- Dec 20, 2019
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The terms “preborn” and “unborn” may not seem like a big difference. After all, they’re both describing the same thing, right? Well, not quite. You may hear abortion advocates and life advocates use the same terms even though they are fighting for the exact opposite things. Nonetheless, making abortion unthinkable is an uphill battle. And sadly, with the increasing divisiveness of abortion, we may parrot something we heard just to find a voice. So, how can we be sure that what we’re saying means what we want it to mean?
Definitions matter. Don’t be fooled by the haphazard use of words when talking about the biggest human rights issue in history. So, why is it important that we know what each one means? Well, it’s because they mean different things.
Preborn is defined as someone who exists but has not yet been born.
Unborn is defined as someone who has not been brought to life or has not been born.
Preborn is admitting to an existence, whereas unborn is not. This is because of the subtle yet significant implications of preborn and unborn. And these implications are rooted in the meanings of the prefixes “pre” and “un.”
Pre is a Latin prefix that has several different meanings:
1. before: prior to
An example of this would be a “preteen.” You exist in a stage that is before or prior to being a teenager.
2. prerequisite: preparatory to
An example of this would be someone in “premed,” which is acquiring the necessary prerequisites to move on to medical school.
3. in advance: in front of
An example of this could be a “prepaid credit card” because it’s been paid in advance. Or “premolars” because premolars are the permanent teeth located in front of the molars and behind the canine teeth.
Un is, again, a Latin prefix that has several meanings. I won’t get all Shurley Grammar on you, so here are the generalized meanings:
1. not: none:
An example could be “unskilled” or “unambitious.” Someone who is not skilled or whose ambition is none.
2. opposite: in contrary to
For example, something is “uncool” or “undressed.”
3. remove: release from: cause to cease
Some examples here would be “unlock” or “unplug.” For ceasing action, some examples could be “unraveling” or “unwinding”
Generally, “un” adds a negative or opposite meaning to the following item.
Ultimately, the prefixes “pre” and “un” have completely different meanings but are often, and incorrectly used, interchangeably.
In continuation, these prefixes have different meanings. Yet, both “pre” and “un” refer to two different ideas: state and nature.
State refers to a condition, position, or phase of something.
Nature refers to something’s fundamental characteristics or essence.
This matters because, while the state of an item can change, its nature cannot. This is why the state of liquids changes from solids to liquids to gases. But its nature, being H20, aka water, is the same throughout. Each of the examples above behaves in the same way. A door remains a door; it changes states from locked to unlocked. A prepaid credit card is still a credit card. However, its state is being paid off in advance. A person can go from the state of being unskilled at a particular task to skilled. But they remain a person.
Birth is a state. All humans are born only once in their lives. When someone is born, it’s the official act of exciting the womb of their mother. So, to say that a child is unborn is medically, grammatically, and spiritually incorrect. It’s medically incorrect because it was a unique human with unique DNA from the moment of conception. It is grammatically incorrect because a child is not contrary to being a human, nor is it “not” a child. And it’s spiritually incorrect because Jesus knew us even before he formed us in the womb, indicating that we are uniquely and wonderfully made.
These reasons as to why a child is not unborn are the same reasons the child is preborn. A child is in the beginning stages of gestation and growth from the moment of conception. The child is in the “before” state of being born but remains human in nature. And finally, it’s spiritually correct for lots of reasons!
To summarize, there are things that do and do not work with both of these prefixes. For example, no one is an “unteen”, nor are there “unmie babies” (the un version of preemie baby). Being an unteen would mean not being a teenager yet. However, becoming a teenager is inevitable unless intentional intervention is initiated. The same applies to a preborn child. Their inevitability means that using “un” is wrong. Similarly, it’s unlikely that you would find something to be “precool” “predressed” or “preambitious”.
Being a voice for the voiceless can get murky if we don’t know the meaning behind what we’re saying. But by using the right terminology, we can give the preborn children the respect that they are being robbed of.
Abortion is a human rights and life issue. Have you ever wondered how we got to this point? Why bother understanding the differences between two prefixes in the fight for life?
It’s because changing the words used to describe a child makes it easier to separate the child from their human nature. Doing this makes abortion seem more acceptable, viable, or, in some cases, encouraged because you’re not terminating a baby/child/person. You’re terminating a clump of cells/fetus/problem. Let me put it like this: Would you rather eat a nice juicy, perfectly seared, smooth-as-butter fillet mignon cooked to your preferred temperature? Or a red oozing globule of fleshy cow carcass?
What do a fillet mignon and a fleshy cow carcass have in common? Everything. Similarly, a “clump of cells, fetus, and unborn” are all, in fact, the same: a baby.
So why is it important that we use the right terminology?
We should be using the proper terminology because by using inaccurate words like “unborn,” we are unintentionally creating a separation. Not only between the children we are referring to but also amongst our fellow life advocates. Additionally, we are unintentionally perpetuating the abortion advocate’s pursuit of separation and dehumanization of children in the womb. We cannot allow this.
The answer is clear. A child in the womb is a preborn child. A preborn child with unique, God-given attributes that is innocent to the world of all evil things. An unborn child is a child that has not been conceived yet because the presence of a child in a womb is “none” at this point.
There are several different terms used to describe a child in the womb. Some of them aren’t pretty. Others are used accurately. But one thing is certain: a child is a child. So, let’s treat them as such!
