Life *does not* begin at conception

[Larissa238]

It just doesn't. If you think about it, if life began at conception, then identical twins would have the same life, i.e. soul. Conception is when the sperm hits the egg. The egg begins to divide, and at this point freepers would call it a soul. But what happens in the case of identical twins when the egg splits at the 4 or 8 cell stage? To someone who hasn't thought it through, they would say those two cells shared the same soul. But they don't. I don't claim to know when life does begin, all I know is that it's not at conception.

[MrScorpio]

1. Sanity reigned in Colorado over that travesty of a ballot initiative

I saw the sponsor on C-Span. The man was a certifiable lunatic

[Oregone]

2. This isn't a question science can objectively answer (or religion)

The SCOTUS says life begins when a fetus is viable on its own accord (start of 3rd trimester). This was an arbitrary decision, based on an educated look at the material. But it remains a complicated matter because it is arbitrary.

But if we were to look religiously, I think they set "life" at 1 month old legally, being that many babies were not viable even born on term within the first month of their life. Thereafter, they were and a new set of laws kicked in.

[HereSince1628]

7. Actually, biology answers it. Just not in a way either side really wants.

Life on this planet began a very very very very long time ago. And ever since living things have been reproducing in a never ending chain living things making more living things. No new special instances of creation are necessary to produce new individuals.

[gollygee]

3. I don't think it happens at any particular moment

I think live is created over a period of time.

But it's irrelevant, IMO. The question with abortion is whether the fetus' rights are less than or greater than the woman's rights.

[TahitiNut]

4. Church doctrine once held that the 'spirit' (spiritus) entered the person at first breath.

Inspiration.

:shrug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. That is also the belief in Judaism.

[Lars39]

5. Implantation is part of the definition.

Implantation is with the woman's consent. No consent, no implantation, no pregnancy.

[kestrel91316]

8. "Life" began in some murky sea billions of years ago and has continued

seamlessly ever since. The bible (or is it Catholic teaching) tells us that ensoulment occurs at "quickening", when the fetal movements can be felt. I don't consider the fetus a person until it is able to survive outside the womb with only the assistance of the mother.

The whole silly continuum and muddled opinionated mess is ridiculous. It doesn't matter when it becomes a person. Let the woman decide for herself whether or not she values the fetus enough to keep it. And keep the church OUT of my womb.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Life begins when the kids move out.