This was my fourth time reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was read at the request of a book club I recently joined. The first time I read it was only because I was curious; the second time was because I had my son read it for high school, and I wanted to ask comprehension questions; and the third time was for The Well-Educated Mind reading challenge.
For me, that third time screamed parallels to a more current American pandemic: abortion. In the 1850's, slaves were property under the law, and an owner had the right to do with his slave, as he so desired; but in the late 1900s to this current day, an unborn baby is property of its mother under the law, and a woman has the right to dispose of it, if she so chooses.
This fourth read was interesting because I realized that Mrs. Stowe was targeting not only slave owners for breaking up families and treating people like they were without human feeling or souls, or our government for permitting slavery to exist, or Northerners who harbored similar feelings toward blacks; she also had a stern lecture for fellow Christians, or the Church, in general.
According to Mrs. Stowe, the Christian Church was too silent on slavery. She said,
Scenes of blood and cruelty are shocking to our ear and heart. What man has nerve to do, man has not nerve to hear. What brother-man and brother-Christian must suffer, cannot be told us, even in our secret chamber, it so harrows up the soul! And yet, oh, my country! these things are done under the shadow of thy laws! O Christ! thy church sees them, almost in silence!
When she learned, after the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act, that "Christian and humane people...recommending the remanding escaped fugitives into slavery, as a duty binding on good citizens...what Christian duty could be on this head, - she could only think, These men and Christians cannot know what slavery is; if they did, such a question could never be open for discussion."
Of slavery, she said,
Nothing of tragedy can be written, can be spoken, can be conceived, that equals the frightful reality of scenes daily and hourly acting on our shores, beneath the shadow of American law, and the shadow of the cross of Christ.
She implored Christians and the Church to receive runaway slaves, and educate them and assist them to safer shores.
At the very end of her conclusion, Mrs. Stowe warns the Church:
A day of grace is yet held out to us. Both North and South have been guilty before God; and the Christian Church has a heavy account to answer. Not by coming together, to protect injustice and cruelty, and making a common capital of sin, is this Union to be saved, - but by repentance, justice, and mercy: for, not surer is the eternal law by which the millstone sinks in the ocean, than that stronger law by which injustice and cruelty shall bring on nations the wrath of Almighty God!
Yikes! I think Mrs. Stowe was one mighty, courageous woman: to take on a whole nation by writing this "living dramatic reality," in order to shake Americans out of their slumber, to expose the wickedness that was being legally permitted right before their eyes and ears, if they would just see and hear the evil; if they knew the truth, Christians (at least) could not - should not - remain silent.
Well, I used to think the same thing about abortion - if only people knew the truth about what happened during an abortion, if they saw the results and heard the stories, they would be moved. Unfortunately, I think we are a different generation now. I think many people know the horror, but they feel apathetic, dispassionate, or even powerless. However, Stowe is correct in her concern that our Nation will have to answer for its sins; in fact, I have a feeling we are seeing God's judgment upon our country this very day for our national iniquities. Every nation is subject to God's judgment.
Anyway, while we were still reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, my friend asked me if we were going to read anymore about the cabin because it was only a small part of the story. Why was it titled Uncle Tom's Cabin if it was not a bigger part of the story? Well, it is true: it is only in the beginning; and it wasn't until the very last paragraph that Stowe leaves us with, George, Tom's master (giving a eulogy for Tom), speaking to his newly-freed slaves:
So, when you rejoice in your freedom, think that you owe it to that good old soul, and pay it back in kindness to his wife and children. Think of your freedom every time you see Uncle Tom's Cabin; and let it be a memorial to put you all in mind to follow in his steps, and be as honest and faithful and Christian as he was.
I have to believe that it was just a symbol for an honorable, faithful man, and Christ-like figure. His cabin was a safe and loving home for everyone who entered it because he was a good Christian husband, father, and friend. Stowe made him to be someone we should strive to be like. And I'll say, Good luck with that because his character was absolutely perfect.
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What if Harriet Beecher Stowe made a case against abortion instead of slavery?
In my previous post, I claimed that an aspect of slavery exists today where one group treats another group as property. That aspect is present in abortion.
At the time of Dred Scott, no blacks in America had legal standing as persons in the court because they were considered property, and the Constitution protected slaveholders’ rights to their property. In the case of abortion, the Constitution defends a woman’s right to her body as her property, and therefore, if she does not want what is growing inside, she has the right to have it removed. The human life in her womb in not a person; it is her property.
What would it look like if Ms. Stowe argued her case against abortion using her case against slavery? Remember, similar arguments are laid out in my Final Inquiries for the slavery dispute. I only changed the argument here to focus on abortion.
Slavery is immoral and must be abolished immediately. Abortion is immoral and must be eradicated immediately.
Abortion is a demeaning procedure for women, a violent end for her unborn baby, and rejection of a father’s responsibility. It is a vehement practice by those who provide the service, and the corrupt business practices are either covered up or protected under the Constitution.
Christians cannot support slavery. Christians cannot support abortion.
Children are a heritage from the Lord. Scripture tells us that He knew us before we were born, and He knit us in our mother’s womb. We are made in His image - in His likeness.
God is in control of all things, and man does not have the right to take life according to his own will. Abortion is murder, and murder is a sin. Therefore, if a Christian supports abortion, he has an improper perception of God's law.
Christians cannot remain silent or look away; it is his duty to stand for righteousness. Christians must obey God’s laws, which are above their nation’s laws. Who else is going to speak for the defenseless?
Americans cannot support slavery. Americans cannot support abortion.
The Declaration of Independence revels our unique character: Americans recognize that all persons enjoy the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, which come directly from God, not government, and cannot be taken away, unless in violation of law. Abortion proponents believe these rights are proscribed through government and then only pertain to a specific group. This contradicts any idea that is truly American.
Slavery hardens and corrupts the hearts of men. Abortion hardens and corrupts the hearts of men.
Abortion is no longer shameful, and it permits people to be selfish by putting their
needs before others.
Abortion distorts ideas about unborn babies, pregnancy, sex, and marriage. People fight for the right to abort, and fear if abortion becomes illegal, then their own lives and future will be threatened. Also, abortion is a lucrative business, so greed motivates those who provide its service.
Slavery causes slaves to commit moral injustice. Abortion causes people to commit moral injustice.
Abortion encourages irresponsible behavior because life at its early stages is disposable: one may abort if the baby is not a preferred sex, deformed, or has a health condition; or maybe there are too many fetuses; or the elderly or infirm are not worthy of maintaining life; or maybe someone who has a feeding tube is not worth life: remember Terri Schiavo?
Blacks have souls, too. Unborn babies have souls, too.
While the Bible is silent on the fate of babies who die through abortion or miscarriage, we do know that God is merciful toward those who are not capable of knowing the Gospel, such as the mentally handicap, young children, and babies. When King David lost his newborn son, he stopped mourning because he knew he would be reunited with him at the resurrection.
Science has maintained that human life begins at conception, though abortion proponents have worked to change that by stating life begins at implantation in order to ease the RU486 concern. But a living being already forming in utero began ten days before implantation. If we are created in the likeness of God, and that likeness begins at conception, and since God makes no mistakes and does everything with purpose, I believe that an unborn baby is already equipped with a soul and is able to be redeemed and go to heaven.
Would HBS agree? I have no idea! But frankly, it works for me. Like slavery, abortion is a grave evil that is making America's soul sick. Will it take another civil war to end its practice? I pray not. God help us!
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