1. Life Worth Living World View Chapters 11-13 Charles Colson/Nancy Pearcey Presented by David M. Hasz

2. What happened to human Life? Christians believe God created human beings in His own image. Christians believe God created human beings in His own image.

3. Naturalistic Belief Life arose from the primordial sea through a chance collision of chemicals, and that over billions of years of chance mutations, this biological accident gave rise to humans. Life arose from the primordial sea through a chance collision of chemicals, and that over billions of years of chance mutations, this biological accident gave rise to humans.

4. Our understanding of the origin of life Determines what we believe about human identity, what we value, and what we believe is our very reason for living. Determines what we believe about human identity, what we value, and what we believe is our very reason for living.

5. Culture of life to culture of Death Our culture has advanced so far that assisted suicide is now a protected constitutional right in one state, infanticide is being openly advocated by respected professors. Our culture has advanced so far that assisted suicide is now a protected constitutional right in one state, infanticide is being openly advocated by respected professors.

6. Its my body… This thought became popular largely in the 60s. This thought became popular largely in the 60s. Started in the 17 th century by Rene Descartes. Started in the 17 th century by Rene Descartes.

7. Descartes Decided to doubt everything that could be doubted. Decided to doubt everything that could be doubted. Settled on I think therefore I am The only think that could not be doubted what his mental experience. Settled on I think therefore I am The only think that could not be doubted what his mental experience.

8. What happened? With this Descartes unleashed the revolutionary idea that the human mind, not God, is the source of certainty. With this Descartes unleashed the revolutionary idea that the human mind, not God, is the source of certainty. This rendered God irrelevant. This rendered God irrelevant.

9. What happens when God is dead? Nietzsche – Whither is God, I will tell you, we have killed him - you and I. All of us are his murderers! Nietzsche – Whither is God, I will tell you, we have killed him - you and I. All of us are his murderers! If you give up your belief in God, you also give up biblical morality and meaning. If you give up your belief in God, you also give up biblical morality and meaning.

10. The 20 th Century This is what has happened. This is what has happened. Professor Robert George of Princeton: Professor Robert George of Princeton: … the body is not really me, but something separate from my real self- an instrument to be used, like a car or a computer, for whatever purposes I choose….. For physical pleasure or even to discard. … the body is not really me, but something separate from my real self- an instrument to be used, like a car or a computer, for whatever purposes I choose….. For physical pleasure or even to discard.

11. Carry this thought out Sexual acts of any kind have no moral significance. Sexual acts of any kind have no moral significance. Discarding physical life is not more significant than throwing out a dirty diaper. Discarding physical life is not more significant than throwing out a dirty diaper.

12. 1973 The court ruled that the fetus is a nonperson, with no rights at all at any stage of pregnancy. The court ruled that the fetus is a nonperson, with no rights at all at any stage of pregnancy. Choice became the value. Choice became the value.

13. ? Choice cannot be a value What you choose is the value! What you choose is the value! Abortion is a wedge used to split open the historic Western commitment to the dignity of human life! Abortion is a wedge used to split open the historic Western commitment to the dignity of human life!

14. The next Step. Baby Doe – The baby was killed because it was retarded Baby Doe – The baby was killed because it was retarded Come to find out this was happening in a widespread way. Come to find out this was happening in a widespread way.

15. Keep sliding… Abortion… is one sensible method of dealing with such problems as over-population, illegitimacy, and possible birth defects Abortion… is one sensible method of dealing with such problems as over-population, illegitimacy, and possible birth defects

16. And away we go… Francis Crick. Winner Nobel Prize. Advocates all newborns be screened to determine who should live. All who fail to reach a certain score on the Apgar test, used to determine health, would be euthanized. Francis Crick. Winner Nobel Prize. Advocates all newborns be screened to determine who should live. All who fail to reach a certain score on the Apgar test, used to determine health, would be euthanized.

17. Pinker We should have compassion on and understand mothers who kill their own kids, they are biologically programmed to do this. We should have compassion on and understand mothers who kill their own kids, they are biologically programmed to do this.

18. Peter Singer – Professor of Bioethics Princeton Advocates parents killing disabled babies on the basis that they are nonpersons. Advocates parents killing disabled babies on the basis that they are nonpersons. Advocates killing incompetent persons of any age if their families decide their lives are not worth living Advocates killing incompetent persons of any age if their families decide their lives are not worth living

19. Who is buying into this? Many well-meaning Americans, including Christians! Many well-meaning Americans, including Christians! Abortion lobby hates and fights any laws that prohibit any type of abortion. They get it. Abortion lobby hates and fights any laws that prohibit any type of abortion. They get it.

20. The Conflict Abortion represents a worldview conflict: God and the sanctity of live versus the individuals moral autonomy. Abortion represents a worldview conflict: God and the sanctity of live versus the individuals moral autonomy.

21. Genetic Engineering Truly our capabilities have exceeded our ethical and moral grasp. Truly our capabilities have exceeded our ethical and moral grasp.

22. Question! Which worldview corresponds with scientific evidence? Which worldview corresponds with scientific evidence? Professor Fish: Professor George is right, and he is right to correct me. Today the scientific evidence favors the Pro-Life position. Professor Fish: Professor George is right, and he is right to correct me. Today the scientific evidence favors the Pro-Life position.

23. Question! Which worldview provides the strongest basis for human dignity? Which worldview provides the strongest basis for human dignity? Think about it, wife burning in India, baby sacrifices in some primitive cultures, womens rights abuses in Islam. Think about it, wife burning in India, baby sacrifices in some primitive cultures, womens rights abuses in Islam. Population control… Population control…

24. Question?? Which worldview gives a sense of meaning and purpose? Which worldview gives a sense of meaning and purpose? Augustine: You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in You. Augustine: You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace until they rest in You.

25. Life Style Thinking Drinking – Yeah or Nay after the internship? Drinking – Yeah or Nay after the internship?