Views of others cannot override scriptures

DR Nick Canning (Write Back, July 10) denies that a fertilised cell, which is the first step in the life of a child, possesses humanity. He holds that the Bible does not provide clear guidance on the status of the unborn as seen by God. I disagree.

In Genesis, we read God made man in his own image and this image must not be violated by murder. We also see that God is not an omniscient but passive observer, but governs human history by his foreknowledge and sovereign will.

While they were in the womb, the twins Esau and Jacob had their futures foretold by God (Genesis 25). Further, in the calling of Jeremiah, he was told, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). We are free to interpret Psalm 139 in the light of this. Scripture must be compared with scripture.

The early Church regarded destroying an embryo as killing a human being. The Didache (early Christian teaching manual) stated: “You shall not commit infanticide, nor procure abortion”. These practices were widespread in the Graeco-Roman world, in spite of the Hippocratic Oath.

However, the teachings of Aristotle, who was a gradualist, gained traction and were given credence by Aquinas in the Middle Ages. Aristotle was a significant philosopher, but his views can never override scripture.

DONALDGALE By email