “gods” and religions in which others believe. Yours is just one more for people to reject. Humanity has always felt the need to make up stories about where we came from and where we go after death. I respect all people, but I don’t have to respect ridiculous or stupid ideas.
Once again, read the history… Lee Strobel Case For Christ… It is on Amazon….you have nothing to lose…then tell us what you think, my friend😀
I’ve watched the video you posted. Indisputable? Laughable!
Alison, you keep pushing the Lee Strobel book on commenters. I read this book years ago and I don’t recommend it. It doesn’t answer any questions for skeptics. All it does is reinforce your beliefs if you were already a believer. The problem with this book, and any other argument trying to convince people of the divinity of Jesus, is that it’s all based on faith. There’s no evidence for Jesus’ divinity and that’s why it’s called “faith.” If there were proof, there’d be no problem.
Thank you for your comment, Beatrice. May I ask you a personal question? What sort of proof would cause you to become a believer?
You clearly are not very well versed in science. Neil DeGrasse Tyson would get a kick out of your statement that everyone’s definition of proof can be different. What is your proof of god’s existence? I’ll lower the bar – what bit of evidence is there? None. At any rate, I stated in my last comment that I DID read the book, and to say that it’s proof of anything is comical.
I think everybody’s definition of proof can be different….Lee Strobel was an Atheist AND a journalist. He did the research in a non biased way. If you don’t have time to read the book, here he is on YouTube in a condensed version… Check it out- The Casevfor Christ:
Thank you! Well stated, and one of the many reasons I vote Democrat.
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Besides, if abortion is restricted or banned, the left would lose their most preferred method of birth control.
This article makes a “one issue based case for a Biden / Harris, Democrat ticket. Abortion and a twisted case for that matter falsely claiming that abortion are the result of financial burden new children bring. I thought we had over 50 years of Lyndon Johnson war on poverty that made financial aid for contraceptives very affordable and accessible. Also the government welfare checks that increase with the number of kids a family has are supposed to help with raising the kids. Who is the author of this article kidding that abortion reduction really will be achieved by even more financial help? Bottom line is that children are killed and Democrats support that and twisted Christians try to put their conscience to sleep with these type of whacky cases.
And what about the other Democrat policies diametrically opposite to Christian principles:
1. promotion of sexual perversion that biological science and sane reason tell us are unnatural?
2. Hostility to God, his Church and His Gospel. Persecuting Christian for being faithful to millennia old established Christian doctrine and sacrificing Christian freedom on the altar of sexual perversion.
3. suppression of free speech including free religious speech: any speech on abortion, pervert sexuality that does not match the left’s / Democrat’s agenda is suppressed and people chased out of their jobs, positions etc.
Really, is this an agenda a Christian is supposed to support with a clear conscience? Wake people and do not lull your conscience in deadly slumber getting a fake comfort.