Can We Really Control Birth?
In the Ancient Near East, it was men who were believed to be the founts of initial fertility: Men created new life. Attributing the sole source of procreation to semen, man was seen as “creator”. This Mesopotamian idea may have influenced Aristotle’s statement “sperma makes the man,” which spread over the Western world.
A few days from now, in that Western world, many will celebrate Christmas and the story of a virgin giving birth to a child completely without the participation of a man. Unheard of not only in the Biblical and Roman era but also until the role of eggs and ovaries was recognized in the late 18th century and the eventual possibility of in vitro fertilization. If I can get philosophical, perhaps this story is a message about exactly who IS the Creator. Or, leaving God out of it, the story suggests a revolutionary notion that women, not men are actually almost totally in charge of the process of reproduction. And that is true: even in births that are not virginal, from the moment that sperm enters the birth canal, their bodies control the process.
It seems to me that males in particular are nostalgic for the ancient concept. Can I be so bold as to suggest that consciously or unconsciously this might be behind the insistence that life begins at conception? That idea at least preserves a little dignity for the masculine role. However, it ignores the scientific fact that most conceptions do not survive. Nature is perhaps the most reprehensible of all abortionists. The real beginning of life remains rather random and mysterious.
And yet, a new round of prohibitive legislation has emerged in statehouses across the country based on the belief that life begins at conception. It should not be lost on anyone that those initiating these things are primarily men. Considering the fact that we men have so little to do with the process, this is almost laughable. Every mother knows that within the nine months they spent being pregnant and enduring the pangs of giving birth, the father contributed about five minutes! I would laugh if not for the fact that politicians on the state and federal level are working hard to control something that is entirely the domain of the mother, her family, her physician and her community.
People of faith, and people who would like to have faith: reflect on the revolutionary birth of Jesus and sing with Mary his mother:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate.