Additional Resources:
The post Unborn and Preborn: What Does it Mean? appeared first on Focus on the Family.
Continue reading...
Preborn and Unborn Defined
Definitions matter. Don’t be fooled by the haphazard use of words when talking about the biggest human rights issue in history. So, why is it important that we know what each one means? Well, it’s because they mean different things.
Preborn is defined as someone who exists but has not yet been born.
Unborn is defined as someone who has not been brought to life or has not been born.
Preborn is admitting to an existence, whereas unborn is not. This is because of the subtle yet significant implications of preborn and unborn. And these implications are rooted in the meanings of the prefixes “pre” and “un.”
What does Pre mean?
Pre is a Latin prefix that has several different meanings:
1. before: prior to
An example of this would be a “preteen.” You exist in a stage that is before or prior to being a teenager.
2. prerequisite: preparatory to
An example of this would be someone in “premed,” which is acquiring the necessary prerequisites to move on to medical school.
3. in advance: in front of
An example of this could be a “prepaid credit card” because it’s been paid in advance. Or “premolars” because premolars are the permanent teeth located in front of the molars and behind the canine teeth.
What does Un mean?
Un is, again, a Latin prefix that has several meanings. I won’t get all Shurley Grammar on you, so here are the generalized meanings:
1. not: none:
An example could be “unskilled” or “unambitious.” Someone who is not skilled or whose ambition is none.
2. opposite: in contrary to
For example, something is “uncool” or “undressed.”
3. remove: release from: cause to cease
Some examples here would be “unlock” or “unplug.” For ceasing action, some examples could be “unraveling” or “unwinding”
Generally, “un” adds a negative or opposite meaning to the following item.
Ultimately, the prefixes “pre” and “un” have completely different meanings but are often, and incorrectly used, interchangeably.
State vs Nature
In continuation, these prefixes have different meanings. Yet, both “pre” and “un” refer to two different ideas: state and nature.
State refers to a condition, position, or phase of something.
Nature refers to something’s fundamental characteristics or essence.
This matters because, while the state of an item can change, its nature cannot. This is why the state of liquids changes from solids to liquids to gases. But its nature, being H20, aka water, is the same throughout. Each of the examples above behaves in the same way. A door remains a door; it changes states from locked to unlocked. A prepaid credit card is still a credit card. However, its state is being paid off in advance. A person can go from the state of being unskilled at a particular task to skilled. But they remain a person.
What does this mean?
Birth is a state. All humans are born only once in their lives. When someone is born, it’s the official act of exciting the womb of their mother. So, to say that a child is unborn is medically, grammatically, and spiritually incorrect. It’s medically incorrect because it was a unique human with unique DNA from the moment of conception. It is grammatically incorrect because a child is not contrary to being a human, nor is it “not” a child. And it’s spiritually incorrect because Jesus knew us even before he formed us in the womb, indicating that we are uniquely and wonderfully made.
These reasons as to why a child is not unborn are the same reasons the child is preborn. A child is in the beginning stages of gestation and growth from the moment of conception. The child is in the “before” state of being born but remains human in nature. And finally, it’s spiritually correct for lots of reasons!
To summarize, there are things that do and do not work with both of these prefixes. For example, no one is an “unteen”, nor are there “unmie babies” (the un version of preemie baby). Being an unteen would mean not being a teenager yet. However, becoming a teenager is inevitable unless intentional intervention is initiated. The same applies to a preborn child. Their inevitability means that using “un” is wrong. Similarly, it’s unlikely that you would find something to be “precool” “predressed” or “preambitious”.
Being a voice for the voiceless can get murky if we don’t know the meaning behind what we’re saying. But by using the right terminology, we can give the preborn children the respect that they are being robbed of.
Additional terms may apply
Abortion is a human rights and life issue. Have you ever wondered how we got to this point? Why bother understanding the differences between two prefixes in the fight for life?
It’s because changing the words used to describe a child makes it easier to separate the child from their human nature. Doing this makes abortion seem more acceptable, viable, or, in some cases, encouraged because you’re not terminating a baby/child/person. You’re terminating a clump of cells/fetus/problem. Let me put it like this: Would you rather eat a nice juicy, perfectly seared, smooth-as-butter fillet mignon cooked to your preferred temperature? Or a red oozing globule of fleshy cow carcass?
What do a fillet mignon and a fleshy cow carcass have in common? Everything. Similarly, a “clump of cells, fetus, and unborn” are all, in fact, the same: a baby.
So why is it important that we use the right terminology?
We should be using the proper terminology because by using inaccurate words like “unborn,” we are unintentionally creating a separation. Not only between the children we are referring to but also amongst our fellow life advocates. Additionally, we are unintentionally perpetuating the abortion advocate’s pursuit of separation and dehumanization of children in the womb. We cannot allow this.
Unborn or Preborn?
The answer is clear. A child in the womb is a preborn child. A preborn child with unique, God-given attributes that is innocent to the world of all evil things. An unborn child is a child that has not been conceived yet because the presence of a child in a womb is “none” at this point.
There are several different terms used to describe a child in the womb. Some of them aren’t pretty. Others are used accurately. But one thing is certain: a child is a child. So, let’s treat them as such!
Additional Resources:
The post Unborn and Preborn: What Does it Mean? appeared first on Focus on the Family.
Continue reading...