Contrast Between Islam's and Catholic Abortions Articles

Reading over the two abortion articles from vastly different religions and customs was extremely interesting to me. One was a letter from Pope John Paul II to all the world's bishops and the other was references about Islamic views. Overall, both were similar in the fact that both cultures heavily condoned such practices as abortions. However, the main difference that I found surprising was that the Islamic views were a little more practical and had some exceptions. To them, if both lives- the mother and the fetus- were in danger, the "life of one should be given preference over the other." In other words, it is better to abort the baby and have the mother live, rather than both suffer and die. I found myself agreeing with this article more than the Catholic viewpoints. Naturally, I am against abortion, as being a self-proclaimed Christian, but there are obvious hypothetical situations that I would be in favor of aborting a baby. On the other hand, the Catholic stand was very extreme, as abortion was just wrong without argument. To Catholics, aborting a baby is the "slaughter of the innocents" and should be prevented at all costs.

Overall, I agree with both articles to a point, but when it comes to the danger of the mother, than I would definitely side with the Islamic viewpoint. Both offered solid reasons and remarks about the topic however, so I respect both opinions.

Opinions on "Platonic Love & Colorado Law"

A couple days ago, my class in Ancient World Ethics discussed the article "Platonic Love & Colorado Law: The Relevance of Ancient Greek Norms to Modern Sexual Controversies," in which Martha C. Nussbaum analyzed the Ancient Greek views on homosexuality and what it represented in society and well-known philosophers. In summary, the important quote "All of the major Greek philosophers concur in and develop the Greek popular norm, according to which erotic relationships are better if they focus on the soul rather than simply the body and seek stable friendly love rather than unstable and promiscuous passion" stood out to me, as the Greeks overall did not condone the act of gay relations itself. If it adheres to the moral rules, homosexual relationships were acceptable and even more admirable than a heterosexual marriage if the "erastes" (older mentor) and "eromenos" (the beloved) had a beneficial and wholesome friendship. In fact, famous philosopher Demosthenes even declared "we keep heterae for the sake of pleasure, female slaves for our daily care and wives to give us legitimate children and to be the guardians of our households," suggesting that have sex with women was necessary to reproduction, but sexual acts with other males were even sacred and had significant sacred meaning. The philosophers such as Socrates focused more on the mental and symbolic act of homosexuality rather than the physical act of gay sex itself. The Greeks compared the physical act of sex to a natural, voracious appetite, as simple as eating and drinking, so promiscuous acts weren't judged. They viewed an individual as a soul cut in half, forever seeking it's other part to become whole. Whether "it's other part" is female and male was not important in their eyes, as long as the other was not mistreated or taken advantage of. I found this extremely interesting and profound, as in today's society tends to fixate on gays as unnatural and twisted, whereas the ancients found no blatant wrong with it. Our society tend to view controversial acts in religious eyes, based on history. Many people nowadays assumed that from times of old to now, homosexuality was frowned upon. One of their main reference, I suppose, would be the Bible for Christians, as it quotes "We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine" (1 Timothy 1:9-10). As the majority of Americans today claim that they are from a Christian background, their beliefs are deeply rooted in conservatism. However, the ancient Greeks believed it to homosexuality to be "extraordinary significance in the soul's progress," which connects to current and liberal beliefs.