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Here is a question that comes up a lot when people start reading the bible:

As far as I know of the christian origin story, it started with Adam and Eve, they were the first two people on earth and they populated the world. So how would their children produce offspring after them? wouldn’t that be incest? Am i missing something?

It would have likely been a sister that Cain would have taken as a wife. The bible states that “Through the course of time Adam and Eve had sons and daughters.”

It is assumed that at the point it was written that Cain took a wife, it was his sister, and the event of Cain killing Abel would have taken place after other daughters were born. Why else was cain so afraid that someone would find him and kill him when he left? If there was only Adam and Eve he wouldn’t have worried? But he likely had several other relatives already born at this point.

Now you may be thinking, “gross.” But the truth is, God gave the command to be fruitful and multiply. He did not yet give the command of not sleeping with your sister. The reason is the human genetic code was pure at that point, and sleeping with your sister/brother would produce a healthy baby.

Over time, genetics was significantly damaged, and God commanded that we do not any longer marry our close relatives. Now if that happens, the chances of a baby having a severe genetic defect is almost certain.

Also, to those that say Noah had to repopulate after the flood, they forget Noah had sons and they had their own wives as well. Plenty enough people to regrow the population at a time when genetics still wasn’t yet damaged as badly as it is today after all of the pollution, etc.

Even population studies show that the world’s population had a huge bottleneck at some point in the past. Surprise- this goes along perfectly with the bible story. Population starts at only 2 people, grows significantly, then has a huge loss in population (the flood), and then a huge expanding population again (post-flood).

Some people say, “How could genetic damage occur?” The reason brother and sister can’t have kids now is because of both genetic defects & the genes being too similar. For example: A brother has a minor gene that has a defect for creating arms, but his arm is normal and he just carries the gene. The sister has the same gene. They have a child together, and chances are the child won’t have an arm because both genes line up and create a bad arm.

As far as why genetics became mutated/damaged. God said the spirit of God shall not strive with man forever, and his days shall be 120.

It is assumed that God created the genetic line perfectly (which is why we were meant to live forever). The foods in the garden sustained life. Perhaps the fruits were loaded with some special chemical enzyme that prevented the release of free radicals, and other cellular damaging effects. Hence, notice how God places angels in charge of it with flaming swords to ensure Adam and Eve cannot eat of the tree of life anymore.

Furthermore: diseases, solar radiation, poor nutrition, and many other things are known to cause genetic damage, and thus genetics would have decreased over time and became more and more susceptible to mutations and defects.

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In terms of topics that are often hotly debated (with respect to religious views), abortion is almost always at the top of the list. So many people seem to be divided on abortion, and even those who may be against abortion may support certain cases of abortion. I thought I would offer my perspective on a few of these hot topics.

Is Abortion Okay If the Mother Could Die? Is it a Form of Self Defence?

First, some say abortion is okay in self defense (when it could threaten the mother’s life to have a child). People that believe this are suggesting that aborting in the case of harm to the mother is the same as self defense. Right there I somewhat disagree, simply because no doctor can say (in most cases) that a mother’s life will for sure be taken if she has the child.

There are many cases where a mother has the child even though there are risks, and everything turns out fine-that is the miracle of life. Sometimes people die during birth, sometimes they don’t. But doctors don’t always accurately predict the proper outcome. You also have to keep in mind that in the old days (bible times) there was no way of ever knowing the woman may die during birth. So again, I don’t necessarily agree with aborting on the premise that it “could” kill the mother. I think it technically “could” kill anyone, so does that mean everyone should abort since there is always at least a small risk that any mother could potentially die? No, of course not.

Self defense is someone trying to intentionally kill (murder) you. I don’t think a baby would have the intent to kill its mother. So it is kind of different in my opinion.

The second point I want to make is that my sister’s husband’s relative (a girl in her young 20’s) recently became pregnant, and she decided to abort. She traveled to another state to do this in secrecy, and tragically, she bled to death from the procedure and died from it, and her family found out (very tragically) that she died only because she had the abortion done. That is a true story, and it happens more often then people might think. So abortion can kill the mother just as easily as birth. That is a point so many people forget. So since abortion can kill the mother just as easily as having a child can kill, I don’t think it is appropriate to do so. Also, with the constant increases in technology in medicine, hopefully they will never be forced to make such a hard decision.

Is Abortion Okay if the Woman Was Raped?

No doubt, it is very difficult when a woman is raped. Many do not want to ever re-live that horrific event, and it is very traumatic to those that experience this type of sexual violence. Women do not always become pregnant in these situation. However, if a woman does become pregnant after a rape, should she still have an abortion?

I know that even though the situation in which the child was conceived was terrible, however, that child became alive at the moment the egg and sperm met. A soul was created at that very moment. The blueprints for life were locked in stone, and the human life existed at that very moment. There are many brave women that decide to carry the baby and have a normal birth. This is (of course) a very hard decision. But just because the baby was created in an act of hate or sin, it doesn’t mean that the child cannot be a loving and happy child. That child may turn out to be the next president of the United States. It could find the cure for cancer. It could invent something that would save lives. Or it may just be a good citizen. But it is worth keeping alive, and giving an equal chance at life. Even though it was a traumatic event, it could be a blessing in the end. That child may bring so much joy to the mother.

In cases where the mother just doesn’t feel right about the whole situation, and would prefer to abort the child, I would say to please consider giving the child up for adoption. Adoption is a far better alternative, and the world is filled with loving people that would love to be parents to a new child, regardless of how the child was conceived. If you feel that you cannot take care of the child, this is an option that may be best for you.

Is Abortion Okay in the Case of Incest?

Incest is the situation where close family members have sexual relations. This can be harmful because it greatly increases the likelihood that the child can have some form of genetic deformation or retardation. Even if the child is going to have problems, I do not think that warrants the grounds for an abortion. There are many children that have deformities and retardation that were conceived by 2 non-related parents, and in love. Yet they did not abort the child. So why abort a child just because it was conceived in a incestuous way? There is no reason to do this. Again, if the parents feel that they cannot raise the child, there are many parents and organizations that would gladly take the child and raise it in a loving environment.

Conclusion: Is Abortion Acceptable to God?

There are many cases where a child can be conceived in a way which is traumatic, sinful, or even harmful. Yet, God loves us all. God is the creator of life, and we should strive to protect life. Once a sperm meets an egg, a miracle happens. We should respect and welcome that miracle, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

For those that feel that they can not properly care for the child, or that it would be too difficult to raise a child after rape or incest, please consider carrying the child and then giving it up for adoption. There are plenty of agencies and parents that would be so happy to have the privilege of raising a child as their own.

Also, remember that abortion can be as deadly for the mother as it can for the child. Not only that, it can be just as traumatic as a rape, and some women have post traumatic stress and nightmares from the abortion event. So please remember these things if you ever consider having an abortion.

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Posted under bible questions