Today’s article continues the use of the girdle of truth. One area of the battle needing truth is the area of human value. We live in a time when human life is greatly devalued. The attitude is seen in abortion, euthanasia, and "mercy killing" to name a few. The value of human life is based on our relationship to God. In Genesis 9:6 God is recorded saying "Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." The prohibition against murder is based on our creation in God’s image. The devaluing of human life began with the idea that God is dead. From the days of Adam and Eve in the garden until now, God has been challenged and attacked. One of the prominent attacks against God was made by Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher from the 19th century. He boldly proclaimed "God is dead." The pronouncement was made in the context of his view of values. Microsoft’s Encarta on-line encyclopedia offers the following on Nietzsche:
Nietzsche’s contention that traditional values had lost their influence over individuals was expressed in his proclamation "God is dead." His claim that new values could be created to replace traditional ones led to his concept of the overman, or superman. According to Nietzsche, the masses conform to tradition, whereas the overman is secure, independent, and individualistic. The overman feels deeply, but his passions are rationally controlled. The overman creates a "master morality" that reflects the strength and independence of one who is liberated from all values, except those he deems valuable.
To see where this idea leads, go back to Nazi Germany and the holocaust. There, traditional values were replaced with those of the Reich for the good of the nation. The new rational values devalued Jews, Gypsies, the blind, lame, retarded, etc. As we prepare to begin the 21st century a similar change in values is evident. How did we get here? With God now out of the way (He can not be invoked in schools, businesses, etc.), the next step was to change public perception about human life. The developing baby in the womb is now a fetus which is simply a blob of developing tissue. The killing of one suffering from a debilitating disease deserves "death with dignity" to end the needless suffering. And we are reminded regularly about the high cost of long-term care in nursing facilities.
For the moment consider the "fetus" developing in the womb. Is it simply a glob of tissue or is it a small human being? The following website http://www.independent.ie/1999/302/d20a.shtml has a picture and article which shows the truth: it is a baby. A 21 week old "fetus" is shown holding onto the finger of a surgeon about to operate on the child while still in the womb. Someone once said, "a picture is worth a thousand words." In the abortion debate, truer words could not be said. The National Right To Life Organization has pictures available of aborted developing babies to show people they are little people not globs of tissue. These pictures are not pleasant, in fact they are very disturbing, but pictures such as these are necessary to illustrate the truth about abortion.
- Denny