Students at the Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy receive instructions in diverse subjects including apologetics, epistemology, world view and ethics. During our three hour ethics dialogue, students were placed in groups and assigned questions to examine, and where possible, to solve. Their mission was to break down the issues presented by each question into their various component parts, identify the critical available facts, search for applicable biblical laws and principles, and attempt to determine a policy result which is consistent with Scripture.

The following question (paraphrased) presented at the Witherspoon School of Law and Public Policy requiries the student to examine a host of foundational ethical issues, and the implications of their conclusions, including the question “If abortion is the murder of a human being, is it biblical to oppose all abortions?”

A mother conceives a child. The doctor tells the parents that they have a tubal pregnancy and that the baby has little to no chance of survival, but its continued life poses a threat to the life of the mother. What are the relevent biblical principles? What facts must be determined to make a biblical ethical decision? What medical options might be available. Is killing the baby through abortion defensible through Scripture? If so, defend your position? If not, defend your position? Are there other options?

Remarkably, later that day, the following news report hit the international news wires: “Mother Gives Birth After Nine Month Ectopic Pregnancy, No Abortion.”