Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, October 23, 2012
2012 If You Are Raped It Is Because of God
Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 6:53 PM
The words of a man running for a seat in the US Senate:
Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said Tuesday when a woman is impregnated during a rape, “it’s something God intended.” Mourdock was asked during the final minutes of a debate whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest. He replied: “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that’s something God intended to happen.”There it is.
2
God's got a plan for all of us. And for some of us it means rape, torture, starvation, neglect, mutilation, and slow death.
5
It is not shocking to know that many people believe this given that half of the country should be labeled Jesusland, but it is shocking to hear someone say it, and from a prospective senator no less. I guess Akin didn't exactly corner the market when it came to religious fueled misogyny in this years bumper crop of GOP idiot Senate hopefuls.
7
The GOP hate this obvious reality: a foetus is just a lump of flesh, and women give it whatever meaning it has by desiring that lump of flesh to be their child.
8
So shouldn't every medical procedure be illegal? Your cancer is the will of God. Your massive blood loss after the accident is part of God's plan. Whatever happens to you, you must never question what God wants for you and instead just go along with it.
9
Then why the fuck does capital punishment exist?
If god intended a murderer to die, god would have fucking done it personally.
Fuck christians and fuck christianity.
If god intended a murderer to die, god would have fucking done it personally.
Fuck christians and fuck christianity.
12
Wouldn't there logic then follow that the rapist was only acting on God's will and this should be vindicated of any wrong doing? I mean, wouldn't it be religi
14
Stupid iOS,
12
Wouldn't their logic then follow that the rapist was only acting on God's will and thus should be vindicated of any wrong doing? I mean, wouldn't it be religious persecution to imprison a man for doing God's will. And would that not be a prime example of the "descrimination" christians always claim to be suffering.
12
Wouldn't their logic then follow that the rapist was only acting on God's will and thus should be vindicated of any wrong doing? I mean, wouldn't it be religious persecution to imprison a man for doing God's will. And would that not be a prime example of the "descrimination" christians always claim to be suffering.
18
So basically God is an asshole. Or an irl troll (if you believe in God.)
Pretty much what I already thought anyway
Pretty much what I already thought anyway
20
I was reading up on annulments in the Catholic Church, as I wonder how they can theologically deal with situations where marriage becomes unbearable. There articles aid that the logic is that in some instances God never joined the couple hence it is not wrong because there is no union to dissolve.
In the same sense you can argue that even if you believe life is sacred, you can argue that rapes..and even unintended pregnancies where not "meant to be".
Just spreading some guilt relief...
In the same sense you can argue that even if you believe life is sacred, you can argue that rapes..and even unintended pregnancies where not "meant to be".
Just spreading some guilt relief...
21
Can we just go ahead and diagnose "neo-conservatism" as the mental illness it clearly is, and religion as a high-risk factor for mental illness?
Fuck.
Being religious doesn't necessarily mean you're crazy, but it sure seems to help!
Fuck.
Being religious doesn't necessarily mean you're crazy, but it sure seems to help!
23
I'm glad you picked up on this.
And then there's also Tom Smith in Pennsylvania running to unseat Bob Casey in the Senate. He recently mentioned that he could relate to women deciding whether or not to abort a pregnancy resulting from a rape. How so? Well, his single daughter also faced the choice of abortion after she became pregnant... from consensual sex, which is pretty much the same thing.
Right? I mean, right? Just look at it from their perspective. Life begins at conception, as far as they're concerned. A zygote should be entitled to all the same rights and recognitions as a middle school kid. So if we have a zygote that develops into a fetus, then who cares how it came about? Aborting the fetus - "killing it" - would be as ethical, merciful, and reasonable as killing the middle school kid, for whatever reason. (Or taking him off life support, but that's another can of worms.)
In short, people like Tom Smith and Richard Mourdock see the same situation from the narrow perspective of their ideology, not from that of the woman. She's incidental as far as they're concerned.
Now, if it was the men that got pregnant, maybe things would be different. Maybe, even, we would live in a matriarchal society. But those are waters I can't swim in.
And then there's also Tom Smith in Pennsylvania running to unseat Bob Casey in the Senate. He recently mentioned that he could relate to women deciding whether or not to abort a pregnancy resulting from a rape. How so? Well, his single daughter also faced the choice of abortion after she became pregnant... from consensual sex, which is pretty much the same thing.
