Denver, Colorado Sep 4, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - Abortion and the passage of personhood bills by state legislators is a hot button topic throughout the U.S.Dr. Darren Slade, general editor of the newly launched scientific journal, Socio-Historical Examination of Religion and Ministry (SHERM), announced in a statement today that one of its contributorshas already received some hate mail in response to his article refuting many of the misconceptions and presumptions about abortion.
“We’re a brand new non-profit publication that’s making a significant academic impact and is an advocate for the scientific study of religion,” said Dr. Slade. “The journal is free for the public to read and download.”
The controversial article is “The Relevance (and Irrelevance) of Questions of Personhood (and Mindedness) to the Abortion Debate.” It was written by award-winning Professor of Philosophy, Dr. David Kyle Johnson of King’s College in PA.Dr. Johnson has contributed articles to prestigious publications that include Religious Studies, Sophia, Philo, and philosophy and Literature. He also writes two blogs for Psychology Today.
Dr. Johnson’s article is particularly important and relevant today as an increasing number of states are attempting to pass personhood lawsdesigned to make abortion illegal. In his article, the authorpresents arguments that suggest fetal personhood is irrelevant to the abortion debate and that the question of personhood is far more complex than either pro-choice or pro-life advocates acknowledge.
Likewise, Johnson indicates that questions of morality and legality are entirely separate issues. The article explores the concept of “full-mindedness” andthe definition of “person,” along with what scientific and philosophical investigations have revealed about elements relating to abortion, such as fetal pain. The article is neither pro-life nor pro-choice, seeking only to provide information that will enable individuals to formulate their own opinions in an informed way.
Many of the issues facing individuals in today’s social and political climate are ones that inspire strong emotional responses, as evidenced by the hate mail directed at Johnson.As an academic journal, SHERMis committed to the principles of transparency, scholarly publishing, and civil discourse to further understanding of the human condition.
About SHERM Journal
Socio-Historical Examination of Religion and Ministry is a division of the non-profit organizationFaithX Project. The journal is overseen by an independent and religiously unaffiliated advisory board to ensure content meets stringent standards of critical religious scholarship uninfluenced by theological or ideological allegiances.
For more information, visit: https://www.shermjournal.org/
Media Contact
Darren M. Slade darrenmslade@gmail.com https://www.shermjournal.org/
