In the course, we studied Schaeffer’s Christian Manifesto and his critique of modern humanism as opposed to the founding principles of Christianity. At the same time, last month in Poland, protests against the abortion ban started again, which is a pressing issue for the topic of humanism and Christianity. This news demonstrates that the Polish government applies the concept of Christianity against the concept of humanism, as Schaeffer interpreted, to make abortion illegal for most reasons.
Protests against the law banning almost all reasons for abortion have been going on for months in Poland. However, at the end of January, the government announced the law would enter into force, although its publication was delayed due to public protests (Kwai et al., 2021). In his book, Schaeffer (1982) condemns the practice of abortion, criticizing the ideas of the famous humanist and concluding that for him, the human life of a fetus has no value. In general, Schaeffer modern humanism since it justifies the abolition of moral principles for the benefit of humans and has no final purpose and boundaries, unlike the law of the Lord.
In addition, although the Bible does not explicitly mention the prohibition of abortion, the value of human life is one of the basic principles, and the will of the Lord in the creation of a new person and their destiny should not be violated. The following verse confirms this statement: “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” (Jer.1: 5). Consequently, the government’s position about the prohibition of abortion due to fetal abnormalities demonstrates the application of Christianity principles, and the protests of the population show the application of humanism ideas.
References
Kwai, I., Pronczuk, M., and Magdziarz, A. (2021). Near-total abortion ban takes effect in Poland, and thousands protest. The New York Times. Web.
Schaeffer, F. (1982). A Christian manifesto. Crossway Books.