Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments Expanded & Updated

by Randy Alcorn

As politicians, citizens, and families continue the raging national debate on whether it's proper to end human life in the womb, resources like Randy Alcorn's Prolife Answers to Prochoice Arguments have proven invaluable. With over 75,000 copies in print, this revised and updated guide offers timely information and inspiration from a "sanctity of life" perspective. Real answers to real questions about abortion appear in logical and concise form. The final chapter -- "Fifty Ways to Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers"-- is worth the price of this book alone!

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Politics, Christian Living, Religion, Adult, Reference

455 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1992

About the author

Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly time, money, possessions and opportunities to invest in need-meeting ministries that count for eternity," Alcorn says. "I do that by trying to analyze, teach and apply the implications of Christian truth."

Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for thirteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Randy has taught on the part-time faculties of Western Seminary and Multnomah University, both in Portland, Oregon.

Randy is a best-selling author of 50 books including Heaven, The Treasure Principle and the 2002 Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. He produces the quarterly issues-oriented magazine Eternal Perspectives, and has been a guest on more than 650 radio and television programs including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, The Bible Answer Man, Revive Our Hearts, Truths that Transform and Faith Under Fire.

Alcorn resides in Gresham, Oregon with his wife, Nanci. The Alcorns have two married daughters, Karina and Angela.

Randy and Nanci are the proud grandparents of five grandsons. Randy enjoys hanging out with his family, biking, tennis, research and reading.

Taken from the Eternal Perspective Ministries website, http://www.epm.org

Reviews

[Amora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated sources but worth the read in 2021. Abortion is a controversial subject, perhaps more so then gay marriage or transgender politics. Engaging in respectful dialogue that doesn’t sound impersonal or disrespectful can be especially difficult. However, Alcorn explains how the pro-life community can respond to detractors with humility and facts. Dialogue examples from the real world are even provided, which is nice.

Most of the pro-life books I’ve read come from a Catholic point of view and this one comes from a Protestant point of vire. I was quite impressed with this book, despite the age.

[Michael K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding book and IS by far well worth the time to read on this specific subject. Sadly, not all with whom you get into a debate or discussion with will accept your assertions based upon fact or science, as their beliefs are, in fact, skewed to their beliefs. This book has a wide range of topics of study with which you could spend a lifetime of study; however, this is a great book that lays out the logical and reasonable arguments of the ProLife position. I, myself, have gotten into numerous discussions on this topic of abortion and, as usual, I was attacked personally with meaningless characterizations and fallacious ad hominem attacks. Don't let the attacks get you down, when they start attacking you on such a low level, you know they have no basis in reality to protect their position. The attack that always gets me is the one concerning, "If you do not have a uterus, you shouldn't have an opinion!" That always cracks me up! Consider the fact that Planned Parenthood is an after-the-fact planning industry to be used as birth control. In truth, your planning for "parenthood" ends at the moment of conception! Because life begins at conception, according to the science.

[CARA · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay I’ve read as much of this as I can stand. This guy is a terrified idiot who has no interest in science or facts but just makes things up as it suits his narrative. Moving past the ludicrous and frequently debunked ideas that abortion causes mental illness and breast cancer (no and no) he mostly relies on scare tactics about apocalyptic futures of designer babies. This guy has been watching too many sci fi movies. Also, for a preacher it’s clear he doesn’t believe in the soul. He believes we are bodies that begin when an egg is fertilised, except of course if the egg fails to implant or there is an early miscarriage that happens so early in the pregnancy the mother never notices, THOSE don’t count, and because we are merely bodies every body is sacred and should live for as long as possible regardless of how much they must suffer in order to live. God doesn’t care if you suffer apparently. He’s also wildly impractical and never addresses how a sudden population explosion could overwhelm our foster care system and jails. I guess it doesn’t matter to him because only pure white babies are important. Everything is focused on the plight of the middle class white woman and nothing at all on the poor. Not that this should be at all surprising considering that the evangelical religion is rooted in slavery and keeping black people in bondage. ( https://storeyinstitute.blogspot.com/... )All in all I found this book to be in turns laughable, depressing, and revolting. Yes mr alcorn your book DID help me make my mind up about abortion. I’ve realized I’m staunchly pro choice and always will be for as long as there is poverty in this country and children who don’t get enough to eat.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a very comprehensive look at the issue of abortion, and gives a well-thought reply to each pro-choice argument included in the book. Comprehensive is the key word here. I was amazed by how much ground the author was able to cover.

