Abortion and the Christian Tradition: A Pro-Choice Theological Ethic

by Margaret D. Kamitsuka

Abortion remains the most contested political issue in American life. Poll results have remained surprisingly constant over the years, with roughly equal numbers supporting and opposing it. A common perception is that abortion is contrary to Christian teaching and values. While some have challenged that perception, few have attempted a comprehensive critique and constructive counterargument on Christian ethical and theological grounds.

Margaret Kamitsuka begins with a careful examination of the church’s biblical and historical record, refuting the assumption that Christianity has always condemned abortion or that it considered personhood as beginning at the moment of conception. She then offers carefully crafted ethical arguments about the pregnant woman’s authority to make reproductive decisions and builds a theological rationale for seeing abortion as something other than a sin.

Genres: Spirituality, Theology

268 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2019

Reviews

[Dave Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kamitsuka's adept treatment of abortion truly demonstrates a careful, clever, and insightful scholar operating at the top of her game. The balance of systematic and practical theology she accomplishes here is inspiring. The scope and depth of this study testify to the mature point in her career Ksmitsuka occupied when she wrote it. In short, this book is constructive theology at its best. Even those who disagree with her conclusions would be hard-pressed to fault the quality of her scholarship.

[Jason Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents an argument that a pro choice theology is as validly grounded in church tradition as it’s more conservative counterpart. It does so with impressive theological depth, taking in the ways that Ancient Greek embryology informed both Jewish Rabbinical tradition and the church fathers up to Aquinas. In presenting its case as to exactly when a foetus becomes a person with a soul it doesn’t shy from the emotions involved in any choice like this, and the counter arguments are examined with due rigour.

If it has a flaw it’s that adoption is not really discussed and also that one of her arguments is grounded in a theory of the atonement that I profoundly disagree with as I dislike the emotional rejection of penal substitution. Her case that the crucified Jesus understands the human frailty involved here is good though.

Some of this turns on interpretation, as does the conservative view of course, but the book is valid and valuable in asserting that a measured response to the issue is in accordance with church tradition and , without over liberalising it either, that it isn’t always a sin. As an evangelical it didn’t leave me cold.

[Jared]

I found Kamitsuka's argument to be insightful and thought provoking. I am still not sure if I agree with all of her points on a personal level, but I am glad I read this generous and brilliant argument. Would recommend to anyone who would, like me, benefit from an entry into pro-choice Christian theology.

[Clay Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In bravely taking on the challenging task of laying out a Christian pro-choice ethic, Margaret Kamitsuka's work is meticulously researched with copious notes and citations. But in the end, I didn't find a compelling argument that will influence the debate in any particularly new ways, let alone for pro-lifers whose conviction is not religiously based (which, in fairness, the author would probably admit is beyond the scope of her work).

The first half of the book gives a lengthy history of the church's stance on the issue as well as a critique of pro-life arguments for fetal personhood. While interesting, it is likely barking up the wrong tree. Those open to being swayed on this issue, Christian believers included, are probably looking to justify a moral stance that is grounded in the current truth or rightness of a position (biblically or otherwise), not in the historic teaching of the church, which may or may not have gotten in right in the past. Moreover I can't help but wonder if Kamitsuka's critiques of pro-life arguments contain an over-reliance on technicality (e.g. splitting hairs over the definition of 'human' vs. 'person') that fails to address the heart of the issue, missing the mark as to exactly where one's conviction over the moral permissibility of terminating a fetus is actually rooted.

The second half of the book is more compelling to be sure, as Kamitsuka begins to lay out plausible rationale for a faith-based pro-choice ethic, but still contains an overly reactionary response to opposing viewpoints as opposed to charting new territory, and arguably falls short of being convincing on many fronts. For example, in countering various pro-life arguments rooted in Good Samaritan style hospitality, the author draws contrasts between the lengths the Good Samaritan went to, and the (far greater) lengths of hospitality a pregnant woman goes to in gestating a fetus, arguing that they are not comparable in terms of degree. True as this may be, it presupposes that the theological truth of the parable lies in a matter of degrees (i.e. "You shall go this far in your hospitality, but are not obligated to go any further"), and it is doubtful many people of faith will be ready to accept this as the parable's primary emphasis.

Overall, I'm glad I read the book, as I learned a lot about some of the grounds of arguments on both sides of this tough issue throughout church history. But it didn't meet my expectations of covering any meaningful new territory.

[Ryan Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this book was excellent. Kamitsuka uses excellent scholarly sources and analysis to seriously engage with literally millennia of Judeo-Christian attitudes on abortion. She begins with an analysis of early Judeo-Christian thinkers and sources, through the church fathers and the medieval period, and engaging with anti-choice arguments both absurd and moderate to the present day. She expertly dismantles the fallacies in anti-choice thinkers’ arguments, and finally constructs her own understanding of the agency and autonomy of mothers well within the Christian tradition. She argues abortion is ultimately a “mothering decision,” and that sometimes the best mothering decision is to not gestate and raise a child at all or at this time. Kamitsuka turns parables on their heads and invokes centuries of maternal and feminist Christian tradition to navigate an issue that has the stain of patriarchal misogyny all over it. As an “exvangelical” myself, I could feel the last vestiges of reactionary Christendom within me die as Kamitsuka revealed new or suppressed interpretations and traditions of liberating theology.

[Laura Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was difficult for someone without theological training to read, but I am SO glad I did. The author presents a compelling theological underpinning for (1) why Christians should support the right to abortion, and (2) under what circumstances the decision to abort is a moral choice. Many of the cited sources are old -- but that's because the case that forced-birth Christians make under the guise of scriptural interpretation is so out-of-date & old. I appreciated how the author interrogated the theotekos ("God-bearer") arguments and the Marian justifications for a pro-life position. Her most compelling points were around the doctrine of emergence, the concept of Christ as emerging into perfection as God/Man, that the Good Samaritan must complete their journey, and a mother's moral obligation to make decisions for all her children -- born and unborn. I plan to spend some more time reading the texts cited in this, as well as others, to continue my exploration of this issue as a Christian woman.

[Jon Coutts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kamitsuka problematizes assumptions of univocity in the tradition and proposes a way forward that values the fetus but honours maternal responsibility for whether to give birth. Aspects of the book are unsatisfying but the argument is well made and certainly gives much to consider.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for balance in pro-life themed research paper. A solid history of Christianity’s role in the travesty of abortion.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well-argued case for a Christian theological pro-choice stance. Margaret Kamitsuka offers a sustained critique of pro-life arguments based on Christian tradition, fetal personhood, the incarnation, and Christian philosophy, followed by her own constructive pro-choice theology based on maternal authority, fetal value, gestational hospitality, and a trinitarian view of death. One of the best theology books I have read thus far.