Life Anew

A short piece which I wrote and disseminated to my colleagues...
I hope you find the below readable and meaningful, especially for all the mums/dads (and future ones), *smile*.

I don't know how many of you have studied the issue of abortion , but ONE reason why this practice is apparently accepted (and even encouraged?) in many societies is the belief that a foetus less than 6 months old is merely a 'part' or a 'physical extension' of the mother's body i.e. the unborn is not significantly different from a pimple .

In other words, so the argument goes, until the pregnancy reaches about six months there would be as yet no human life in the womb. It is just organic matter. The mum therefore has the right (or SHOULD have the right) to do whatever she wants with it.

Let's examine the issue further...

"Is an embryo merely an EXTENSION of its mother's body or a HUMAN PERSON with a life of his/her own?"

Consider the following (taken from Geisler's Christian Ethics):

Embryos have their own SEX from the moment of conception
Embryos experience their HEART MUSCLES pulsating after about 3 weeks, shortly after which a head, arms and legs appear.
Embryos have their own individual BRAIN WAVES about 40 days after conception (which they will keep until death)
Embryos have their own BLOOD TYPE (possibly different from the mother's) and unique FINGERPRINTS within the second month of conception
Embryos can swallow, squint and swim and even feel ORGANIC PAIN after 8-13 weeks
Embryos develop skin, hair and nails and even start DREAMING during the fifth month
Embryos can CRY and even live OUTSIDE the womb by the halfway mark of its scheduled birth date (i.e. after about 5 months)

In a word, "Embryos are only 'nesting' within the mother's womb; birth merely changes the method of receiving oxygen and food...So distinct is an embryo from a mother's womb that if a fertilized ovum from a black couple is transplanted into a white mother, she will have a black baby." (Geisler, '89).

Furthermore, ALL the genetic information which comprises an adult human being can be found in the fertilized ovum. A female ovum has 23 chromosomes; a sperm also has 23. Guess how much Junior Embryo has at the MOMENT of conception (i.e. when ovum and sperm 'join'). Answer (surprise surprise) = 46. What other 'scientific definition' of 100% human do we have?

Finally, here are some 'quotable quotes' from the Subcommittee on Separation of Powers, report to Senate Judiciary Committee S-158, 97th Congress 1st Session 1981 (all emphases mine):

"...in biology and medicine, it is an ACCEPTED FACT that the life of any individual organism reproducing by sexual reproduction begins at CONCEPTION or FERTILIZATION"
"...to accept the fact that after FERTILIZATION has taken place a NEW HUMAN has come into being is NO LONGER A MATTER OF TASTE OR OPINION. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence."
"...the question of WHEN life begins is no longer a question for theological or philosophical dispute. It is an establish scientific fact...that ALL life, including human life, begins at the MOMENT OF CONCEPTION "

Doesn't quite sound like a pimple, now does it?

So, everyone, your child was (or will be) WITH YOU from the moment he/she is conceived...from Conception Day1 onwards your bundle of joy and love was fully human...fully alive...a wonderful person with great potential (and not a 'potential person')...a beautiful gift from above...

And don't ever doubt he/she is anything less, *smile*.

Warm Regards,

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