We are experiencing a massive movement in America this year. I have been sitting around thinking about pro-life and how it’s shifted from group to group. What I’ve come to believe is that the American Christian pro-life movement isn’t very pro-life at all.

Pro-Life

What does it mean to be “pro-life?” The key in the phrase is the word “life,” and while some will say it is about abortion, I would contest that is far too limited in scope. The word life is general, not specific. We could perhaps narrow it a bit and say it is about “human life,” and we still have a view that seems missing from the modern Christian pro-life movements.

Pro-life seems like it should include all people. It should be a view of compassion towards every person. We should be meeting the needs of the sick, the hungry, the sick, even the stranger among us. After all that’s exactly what Jesus instructed in Matthew chapter 25.

The Problem

None of what Jesus instructed is actually being practiced. More often than not they even block attempts to get aid to help others. Look at the cheering of the dismantling of USAID. Look at the lawmakers in Florida and Kentucky who block programs to help feed the homeless.

How is Christianity handling life in other aspects? Do they fight against gun ownership that has led to so many killings? Do they actively fight against the death penalty? Are they actively against any and all war? No to all of the above.

How can one say, “I’m PRO LIFE!” and also at the same time exclaim, “But I am pro weapons, pro death penalty, pro war…”

We have a religion that is actively ignoring the first requirements of Jesus, and focusing on the extrapolated issues of abortion (something Jesus didn’t directly address) and even work against human life in general.

Compared to Buddhism

Having been a Buddhist, taking my vows in 2004, I had a different perspective on the pro-life movement. Buddhism is also against abortion, but they have a consistency. In Buddhism all life is sacred. Animal, insect, human… it’s all valued. Even just looking at how they relate to other humans, they have a life first attitude.

Interestingly enough Buddhism doesn’t demand others to conform. They don’t try and influence government or pass laws to enforce their world view. The Buddhist belief is that we each must make our decisions on our own.

Political Corruption

By yoking to a political party, the Christian evangelists have yoked to corruption. Politicians will never just represent some religion. They need other markets, other demographics to gain enough votes to overturn their opponents. This leads to a politician that gives you one thing, and someone else another, often in conflict.

Now our churches are simply political outreach programs of the Republican Party. I feel sad for a world we are living in without spiritual guidance, in favor of a political savior.