Forefront Conversations with Margaret Kamitsuka

What this episode covers

With the recent SCOTUS Dobbs decision, Christians who have long been declaring abortion to be Biblically condemned rejoiced as their conservative theology was validated. But does the Bible actually explicitly condemn abortion? In her book, "Abortion and the Christian Tradition: A Pro-Choice Theological Ethic," Margaret Kamitsuka uses rigorous academic research to debunk the assumption that the Bible is inflexibly anti-choice, examining the patriarchal structure that early church leaders established and that contemporary church leaders reaffirm to oppress and dehumanize pregnant people. ABOUT MARGARET Margaret Kamitsuka is Professor Emeritus at Oberlin College in Ohio. After getting her PhD in theology from Yale University, she taught at Oberlin College for over 20 years, where she focused on courses in gender and religion. Now she does research and writing in the area of theological ethics--specifically reproductive issues. Her most recent book is titled Abortion and the Christian Tradition: A Pro-Choice Theological Ethic, published in 2019. She and her coeditor have just completed a textbook that will come out later this year titled, The T & T Clark Reader on Abortion and Religion: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives. Margaret and her husband David are the parents of twin sons, now age 21. Legal and advocacy resources to further explore: Abortion Conversation Projects: http://www.abortionconversationprojects.org/mission-and- vision Catholics for Choice: https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/ Exhale: https://exhaleprovoice.org/pro-voice/ Faith Aloud: https://www.faithaloud.org/ Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice: https://www.iv4rj.org/ Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice: https://rrlc.thinkific.com/ Sister Song: https://www.sistersong.net/ Faith Voices for Reproductive Justice: https://faithvoicesforreproductivejustice.co.uk/

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