Why This Book
Is Different

Renowned Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland contributes the foreword to Sacred or Secular, highlighting the importance of grounding human value and personhood in a coherent worldview. Moreland calls Sacred or Secular a "monumental" book and a "must-read."  

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Other Praise Received

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"In Sacred or Secular, Jacob Vazquez takes readers on a dazzling tour of the pro-life view. At every stop, he demonstrates that the pro-life argument shines in comparison to the justifications given by leading pro-choice thinkers whose views he presents clearly and fairly. He reveals that the scientific and philosophical evidence savvy pro-lifers use finds solid bedrock in the bigger, better, and more beautiful story of what it means to be human and valuable—the story Christianity and its Imago Dei reality have told the world from the beginning. And he does it all with Gospel-fueled care and compassion for the individuals, born and unborn, to whom these ideas are tethered." - Megan Almon, Stand to Reason

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“Vazquez’s work represents a genuine contribution to both the moral argument and the abortion debate. With careful philosophical rigor and a clear, methodical approach, he shows that sustained reflection on abortion inevitably raises deeper questions about the nature and value of human beings, questions that are most coherently answered within the Christian worldview. For readers interested in the moral argument, this book offers a fresh and instructive account of how moral facts point beyond naturalism toward God. For those engaged in applied ethics, Vazquez models a disciplined and charitable method that yields substantive philosophical insight rather than mere advocacy. This is a thoughtful and rewarding work, well worth careful reading.” - Dr. Jonathan Pruitt, Liberty University 

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“Whether you are a pro-choice or pro-life advocate, you will find Jacob Vazquez’s excellent book thought-provoking and worthwhile reading. He effectively dismantles pro-choice arguments and provides powerful arguments supporting a pro-life position. In addition, he demonstrates that a Christian worldview makes sense in light of what we know about our human condition." - Dr. Richard Weikart, emeritus professor of history, California State Univ., Stanislaus, and author of The Death of Humanity: And the Case for Life

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Jacob Vazquez has done something rare: he has connected the abortion debate to the deeper philosophical questions that actually determine how we view human persons in the first place. Drawing from contemporary discussions in philosophy of mind, rational agency, metaphysics, and worldview analysis, Sacred or Secular: The Pro-Life Case for Grounding Human Value in the Imago Dei moves beyond superficial talking points and forces readers to grapple with the foundations of human value itself. I was especially encouraged to see Vazquez thoughtfully engage ideas related to the Free-Thinking Argument (and other Arguments from Reason) and the broader implications of rational agency, consciousness, and libertarian freedom for human dignity. The result is a work that is philosophically serious, culturally relevant, and accessible to thoughtful readers. Whether one agrees with every argument or not, this book deserves careful engagement. It is an important contribution to one of the most significant moral debates of our time. - Dr. Timothy A. Stratton, FreeThinking Ministries

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In addition to being quite readable, Vazquez’s book is immensely useful. It provides a handy summary of the principal arguments in the debate over the ethics of killing children up to the time of birth. Thus it is a good introduction for the reader new to the controversy. Without going out of his way to draw attention to the fact, he makes clear that the assault on the right to live of the unborn child is easily repurposed into an assault on old, the sick, and the inconvenient born people. As a Canadian, I am witnessing that assault play out every day in real time in our hospitals — which gives special significance to the message of Sacred or Secular? - Denyse O'Leary, co-author of The Immortal Mind 

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“Jacob Vazquez provides a clear discussion on what can be difficult issues. With a fair and systematic approach, he helpfully identifies key positions between secular and theistic views of humanity, personhood, and even autonomy. His representations of these different approaches allow readers to easily understand the challenges facing secular views, while also considering objections to theistic descriptions. Since both views have implications for the unborn, this book is recommended for those interested in pro-choice and pro-life discussions.” - Dr. Benjamin Shaw, CORE Apologetics