Okay.
That can be a barrier to communication and understanding. I run into that all the time here.
Almost every theological or moral position I hold has nuances. Things are rarely very simple.
If you don’t mind, I will critique each phrase.
Let’s narrow the focus to regard babies in the womb, prior to birth.
What I think you mean here is that a unique human life begins at conception. The sperm and ovum at both alive prior to conception, but each of them has 23 chromosomes from the mother and the father. At the moment of conception, a zygote is formed with (normally) 46 chromosomes as a single-celled unique being, although the woman is not yet pregnant. Over the next few days, the cell(s) of the embryo begin to divide causing the embryo (technically now called a blastocyst) to grow. For up to a two-week period, the embryo/blastocyst can occasionally split into twins, triplets, or more. Also during this period the embryo/blastocyst must implant in the wall of the uterus or they will die. It is estimated that from 30-70% of embryos fail to implant, although I think a more conservative number is about 25%-50%, but still dwarfing the abortion rate.
I am currently working through the question as to when human personhood begins since I’m struggling with the idea that God would give personhood to an embryo only for it to be immediately destroyed. Moreover, if a zygote is a person from the moment of conception, then are identical twins “half persons”? Of course not. Are
chimeras (two different embryos with different DNA that merge) a “double people”? I don’t think so. Are conjoined twins (formerly called “Siamese twins”), one or two people? Generally, we count human personhood by the head and not simply by a single body.
I currently believe that human personhood comes very early to the embryo/blastocyst, but I have not reached a conclusion as to when it happens. It could certainly be when the human being (the body) begins at the moment of conception, or sometime a bit later after the possibility of twinning ends. In any case, a pro-life ethic seeks to preserve human life where it can be nurtured, so intentional abortion after the woman knows she is pregnant (generally several weeks after implantation) is wrong.
Knowing the terminology is important for discussion of the issue. If you are going to talk to a person knowledgeable in biology or a person familiar with the issues, it if fundamental to credibility. One can always “dumb it down” if necessary.
My father was a medic in World War II and served in a hospital in the South Pacific. He was responsible for the surgical suite and management of the drug stores. He later earned a degree in biology. My mother is a retired nurse. My brother is a researcher in organic chemistry, working primarily with health researchers. I have had biological training in high school and college, as well as about a decade of annual first responder training to handle medical emergencies. I have dealt with people in all kinds of life-threatening situations as part of my job. I have also had a colorful medical history which includes a rare disease (Cushing’s Disease) where I have to know and use medical terminology to ensure that I get the care I need. So I have the knowledge and vocabulary at my disposal to speak on both a high and low level, as needed. However, I try to be precise in my language (much to the contempt of some) to speak clearly and forthrightly.
Yes, I agree.
It is rare, but not unheard of. I have a friend who has severe epilepsy that has never been under control. She was raped in her late teens and became pregnant. She had previously been advised never to try to have a child because she and the baby would likely not survive the pregnancy. She decided to continue the pregnancy at tremendous risk to herself. Fortunately, she and the baby survived, but it was a rough time. I would have understood of she had chosen abortion, especially since the people at church condemned her for getting pregnant before marriage, even though she had been raped. (A number of people then and now believe that a woman cannot become pregnant as a consequence of rape.) It was very hard on her faith, and put even more pressure on her pregnancy. That’s when I started noticing the hypocrisy of the pro-life movement – many will get angry at an unmarried pregnant woman for her “sin” and shun her, so women who get pregnant out-of-wedlock learn that the church has nothing but condemnation for her, so they get an abortion to avoid the shame and trouble.
It is the taking of a human life. I cannot claim that in all stages/circumstances it is murder. I don’t use the word “murder” for rhetorical effect.
Done!
