Opposing political views are some of the most dividing factors in our nation today. Because of the way the American government is constructed, people often take sides against each other instead of against the problems our nation faces. Generally, these sides are chosen depending on your religious views, or lack thereof. Conservatives tend to be more religious and traditional, whereas liberals tend to value equality and usually aren’t as theologically based.
In just the past few weeks, numerous laws have been made across the country pertaining to abortion. President Trump has been cutting funding for planned parenthood, and limiting healthcare that would enable women to receive these procedures. On March 7th, a bill was passed in Tennessee which denied women the ability to abort after a fetal heartbeat was detected. This is one of the most controversial subjects between the two parties, namely because of the part religion has to play in politics. Bills like this are being passed all over the country, always by conservative political parties.
Abortions did not become legal across the nation until fairly recently. In fact, just 50 years ago from last Thursday, women in Washington DC held a rally pushing for a change to the laws that forbid them. For the first time, protesters publicly told their horrific stories of abortion, which wasn’t nearly as safe and humane as it is today. The location of this rally? The front steps of the Washington Square Methodist Church.
So why is it that so many conservatives support the pro-life stance? Their main argument against abortion is that they don’t conform to family values. According to Seth Dowland in his book Family Values, he talks about the hierarchy of family, and how supporters of protestant family values believed that the position of motherhood was a great honor. These values were quintessential to the structure of American religious families.
The location of the abortion march held 5 decades ago was not coincidence. Religious followers still present the greatest opposition to abortion, as they have throughout history.
In the article recalling this historic speak-out, readers are reminded of the struggles that have passed and the ones to come, but also of the progress made.
Links:
contemporaryamericanreligion 
I think this is a very good post because of how you tied religion into this issue. It typically isn’t looked at in depth but rather as simple as conservatives are against abortions and liberals are for them.
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Hannah, I think you are correct that the debate on abortion is very polarizing between conservatives and democrats. Do you think the separation of church and state was meant to keep church out of government or to keep government out of the church? And do you think that should have any bearing on the legality of abortion?
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I like your comparison of the pro-life movement’s defense that abortion goes against family values with those that are found in Seth Dowland’s book Family Values. I’ve often wondered about this argument of family values. Aren’t family values a bit subjective? I would think so since there are so many different types of families and values. I guess it would depend on the worldview of parents and experiences of the members of the family. It would be hard to define in this context.
Great post!
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It’s astonishing to think that this is still an issue up for debate. While I understand and respect people’s right to believe in what they wish, this is an issue of health and safety. And the fact that this has also become a legal issue makes it that much more complicated. This is where we run into the separation of church and state. While it’s not a straight wall between the two, it’s certainly more a very blurry line, it makes the entire issue a lot more controversial.
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I applaud you for writing about this since it is such a sensitive subject!! Most people who decided to bring this topic into conversation tend to look for an argument and I think the way you presented it was very professions. It blows me away that people are still arguing about this since it has been a debate for years now. Great post!
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