Sunday, December 8, 2013

Zygote – Life is Life and ALL Life Should be Honored


Today’s topic assigned by the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge is “Zygote”, which is the term used to describe the initial cell established in the creation of life. In the creation of human life, the Church has always believed that the “zygote” is a full human being. Well, it is a human being in so far as any of us are fully human. The reality of life is that we are ONLY fully human being in Communion with God, and as a human life, must be treated with the utmost respect and honor.

There are many Christians and Christian organizations, including an Orthodox Christian organization known as Zoi for Life, that exert much energy in the defense of human life, as a zygote. However, I’m not at all convinced the same would defend life in other forms. Many, however, defend a zygote while encouraging the killing of other human beings in prison. On the other hand, some defend the life of the prisoner while protecting the right of women to freely have an abortion.

It would seem to me, if someone believes life is important, than ALL human life should be equally important. All life, whether human or not, is a gift from God and has a purpose. Human life has a singular purpose of being in communion with God, and nothing less. But the honor of life does not rest solely in end-of-life issues, and those should include those who suffer IN life.

Hungry, crippled, blind, deaf, naked, in prison, mentally ill, unemployed, underemployed, abused, abandoned, orphaned, divorced, depressed, homeless – all examples of human beings who suffer. It would be nice if ALL life was defended in our society. But in the meantime, at least some life is honored, and for that I suppose I should be thankful. I’ll have to settle for hopeful for the remainder.

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

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