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Human existence contains only two defining instants, which are conception and death. And this is not a matter of “religion” but of biology. All other milestones, no matter how dramatically recognized in society, amount to transitional phases in the human life cycle. So despite all of the grandiose but empty oratory, any individual who does not advocate the defense of all innocent human life between those two landmarks is an individual who holds no regard for the sanctity of human life on the whole.

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ORIGINAL: Marcus.

quote:

Human existence contains only two defining instants, which are conception and death. And this is not a matter of “religion” but of biology. All other milestones, no matter how dramatically recognized in society, amount to transitional phases in the human life cycle. So despite all of the grandiose but empty oratory, any individual who does not advocate the defense of all innocent human life between those two landmarks is an individual who holds no regard for the sanctity of human life on the whole.

Defining Good and Evil in 2008 America

What do you think of the thoughts contained in this paragraph?

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ORIGINAL: Jhud

I really like the answer given in the OP, and I think from a legal perspective it comes down to the idea of personhood. I think inherent in American jurisprudence is the notion that our rights are attached to a 'person' - that is an entity that exists beyond our physical make-up, or as Christians would put it, a soul.

I would go so far as to say if 'persons' don't actually exist, it would be impossible to actually have inherent rights at all, because rights cannot emanate from our biology - they could only be inherent (that is, a necessary part of our make-up) if we are endowed with them as persons.

Si when the Declarations says, and the Constitution recognizes, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" that must refer to persons, because we are not by biology in any way 'equal'.

So if we have a right to life that supersedes our biology, then those rights exist and are attached to us in whatever biological stage we are as individual persons.

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ORIGINAL: Marcus.

I believe there is a movement to bring this very idea to state legislatures. However, the pro-abortion lobbyists work very hard to get these bills killed in committee. We need to pray very hard and consistently to help these get through.