Right? I mean, right? Just look at it from their perspective. Life begins at conception, as far as they're concerned. A zygote should be entitled to all the same rights and recognitions as a middle school kid. So if we have a zygote that develops into a fetus, then who cares how it came about? Aborting the fetus - "killing it" - would be as ethical, merciful, and reasonable as killing the middle school kid, for whatever reason. (Or taking him off life support, but that's another can of worms.)
In short, people like Tom Smith and Richard Mourdock see the same situation from the narrow perspective of their ideology, not from that of the woman. She's incidental as far as they're concerned.
Now, if it was the men that got pregnant, maybe things would be different. Maybe, even, we would live in a matriarchal society. But those are waters I can't swim in.
24
I'm pro-choice. But I give the guy credit for keeping a consistent view.
The concept that abortion is murder, but an exception should be made for rape.... that makes no sense. Only a weak mind would believe in something so inconsistent.
The concept that abortion is murder, but an exception should be made for rape.... that makes no sense. Only a weak mind would believe in something so inconsistent.
26
Every place in this country is fundamentalist except parts -- parts only -- of Portland, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Stick to the progressive islands in the big cities.
28
If men could get pregnant there'd be an Abortionator 2000 in every sports bar in America; we'd be chewing Plan B gum and drinking BC Cola, and the Mourdocks of the world would be first in line, the hypocrites.
29
He is perfectly justified in saying this, given his status as a survivor of rape and non-consensual pregnancy.
30
My disgust at the comment is tempered by my grudging respect for the honesty and consistency of his position.
Don't get me wrong, the commentary is horrific and reveals an attitude that for me disqualifies you from having any position of authority over library books, let alone laws. Still, at least he takes his stated position to it's logical conclusion.
Is abortion wrong? If you ask many people they'll say yes. They'll elaborate by explaining that it "kills a baby". But if you then ask them whether life without parole would be the best punishment for a woman getting an abortion, or whether rape victims could perhaps be granted a lesser 20 year sentence, they recoil. They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical.
Guys like this, who shrug and say "It's God's will" if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypotheticla test. They hold a belief "zygote=infant" and derive their conclusions from their in a consistent manner. Sure rape pregnancy is awful, but killing a baby is worse, so the position to take is simple. They have the courage of their misguided, Iron Age, terrifying convictions.
Don't get me wrong, the commentary is horrific and reveals an attitude that for me disqualifies you from having any position of authority over library books, let alone laws. Still, at least he takes his stated position to it's logical conclusion.
Is abortion wrong? If you ask many people they'll say yes. They'll elaborate by explaining that it "kills a baby". But if you then ask them whether life without parole would be the best punishment for a woman getting an abortion, or whether rape victims could perhaps be granted a lesser 20 year sentence, they recoil. They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical.
Guys like this, who shrug and say "It's God's will" if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypotheticla test. They hold a belief "zygote=infant" and derive their conclusions from their in a consistent manner. Sure rape pregnancy is awful, but killing a baby is worse, so the position to take is simple. They have the courage of their misguided, Iron Age, terrifying convictions.
31
My disgust at the comment is tempered by my grudging respect for the honesty and consistency of his position.
Don't get me wrong, the commentary is horrific and reveals an attitude that for me disqualifies you from having any position of authority over library books, let alone laws. Still, at least he takes his stated position to it's logical conclusion.
Is abortion wrong? If you ask many people they'll say yes. They'll elaborate by explaining that it "kills a baby". But if you then ask them whether life without parole would be the best punishment for a woman getting an abortion, or whether rape victims could perhaps be granted a lesser 20 year sentence, they recoil. They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical.
Guys like this, who shrug and say "It's God's will" if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypothetical test. They hold a belief "zygote=infant" and derive their conclusions from their in a consistent manner. Sure rape pregnancy is awful, but killing a baby is worse, so the position to take is simple. They have the courage of their misguided, Iron Age, terrifying convictions.
Don't get me wrong, the commentary is horrific and reveals an attitude that for me disqualifies you from having any position of authority over library books, let alone laws. Still, at least he takes his stated position to it's logical conclusion.
Is abortion wrong? If you ask many people they'll say yes. They'll elaborate by explaining that it "kills a baby". But if you then ask them whether life without parole would be the best punishment for a woman getting an abortion, or whether rape victims could perhaps be granted a lesser 20 year sentence, they recoil. They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical.
Guys like this, who shrug and say "It's God's will" if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypothetical test. They hold a belief "zygote=infant" and derive their conclusions from their in a consistent manner. Sure rape pregnancy is awful, but killing a baby is worse, so the position to take is simple. They have the courage of their misguided, Iron Age, terrifying convictions.
