Life Begins at Conception

[hindupridemn]

Of course life begins at conception. A zygote is life, but so is bacteria. You wouldn't consider killing bacteria murder. Murder is the unjust killing of sentient/sapient life, of which zygotes, embryos, fetuses are not. Just my 0.02 USD

I might.

 

[hindupridemn]

They are both mindless single cell organisms. It lacks humanity without mind and emotion.

How do we know single-celled organisms lack minds and emotions? I read a scientific study once that showed that bacteria have personalities.

 

[hindupridemn]

Although abortion may not be addressed in Christian scriptures, it is strongly condemned in the Upanishads. In fact, abortion is sometimes viewed as WORSE than murder in Hinduism.

 

[Vile Atheist]

How do we know single-celled organisms lack minds and emotions? I read a scientific study once that showed that bacteria have personalities.

I hope you don't wash yourself then, you perpetrator of genocide! All those poor little bacteria!

But seriously. Do you have a source? I'd be interested in reading that.

 

[McBell]

But seriously. Do you have a source? I'd be interested in reading that.

AS would I.

 

[Autodidact]

Life at conception is always a interesting debate. I agree it begins at conception, and even though the scripture doesn't deal with abortion directly, we still need to use common since in reasoning with people who have no faith, since they use family planning as their only method of birth control. This is a shame. It amazes me that when we have a topic that is clearly tackled by scripture, we are disobedient. For example, the topic of homosexuality is clear in scripture, yet we are having gay marriage debates. I am confident if conception was dealt with in scripture, we would still not obey, just like society shunz all the rest of God's decrees.

So that would be a "no" then?

 

[hindupridemn]

I don't remember where I read it . I feel guilt when I use antibacterial soap so I pray for their souls every night. It's hard work being a Jain.

 

[Vile Atheist]

I don't remember where I read it . I feel guilt when I use antibacterial soap so I pray for their souls every night. It's hard work being a Jain.

Ermmm....so why DO you wash yourself if you know it will result in the deaths of millions of bacteria? Isn't that (at least to you) pre-meditated murder?

 

[Papersock]

I would think "personality" in bacteria probably just means some of them behave differently than others.

 

[Vile Atheist]

I would think "personality" in bacteria probably just means some of them behave differently than others.

Which is why I asked for a source.

 

[Papersock]

Here is something interesting: Deep Inside Bacteria, a Germ of Human Personality - WSJ.com

 

[logician]

Life begins whenever it begins.

 

[DarkSun]

Life begins whenever it begins.

That's a rather circular statement.

 

[Vile Atheist]

Here is something interesting: Deep Inside Bacteria, a Germ of Human Personality - WSJ.com

Very interesting indeed. I'll have to research more on it.

 

[jtartar]

Is there any biblical basis for the claim that life begins at conception?

Darkness,
Yes, the Holy Scriptures give an answer to that question. Consider what is said at Ex 21:22-25. These scriptures tell us that if a man and another man are fighting and a fatal accident occurs so as to kill a baby, still in his mothers womb or is is killed by a premature birth, the one causing this is to be put to death. This shows conclusively that live occurs at conception and not at birth. Consider also Jere 1:5, which tell about Jehovah, the Almighty God, knowing Jeremiah before Jeremiah was born. Ps 139: 13-16, tells about David praising God for the wonderful way man was formed. Each part God knows about. I don't think it would be pleasing to God to stop the formation of a child in the mothers womb.
The scriptures tell us that any man killing another must also be put to death by man. This law has not been changed, Gen 9:6.
According to the scriptures there are several things that God PARTICULARLY hates, two of these are shedding innocent blood and lying, Ps 5:6, Prov 6:16,17.

 

[MSizer]

I don't think there's any debating whether a zygote or even a blastocyst is human life, of course it is - what else would it be? Arachnid life? It comes from human parents, so it's human life. What I don't understand is why people are even arguing over what constitutes life (which seems rather simple to answer to me). I think what matters is whether that life has the ability to suffer. If a piece of living material has conciousness or can feel pain, then it deservers moral consideration. If it can't, then it doesn't. My tonsils were human life, but nobody freaked out when the doctor suggested taking them out when I was a kid. That's clearly the removal and causing to die of human life, but the tonsils on their own can't think. In fact, they could feel, so there was pain involved, which is more than can be said for a blastocyst or zygote.

 

[Tiapan]

I am not sure but from my Biology classes the fertilized egg then proceeds to the Bastula stage (about 50 undifferentiated cells). From there cells differentiate, some invert to form the embryo and others become the placenta. As such the initial fertilizatiion although "mother of all" does not necessarily result in Life. much is, less animate, tissue Umbilical cord and Placenta.

Some life does start at conception but not all the organism ends up as sentient.

Cheers

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes, the Holy Scriptures give an answer to that question. Consider what is said at Ex 21:22-25. These scriptures tell us that if a man and another man are fighting and a fatal accident occurs so as to kill a baby, still in his mothers womb or is is killed by a premature birth, the one causing this is to be put to death. This shows conclusively that live occurs at conception and not at birth.

Which Exodus have you been reading? If a miscarriage occurs, the penalty is a fine. If the mother dies, the penalty is death.

 

[lockyfan]

Actually penguin, if nothing happens then a fine if there is death an eye for an eye principle is applied

ps 139:16 Your eyes saw even the embryo of me,
And in your book all its parts were down in writing,

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Actually penguin, if nothing happens then a fine if there is death an eye for an eye principle is applied

ps 139:16 Your eyes saw even the embryo of me,
And in your book all its parts were down in writing,

It says there will be a fine if the woman's child "departs from her", making no distinction between whether the child "departs from her" alive (induced labour) or dead (miscarriage). It only says that death is the penalty if death occurs beyond that, i.e. if the mother dies from her injuries.