I suspect I am defining secular circles differently - in fact, now that I think about it, I'm sure I'm definging them incorrectly, merely thinking about reasonable people I know who, like all of us, have an amazing capacity for holding contradictory notions in their heads. I still think that a great many non-religious people view abortion as A Bad Thing, though.
I've just returned to Ireland today from another place and was struck - once again - by all of the election posters. (Apropos of nothing, I see that the Christian Solidarity party is standing in north Dublin.) Something has gone very badly wrong in Irish political discourse. It seems to have been emptied of all content, if indeed it ever had much at all. Looking at Britain it's easy to pinpoint clear developments and defeats - the miners' strike, for example - and see how things played out. It doesn't seem so clear here.
Why is there no 'aggresive secularism', of the left or the right?
And if I read or hear the term 'parish pump politics' again in the media I am going to slap someone. I fear we get the politicans we deserve.
> The abortion-as-contraception issue I think is different, and has more
> to do with a limited degree of acceptance of foetal personhood and/or
> a view of unwanted pregnancy as a mark of irresponsibility.
Do you think there is a degree of acceptance of foetal personhood, however limited? I think there is. I don't know what's gone wrong, but something has.
Pregnancy as irresponsibility is the oldest canard in the pond.
Jason.