We do not live in a theocracy. The language of the author shows his bias. He wrote, "Killing the unborn is the goal of abortion." It is correct to call a living person undead as we all will be dead. However, all fetuses will not be born so it is biased to call a fetus unborn. Different religions interpret the Bible differently. The Jewish religion follows only what Christians call the Old Testament. Jews do not follow the New Testament. The Jewish religion allows and in certain cases, mandates abortion.

Since we do not live in a theocracy the words of the Bible, however interpreted, are not relevant in the matter of abortion. Would the author advocate following the Bible as a penalty for violating the Sabbath? According to the Bible, breaking the Sabbath or not observing the day of the Lord was an offence punishable by death (Exodus Ch. 31 v15).

Why do these tortured people keep quoting, and believing, these fairy tales.
The Brothers Grimm made as much sense.

For the umpteenth time: legal decisions are not based on what the Bible says or doesn't say. As David says, we do not live in a theocracy. Given that the Census has revealed that only a minority of Australians claim to be Christians, the Bible has little or nothing to do with what they think about abortion. Most of them wouldn't have a clue what the Bible says about anything.

The exodus may well be a fable, based on current archological evidence. And therefore all the the imperitives that spring from exodus, just as suspect!

The bible is a massively revised and edited 2,000 year old book that cannot be proved as being divinely inspired. Those who rely on it for their beliefs do so on faith alone! And ok for them as their personal choice!?

But they do not have any right or authority whatsoever to ram their idealogical imperitives down the throats of others!

Fine if you want to live your life based on a brainwashed from birth belief! That's your "choice"! But don't you try and force others to comply with your view to their personal whole of life detriment! Based on the chicken scratchings of a very old and hugely revised and seriously edited book!
Alan B.

The Scotus may have returned the decision making process to the individual states, but if anyone pretends that this is either a victory or a good thing for "democracy" in many/most (US) red states, then I would suggest that the author of this pretentious essay should do his homework re the power-seeking anti-democratic machinations of the GOP party machines that control these states.

«the Bible commands: "you shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The question now becomes: are the unborn living humans?»

Yes the Bible commands [the Jewish people], "Thou shalt not murder", but it does not say, "Thou shalt not murder humans".

If one is serious about the Bible and believes that its commandments apply to them, then they must not murder animals either. If one picks and chooses which objects this commandment applies to, then surely others can pick and choose too, differently!