Letter to the Editor

Shalom: Either/Or?
Harold M. Spinka, M.D.
10412 S. Whipple
Chicago, Illinois 60655

From: PSCF 38 (March 1986): 63.

Dr. Jones (September 1985) is an innocent by-stander in today's debate on abortion; I ask that he accept my sincerest apologies for the injustices done to him, to his book and reputation, on behalf of the responsible law-abiding Protestant Christians in the USA.

Christianity is notorious for its either/or, or the all or none syndromes, and Dr. Jones rightly rinds this in his case, as reported on page 173. This does not allow for a "middle of the road," approach. It is either "Abortion on Demand" without restrictions by Society, or "Pro-Life" and no abortions. There is no room for cases of rape, incest, or the pregnant woman who could die if she carried the pregnancy to term (e.g., lupus erythematosus).

I've found useful the following verses:

Depart from evil and do good, seek peace (Shalom) and pursue it. (Ps. 34:14)

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies (the man's) to be at peace (Shalom) with him. (Prov. 16:7)

No appearance of evil. (I Tbess. 5:22)

The Hebrew word, Shalom, is usually translated "peace," but it means more than absence of war. It includes: welfare of every kind, peace of mind and heart, friendship, as opposed to unrest caused by evil.

Evangelical and Protestant Christianity, as a "Priesthood of all believers" (I Peter 2:9), has not learned from the mistakes and achievements of the past, and is losing members and influence. It is abandoning its unique and progressive role of Informed Consent, (all relevant pro and con arguments on a particular topic or issue), and the reformative role of the separation of Church and state.