Originally posted by cattyfan
I'm a late comer to this thread today.
First, thank you for the warning. I was the one who originally requested it (before the lengthy discussion by some other posters) because I became very literally physically ill when yesterday I unexpectedly came across a graphic photo. I appreciate the warning. With the chance to brace myself, I went ahead and read all of the posts from page one.
Secondly, many of you know when I originally came to TOL, I was adamantly and loudly pro-choice. I was badgered, challenged, questioned, threatened, called names, and sent notes. But it was the quiet voices which caught my attention. And it was because of those gentle, thoughtful messages I began to examine my beliefs. I prayed, contemplated, read Bible passages, looked at pictures of my nieces and nephews. I researched, read, and prayed some more.
Then I received the following note:
abortion change of heart
Hi :cattyfan: .
I was wondering about something... I don't mean to pry or anything, but I remember last fall when you were new to TOL you made some posts saying that you supported keeping abortion legal. Then a few months later I read that you had had a change of heart and that you are now against legalized abortion.
(Correct me if I'm mistaken.)
What role, if any, the discussion(s) on TOL played in your change of heart. And if they did play a role, to what extent?
The reason I ask is that I often see debates on TOL that go like this:
Christian: This (law/situation/school curriculum/court's decision/common perception/whatever) is terrible! We've got to stop this!
Scoffer: Then get out there and DO something about it instead of whining about it on the internet.
The way I see it, "whining about it on the internet" IS doing something about it. This is, after all, a public forum set up to facilitate debate. And the people who are here, whether they post or just read, know that and are here of their own volition. And every now and then, someone changes their heart and mind about something based on the discussions here.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
Thanks for your time,
:turbo:
This is how I responded:
to be honest, Turbo, the discussions on TOL have caused me to question my support of legalized abortion. I am not fully turned, but I am having serious second thoughts about many of the things I've said here and other places.
Part of it has been the gentle words of people like ebenz and Nineveh and others like them...part of it has been the cold words of posters classifying "fetuses" as non-people, when I know from seeing 2 of my nephews born at 5 and 1/2 months and being fully formed little beings that they are, indeed, people. And part of it has been the blatant ignorance of some of the posters in the pro-choice camp.
When I was in college, I was militantly pro-choice. I went to a very liberal school, and that was the accepted viewpoint. Since then, I hadn't been challenged on my beliefs (I'm 37 now), and, because of that, I hadn't examined why I held those ideas. The debate on TOL has forced me to seriously take a look at what I think and why, and, frankly, I didn't like my reasons. They don't seem as sound now, or even, in some cases, logical.
The debates here have caused me to take a closer look at who I was and who I would like to be. Without these discussions, where we get to remain anonymous while learning, I'm not sure I could have reached this point. I still have trouble with the topic, knowing pregnancy would kill me (kidney problems,) but to look at the subject from an objective point of view, I can't say I honestly support abortion…and even personally, knowing pregnancy is death for me, I don't believe I could really terminate. (That's something I've never told anyone, but always felt.)
by the way, Sozo's vitriole did not help...in fact he hindered the process. When faced with that kind of anger, I, like so many, dig my heals in. It's the soft voices, that helped me think.
1 Kings 19:12-13 "...And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave."
Job 26:14 "and these are but the outer fringe of his works. how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?"
I hope this answered your question...you're always welcome to ask me anything. I'll try to answer as honestly as I can.
Kindest Regards,
cattyfan
I should have given some credit to Sozo, as it was his anger towards me which originally got my attention.
The pictures on this thread made me sob. The easy dismissal of those same photos by some posters made me sob harder. My time here at TOL has forever changed me, and I am no longer pro-choice. I may be stubborn…but I’m not stupid. Those pictures clearly show children whose lives were ended by unnatural means. That’s murder.
:cattyfan
