| Ron Sider's book is unique because it addresses a consistent pro-life ethic and that is something that is woefully neglected in the politics of pro-life activism and entirely ignored by pro-abortion activists. Yet, he doesn't go far enough in explaining and exploring the consistent life ethic to suit me. As is to be expected, Sider's book has a tight Christian focus on the issues, which for the Christian is fine. However, first time explorers of a consistent life ethic must be aware that it is the consistent pro-lifers who are generally the more diverse of the pro-life movement. Many of us consistentently pro-life folks are the humanist, atheist, or agnostic people in the pro-life crowd who feel ackwardly out of place in the "mainstream" pro-life movement. Overall, we are the GLBT, feminist, animal rights-supporting, death penalty and war opposing, never-heard-from black sheep of the pro-life movement. Ideally, I wish Sider had focused intensively on the issues and not delved into his Christian views at all, but he is a Christian writer, after all. I can see where his religion helps to solidify his views and the book may be valuable for Christians exploring a consistent pro-life ethic. But, as an introduction to the ethic in general, the book falls short. Sider's focus is on abortion, the integrity of the traditional family unit, nuclear weapons, and activism for the poor. Now, pro-abortion folks and pro-life folks alike may be puzzled as to how all of these subjects mesh, but they most certainly do. The gist of Sider's book is absolutely on target; if we oppose one kind of killing, it only is logical to oppose all kinds of killing. Sider neglects the Death Penalty issue, which I think should have been a strong focus. In addressing nuclear weapons, he does not address the broad anti-life agenda of militarianism in general but only the danger of nukes (which may be more reflective of the era of the book, 1987, than the writer's neglect). Overall, I enjoy having the book in my library and refer to it when trying to persuade Christian friends to be more consistently pro-life. Sider sums up the gist of his book better than I ever could with the following words: "To be completely pro-life means to defend human life wherever it is threatened". Read the book, let Sider plant the seeds of a consistent pro-life ethic, then let the seeds germinate by reading other books and expanding your pro-life ethic. |
