How can someone say that Psalm 137.9 supports abortion?
Reading the verses just before verse 9, it looks as if someone is miserable about being carried off into slavery by the Babylonians. Then they hope they won't forget their homeland and Jerusalem. Then they remind God what the Edomites said as they tore down the temple. Then in anger, they address their captors, the Babylonians: "Happy the man who repays you for all you did to us!" then going on-- over the top-- as a persecuted slave may be inclined to, "Happy is he who shall siezeyour children and dash them against the rock"
Someone said it, in anger and frustration, probably rhetorically, to the Babylonians. It does not seem to be the word of God to anyone.
People still believed in "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth...' back then.
Jesus came to correct that idea. Check out Matthew 5:21-22 regarding murder and anger, and Matthew 5:38-48 regarding retaliation and forgiveness.
And before someone quotes Matt 19:14 from the King James Bible out of context "But Jesus said, 'Suffer little children. . ." as if that means God wants little children to suffer, first remember that the KJV was translated at about the same time Shakespeare was producing plays. Language changes. Then read the whole section in a modern translation.
Also remember that the Bible has a history. It was assembled over a time of many centuries.
It's a record of how God revealed his existence to people and how they responded-- or didn't.
Or, if you're atheist, how humans concocted a god to justify their concept of a moral law-giver, and has some nice irrelevant ideas and some disgusting stories in it.
Nonetheless, much of our current civilization is a result of people reading or misreading it.
@ Maurog IV: interesting point. The Jews ended up as captives in Babylon as a result of their kings leading and/or allowing the people to disrespect the law they knew they were supposed to obey. The psalm reflects the lament, frustration and anger the Jews felt in captivity. It shows how the behavior of a people brings consequences that bring suffering. It serves as an example of how people might feel when their internal moral weakness leads to their downfall as a nation.
Have you ever, in a moment of anger or frustration, thought of doing something you'd normally consider stupid? Have you ever wished someone would cause harm to another person or group that has harmed you? Then you realize if that happened, only more trouble would ensue, it wouldn't solve the basic problem: People need to respect one another, and the laws of their society in order to "ensure domestic tranquility."
The words spoken do not condone genocide, abortion or any kind of killing. They express some of the imper
The words express some of the imperfection inherent in human nature. Yet, for sane, law-abiding people, something tells us not to act on the impulse. Find a better solution. Life goes on in a civilized society.