[STM]

Hello everyone,
Ok so I have been debating hurr hurr to create this thread for a while now, I had a whole concept to create teams, have a host and a panel but it was too convoluted and I doubted peoples interest. I have noticed we haven't had a proper debate for a while and sometimes the OW debates can get a little heated albeit interesting. Also, I need to start practising debating and until I find a club or something (all for my future line of work) I thought might as well create a thread here. I think that rather than having a single debate and then closing the thread, we can let the thread evolve as it progresses, reaching a conclusion and then continuing along the new debate than naturally forms from the tail of it's predecessor. So I suppose we need to establish sound ground rules (that is if anyone is interested in holding a debate) to keep this place from erupting into civil war.

+ Try to back up your argument with evidence
+ While I hate to admit, generally science takes precedence over religion
+ No abuse throwing about religion and peoples beliefs, try to keep talk about religion to a minimum
+ Be intelligent, no one liners.

Ok, it's now or never: Let's start with something of a political nature rather than philosophical, just to get the ball rolling.

Abortion: Is it murder of the unborn?

I would like to propose that in fact, the above statement is partially true and that pro-abortion laws are to relaxed. Certainly in the UK where you can be up to 24 weeks pregnant before you are no longer allowed to abort. We know that in 15 weeks alone, a foetus has almost 100% sensitivity to touch and is aware of its surroundings by 6 weeks. Is this not at least the level of an animal? Should women be allowed to kill their babies? I think only in extreme circumstances such as rape.