Pro-life bumper stickers and signs are ubiquitous. But every time I
see one, I can’t help but wonder why this good and admirable pursuit
is limited to the life of the human unborn. What about other humans
and also nonhumans? How can people be “pro-life” for some and, at the
same time, be “pro-death” for others?
Not one of the arguments in support of this discrimination “holds
water,” as the saying goes. Where nonhuman animals are concerned, a
common “pro-death” argument declares that “animals don’t have souls.”
Yet, the original Hebrew found in the Book of Genesis states that God
made nonhumans and humans as “living souls.” Where nonhumans are
concerned, the translation has been conveniently changed to “living
creatures.” Isn’t it arrogant for humans to contradict their Creator by
declaring who has a soul and who doesn’t? Let’s not forget that not too
long ago these same humans and their church leaders conveniently
declared that certain people didn’t have souls, which made it easier to
enslave some (African Americans) or to utilize body parts, for example,
of others (Native Americans). Then there is the “dominion” (Genesis
1:28) argument so smugly cast toward the compassionate ones to shut them
up. The hard-of-heart very conveniently omit Genesis 1:29: “Then God
said, “Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the
surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed:
it shall be food for you.” According to God’s original intent, humans
were to be caretakers of the earth and other living souls, not
destroyers and torturers.
Now these followers of what is really a hijacked, self-serving form
of “Christianity” have been forced to retreat from enslavement of humans
and to limit their pro-death leanings to human enemies and convicted
criminals. But those who cannot speak for themselves – nonhumans –
continue to be fair game with no holds barred. Asking God’s blessing
before chowing down on dismembered bodies and secretions of God’s
sentient beings – the least among us, who feel physical and emotional
pain – is absolutely evil. But because Jesus is not physically present,
they think they are “getting away with it.” But God isn’t fooled: He
knows who really is “pro-life.”