I appreciated the fact that the book was practical as well. One of the appendices is entitled, "Fifty Ways to Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers". The author is obviously not interested in simply letting us nod our heads along with his arguments.

This book definitely helped me sort out why I believe what I believe about abortion. I highly recommend it to anyone.

[Dwain Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read a lot of pro-life literature. So, it is hard for me to compare it with other books that are similar. But, I can say that this book was very comprehensive and very well researched. It actually covered every pro-choice argument that I have ever heard. The format of the book, the heavily researched content, graphic when it needs be, and practical nature of this book make it a great read.

The format is the pro-choice argument is categorized into things such as "Arguments Concerning Social Issues" then the pro-choice arguments that concern social issues are presented with their answers. The answers to the argument are then presented and expounded upon thoroughly but also to the point. Oftentimes there are four or more responses to a single question.

The answers are themselves heavily researched. The statistics on the issue at hand are thoroughly researched and discussed within the answer to each question. There are also quotations from different Congressional hearings from doctors and others. There are quotations from folks on the Supreme Court and the rationale behind their decisions, as well as quotations from the Pro-Choice side and their rationale behind abortion.

Abortion itself is a very graphic and ugly event. So, it would be easy for an author to do one of two things. It would be easy for him to go overboard and write an incredibly graphic and horrifying book. But it would also be easy to just stay away from the graphic nature of abortion altogether. I think Alcorn toes that line really well. It's not an easy thing to do. There is content that is graphic described in the book, but not what I would call too much.

One of the greatest features of this book is just how practical it is. Throughout the book, and especially at the end, there is a call for a practical response to abortion. There is a call to educate people about the psychological and health problems for mothers that have abortions and what really happens to a child during an abortion. But there is also a practical call for people to give aid to single mothers and help and counsel to those who have undergone an abortion. There is also a practical call for churches to get involved in educating the world around them about abortion.

I thought this was a fantastic book. It is a good read for anyone, whether pro-life or pro-choice, so that you can think through the issue at hand.

[Violet W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an awesome book! It's almost too much to take in at once, but there are great statistics and the explanations/arguments are very logical, the examples not overused but well-chosen. Some people may want to skip pages 135-181 because of certain details and content. Also contains 3 pictures of live preborn babies, 3 of miscarried babies, and 2 aborted, all in black and white. I tried so hard not to, but when I got to p. 156 I just HAD to cry; so there's that as well. But sometimes good things just don't come easy, and this is a topic I consider it very important to be informed of. Recommend for just about everyone at least 13 with parental oversight.

[Kevin Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a scientifically grounded tour de force. Randy Alcorn provides an abundance of factual ammunition to complement your argumentative arsenal. This was an eye-opening book. I wish more pro-life books were written more frequently. An excellent read which I highly recommend.

[Lucy]

one of my absolute favorite books

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, straightforward answers to abortion qustions.

It does have some descriptions about abortion procedures. Not for the faint of heart.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhaustive resource that is very well done. It would be so nice to have an updated edition, though, as this is now over 20 years old.

