James Talarico: Biblical Support for Abortion, Point I

I think it’s helpful to have the transcript directly from the interview and see actual words right in front of us. No conversation about personality or tone.

Just the words.

And the question:

Are they true?

The Original Question

Here was the question Joe Rogan asked James Talarico:

“What do you think is the biblical evidence to support the opinion of being pro-abortion?” —JR

“So one, you know, in Genesis, God creates life by breathing life into the first human being, which we later call Adam, that life starts when you take your first breath. And that is actually the mainline position in Judaism, is that that’s when life starts.” —JT

The Claim

The first offering of biblical support for abortion is that life does not begin until you take your first breath.

He said it. You can see it.

Now say that out loud:

“I do not believe that life begins until a baby takes its first breath outside the womb.”

Is that really the position you want to take?

Because that metric doesn’t just support abortion. If walked all the way out, it supports late-term abortion… until breath is drawn, essentially.

I am not making a leap here, friends. This was Joe Rogan’s follow-up question as well, after Talarico gave his full response.

The Follow-Up

“I think most Americans probably would agree with that (that being bodily autonomy). But I think also most Americans are very uncomfortable with the concept of late-term abortions. What are your thoughts on late-term abortions?” —JR

“Well, I think if you look at the data, the late-term abortions that happen are almost exclusively to save the life of the mother. Because I mean, now you’re talking about people who have picked out a name, who have bought a crib, people who want this baby. And so the only time this happens is for immediate life-threatening medical reasons.” —JT

Not True.

Remember, I am speaking as a mother who was in grave danger—had stroke, liver failure, cardiac failure, and then almost bled out due to HELLP—not once but twice, and had to have both my children delivered via emergency C-section at 32 and 28 weeks.

Friend, I am well-versed on this subject and debate it frequently.

But even if I weren’t, here is a link for you to read for yourself:

National Library of Medicine: Late-Term Abortion

Delivering babies in the 3rd trimester saves the life of the mother, not killing the babies.

In fact, abortions are the most dangerous to mothers in the 3rd trimester—far riskier to the mother than delivery at this point. And life after may not be much better, with far higher rates of trauma, depression, PTSD, and suicide among women who have late-term abortions.

And why do you think that is?

Because regardless of what a man told them, whether justified with Scripture or not, they knew.

The baby inside them was alive.

And as long as we are discussing facts, most late-term abortions are not for immediate life-threatening medical reasons.

National Library of Medicine: Late-Term Abortion & Medical Necessity

Back to the Original Argument

“The Bible justifies abortion because life begins at first breath, according to Genesis and mainline Judaism.”

Here is why this is interesting to me.

Because in other arguments like “Jesus doesn’t mention homosexuality,” the fact that it is very much mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments is somehow insufficient to guide our behavior.

But here, now?

“Genesis says God breathed into Adam, so life begins at breath??”

Genesis also says:

• “God created them male and female.”

• Genesis establishes marriage between one man and one woman.

• And Jesus mentions it.

So, is Genesis an authority or not?

Because it can’t be for one point but not others.

We aren’t talking about weighing New Testament Epistles differently than Levitical Law in the wilderness.

We are talking about one verse in the Genesis Creation account being given authority and another verse in the Genesis Creation account not being given authority.

The Supernatural Nature

God breathed life into Adam then so that’s when life begins now…

Adam is unique.

He was not ever conceived.

There is no room in the no womb for Adam, who was never there.

This event is uniquely miraculous and never repeated.

Never.

If we are really transferring this logic exactly across the board—“what happens then determines now…”—then only baby boys begin life at the first breath.

Must they also be born from dust?

What about Eve?

Genesis 2:7 is not describing normal development, nor is it prescriptive template for all life moving forward.

When do we accept supernatural events in the Bible and when do we reject them?

Because breathing life into Adam is supernatural, but it’s supposed to govern our beliefs and behaviors today.

But I seem to remember a prayer that mentioned the Big Bang as opposed to the 6-Day Creation.

That’s sure not in Genesis.

Y’all, this isn’t even consistent interpretation or application within the same chapter.

An Inconvenient Gasp

How in the weeds do we want to get demonstrating the fragility of this claim of biblical support for abortion?

Because if we really want to be tit for tat and tot—

Babies “breathe” in the womb. The “first breath” upon birth is not the beginning of life. It is simply a change in oxygen source.

Before birth, a fetus does not breathe air, but it is very much alive — receiving oxygen through the placenta and practicing rhythmic lung movements weeks before delivery. Surfactin ring any bells? Been there, done that. Twice. Because without it they could…say it with me…die. Because they were already alive.

I have also seen the mile-long monitor strips tracing blood flow from my body to my babies — oxygen carried in blood sustaining them minute by minute.

Hellooo, more inconvenient Bible truths!

The life is in the blood, Amen?

Animals. Humans. Christ. 

Leviticus. Deuteronomy. Hebrews. From the altar to the cross.

And yes, Jesus mentioned it. Didn’t He? “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you…

Blood = Life. Where’s that argument?

Hermeneutics 101

I ask again, what are we to understand of Talarico’s biblical training?

Because this is not high-level stuff.

This is basic interpretation.

Hermeneutics 101.

Context is king. They/then before us/now. Literal, grammatical, historical. Harmony of passage, chapter, book, author, testament, Bible.

And consistently, in the whole counsel of God’s Word—Genesis to Revelation—the life of the unborn has value.

(Exodus 21:22–23; Job 31:15; Psalm 139:13–16; Luke 1:44)

One Last Thing

Also, the question was:

What do you think the biblical support for abortion is?

Not:

What does mainline Judaism think supports abortion?

Friends, I do not believe or disbelieve things because ancient or modern Jews believed or disbelieved them.

I believe or disbelieve things because they are either found in God’s TRUE WORD or not.

“The Jews believe it…” is not a metric for us.

I know this because JESUS CHRIST.

Mainline Judaism doesn’t believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

Yet here we are. Buying Easter dresses and ham.