34
Abortion obviously kills a baby, folks, at least after a certain point. You're just kidding yourself if you pretend otherwise. But it should still be legal.
35
This is the problem with believing in deities. These people are so anxious to avoid offending their imaginary friends that they lack concern for real people.
36
Here's the thing... anyone who believes in an omniscient, omnipotent God implicitly believes this.... and that ANY bad thing is "something god intended."
37
I just have to shake my head at people who "applaud the consistency" of those who believe abortion should never happen under any circumstances, even when the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest.
It's not about murdering babies. It's bodily autonomy. It's not legal to attack someone and take their kidneys, or hook them up to be somebody else's external dialysis. You can't force a person to donate tissue, even in the case of a close relative, even if they are the only person on Earth who can save them. Court cases have already been decided regarding suing someone for life-saving tissue donations, and the decisions have come down squarely on the bodily autonomy side.
If I die and am not an organ donor, you still can't take my organs. Not even if it will save lives. Why in the world should a pregnant woman have less right to bodily autonomy than a corpse?
Fetuses could be fully functional tiny human beings swimming around in there and it still wouldn't matter. I have a right to deny someone access to my body, even if it means certain death for that person.
It's not about murdering babies. It's bodily autonomy. It's not legal to attack someone and take their kidneys, or hook them up to be somebody else's external dialysis. You can't force a person to donate tissue, even in the case of a close relative, even if they are the only person on Earth who can save them. Court cases have already been decided regarding suing someone for life-saving tissue donations, and the decisions have come down squarely on the bodily autonomy side.
If I die and am not an organ donor, you still can't take my organs. Not even if it will save lives. Why in the world should a pregnant woman have less right to bodily autonomy than a corpse?
Fetuses could be fully functional tiny human beings swimming around in there and it still wouldn't matter. I have a right to deny someone access to my body, even if it means certain death for that person.
38
I am glad that every so often these idiot reveal how they feel. Makes it pretty clear who you are voting for if they get into office.
39
If I get raped and get pregnant as a result, that's God's will? But my body has a way of shutting that down, so aren't I offending God if I do that?
These religious nutjobs can't even get their story straight amongst themselves.
These religious nutjobs can't even get their story straight amongst themselves.
40
@8 Now you're just taking their argument to the point of absurdity.
Oh, wait. That's where it started. Well said, sir!
Oh, wait. That's where it started. Well said, sir!
41
@31
"They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical."
I agree.
Most people have not examined their own beliefs.
"Guys like this, who shrug and say 'It's God's will' if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypothetical test."
I do not agree.
They have not examined their own beliefs any more than the people in the first case have.
They've just placed the responsibility on "god" instead of themselves.
But it really is their belief.
"They're happy having their beliefs at a superficial level, but those beliefs cannot withstand the test of a difficult hypothetical."
I agree.
Most people have not examined their own beliefs.
"Guys like this, who shrug and say 'It's God's will' if a woman gets pregnant through rape, or who approve of the murdering of abortion providers, do not fail the hypothetical test."
I do not agree.
They have not examined their own beliefs any more than the people in the first case have.
They've just placed the responsibility on "god" instead of themselves.
But it really is their belief.
42
37's comment should be tattooed on these morons' chests... except that would be taking away their bodily autonomy... fuck it- hold them down and forcibly tattoo them anyway- tell them it was god's will.
44
I am so thankful that these good people exist to explain to us the intentions of the Almighty.
Because otherwise, how would we ever know?
/satire
Because otherwise, how would we ever know?
/satire
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
All You Motherfuckers Complaining That aPodments Are Too Small at 200 Square Feet by Dominic Holden
-
Portland Voters Are Stoopid by Goldy
-
SL Letter of the Day: Did You Think I Was Going To Tell You Not To Come Out? (PLUS: Help Free Kate!) by Dan Savage
-
Rightwing Anti-Gay French Activist Commits Suicide at Notre Dame Cathedral by Dan Savage
-
Spoiled Rotten: Star Trek Into Darkness by Paul Constant
-
There Are No Atheists In Foxholes by Dan Savage
-
Tornado Truthers by Dan Savage
-
Why They Break Windows by Unpaid Intern
-
Listen Up, Gays: They're Coming to Recruit You by Cienna Madrid
-
America's Epidemic of Toddler-on-Toddler Gun Violence Continues by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (44) RSS