[Gabriel Hanson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book answers questions that involved Pro LIfe and Pro Choice views on abortions. The format consists of questions and answers. A question or statement is asked or given and the answer is discussed. An example of this is, "If there is uncertainty about when human life begins, the benefit of the doubt should go to preserving life." The author then uses this statement to explain the Pro Life argument and the Pro Choice argument. The author is bias towards the Pro Life side of the argument, and sometimes does not explain the Pro Choice side. The first half of the book discusses the developmental processes of the human fetus. It describes different stages, and what arguments are at every stage. It discusses common arguments such as the feeling of pain in the womb, and what time in development the baby should be considered part of the human species, but also addresses simple questions about specific situations during the pregnancy. The second half of the book takes a look into the history that abortion has made. The author describes different court cases and companies that have worked with abortions. One common company that the author discusses a lot about is Planned Parenthood. This company according to the author has been involved with abortions from the start of abortions.
I personally did not enjoy this book. The "cons" outweighed the "pros". The book seemed interesting for the first eighty pages, but later became boring. I lost the interest that seemed to grip me for the first few pages of the book, for the second half of the book. The ultimate let down of this book is the bias way all the information is presented. On both the Pro Life and Pro Choice sides of the argument the author phrases it a certain way to encourage the reader to believe what he also believes. I personally enjoy a book that is looking for truth. That means that no matter which side an author is on they are seeking truth. The author sets up a good format of question and answer. He has good questions that get you thinking about the idea of abortions. But the bias in this book destroys all evidence that is given.
I would advise anyone that is educated on the subject of abortions to read this book. I would also advice anyone just starting to discover the argument about abortions to not start you education on the subject with this book. And if someone has never read any books or study abortion and you plan on reading this one, please ignore the bias opinion that seems to present during the entire book.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm ashamed of it now, but when I was a secular Jew, I was all for the right to abortion.
I honestly thought it was the moral high ground. But when I discovered authentic Judaism truly aligned with Torah values, I discovered that abortion in the vast majority of cases is completely forbidden.
Yet I didn't have the facts on hand to make an intelligent refutation of the many pro-abortion arguments - many of which I myself used to enthusiastically put forth.

Well, this book provides you with solid pro-life answers to any pro-abortion argument.

The only drawbacks are that a minority of the arguments are more emotionally based and meant to be convincing from a purely emotional point of view, rather than a moral or rational point of view. But I want to emphasize that despite those very few instances, the majority of concrete arguments are rationally and morally compelling and very sound.
Also, Judaism has different views on birth control than what he presents in the appendix. But I expected some differences - after all, he is coming from a Christian perspective and Judaism and Christianity are very different and not compatible. However, those differences do not detract from the logical fact-based arguments described in the book.

As far as I can tell, this book covers every abortion issue I'd ever heard of and several that had never occurred to me.
In addition to the hard facts and air-tight answers, part of what makes this book so compelling is Randy Alcorn's obvious concern and compassion for not just the unborn but for their mothers and the various agonizing situations in which some women and girls find themselves through no fault of their own.
He makes no attempt to whitewash the anguish of pregnancy conceived from rape or pregnancies that produce deformed children or pregnancies that occur in families already weighed down by poverty and dysfunction. Yet even for these disturbing circumstances, he offers compelling answers -- and shows where such women can receive necessary support and effective solutions.

I wish the information in this book was as widely promoted and available as the pro-abortion propaganda. I only discovered later that being pro-life isn't "just" moral, it is the only logical and rational choice.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book, along with Mark Crutcher's Lime 5,are probably the two most valuable pro-life books that exist. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments is a comprehensive study of abortion in our contemporary culture. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments is packed with facts, statistics, quotes, and other valuable information. It is like a pro-life Encyclopedia, and invaluable to any pro-life activist. Even a person who is wavering on the abortion issue could learn a lot from this book. Randy Alcorn has done an excellent job of supporting his conclusions with a great deal of evidence.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, technically I have not read this entire book cover to cover. But it is a wonderful resource to address specific arguments in the pro-life/pro-choice debate. So, if you're already pro-life like me, this book is a great tool to help you articulate why - besides it just being "right" or "moral". If you're not this will definitely give you something to think about.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing amount of research to provide evidence to counter all arguments. A read for both sides of the debate to get info on the other. Obviously a pro-life tilt though. I often use snippets in conversation. And have read it multiple times.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the Kindle version had some typos I found the book highly informative. I encourage all to read whether you consider yourself pro-abortion or not. He addresses the pro-life view in detail and with significant facts as well.

[Michelle Hilleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, 5 stars are just not enough. Even reading the table of contents was informative. This is Randy Alcorn's passion. Very clear and thoughtful answers to many pro choice arguments that tend to trip up those in the pro life community

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is an issue dear to my heart, and though I have read up extensively on the subject, I still learned a lot from this book.

[Laura Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Well written.

[Laura Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a "go to" resource on the pro-life issue, look no further. Alcorn lays it all out clearly--by argument. This book is more than worth your investment.

[Ama · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference.

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every Christian needs to read! And every pro-choice advocate needs to read.

[Chloe H · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Christian, I am of course pro-life. But it's an issue very close to my heart that I care more deeply about than other things that I care about.

There's little question as to why, I suppose. Abortion is a Holocaust in greater magnitude than the one during WW2. But there are fewer who care. It is insane to me that certain political leaders are accused of being like those in Germany in WW2 when the abortionists are the ones who are truly like them. It infuriates me how blind and foolish people choose to be.

This book was very thorough and helpful in addressing every Pro Choice question and argument under the sun. There may be some that he missed, but they are very few. Randy Alcorn answered them lovingly and thoughtfully. He preached the gospel clearly to those who've had abortions and it was such a breath of fresh air to see an actual presentation of the gospel after reading so many CF books that do a poor job of it.

I read the 1992 version, as it was the only one available to me, but I would really like to read the updated version! There were several things that would've been helpful to hear about and statistics that were out of date.

Overall, very well written and helpful!

[Lindsey Mao · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd recommend this book to all. I've never read a pro-choice book. It's pretty comprehensive. The science checks out too (in my judgement as a developmental biologist). My main problem is that it uses the Bible too often as a resource. You can see this the most in the Appendices (which you can easily ignore if you want). Personally, I would not blindly recommend this book to Christians because there's SO much hurt that the American Church has done to people with regard to this issue. I would instead prefer to talk to Christians personally about the issue to clear up what the Bible ACTUALLY says about these topics.

[Cory Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will equip you well so you can give solid answers to the pro abortion/pro death people. Randy Alcorn gives you facts and reality. Meanwhile the opposition has mere rhetoric to promote their arguments. One note of caution: There a few photos of pre-born babies in the book. (Notice I didn't call those babies abortions?). If you are sensitive, you might have trouble with those photos. When you finish the book, you will see that the pro abortion/ pro death people do not have a reasonable leg to stand on.

[JSL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typos and misspellings from page 1 continued throughout the book, to the very last page, making it a challenge to understand what was being said. This is probably the worst case of typos I have seen in a Kindle book, and I read 200 books every year.

Typos and misspellings from page 1 continued throughout the book to the very last page, making understanding a challenge. What a shame! This is probably the worst case of typos I have seen in any Kindle book, and I read 200 books a year.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a VERY good book. It addresses every argument given in support of abortion, and why those arguments are misguided. The bottom line is that an unborn child is just that--an unborn CHILD. You can call it a mass of cells, or a fetus, etc., but it is still a CHILD. I'm in favor of a woman's right to choose what happens to her body, but that doesn't extend to the new individual created in her womb. The statistics are truly shocking. I have no idea how to get this turned around.

[InkCreature · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arguments are sound and properly sourced. The only issue is the number of grammatical errors I found. Like every second page has a misspelling or a typo or incorrect capitalization. It needs a heavy line edit, it really does make it look not very professional because of the number of grammatical issues. However the content is very well researched and the evidence is sound. For that it gets 4 stars

[ShuaTheGreat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great comprehensive book. Goes through nearly every argument from the pro-abortion side. And it has a plethora of resources to help back up a majority of the claims in the book. Although, some resources are questionable, most are solid. Not just a good book to read, but is essentially an encyclopedia. Well organized, so that if I need a particular answer, I know where to go. Others should definitely keep this in their libraries.

[Melissa Blanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It makes me so mad, how people who believe in evolution and abortion behave and think and act! How can they not see that murdering babies not yet born is wrong, same as murdering anyone else? Aug 20, 2024: Finished the book today. I remember liking the book when I first read it in 1993; It still makes me mad, the way abortionists ignore facts, misrepresent pro-life views, and coerce women to abort their babies, even when the only thing the woman wants is information.