At what point does a fetus become a human being?

[Anonymous]

Interested in hearing people's opinions on this. Also, if you could state whether you consider yourself pro-life, pro-choice, or middle of the road.

[Anonymous]

There is no way to be certain of this, thus the enduring, unresolvable argument.

The bigger question is: is the bible real, does god exist, does god care about the unborn and killing, etc? It takes a huge leap of faith to believe all of this. Once you buy into this, the answers are all cut and dry, right?

Even when a pregnancy is a fetus, I believe there are certain situations when it's more ethical to end its life.

I am an agnostic and very liberal. Abortion is a necessary evil.

I think the government should offer people money a lump sum pay out to opt for sterilization after they have had two children.

Statistically, children born into a very poor home are more likely to be a burden to our society. This is who on welfare for life, and who has more children earlier to add to the rolls. This is who spends life in and out or prison, also at the cost or upwards of 80,0000 per inmate to incarcerate. We have the most prisoners per capita on the planet. I might also note that many or these people who have a ton of kids they can't support, love Jesus and pray daily, so converting everyone to some higher moral ideal won't solve the issue of unwanted pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

God said " I knew you before you were formed in your mothers womb"....the answer of course , is at conception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way to be certain of this, thus the enduring, unresolvable argument.

The bigger question is: is the bible real, does god exist, does god care about the unborn and killing, etc? It takes a huge leap of faith to believe all of this. Once you buy into this, the answers are all cut and dry, right?

Even when a pregnancy is a fetus, I believe there are certain situations when it's more ethical to end its life.

I am an agnostic and very liberal. Abortion is a necessary evil.

I think the government should offer people money a lump sum pay out to opt for sterilization after they have had two children.

Statistically, children born into a very poor home are more likely to be a burden to our society. This is who on welfare for life, and who has more children earlier to add to the rolls. This is who spends life in and out or prison, also at the cost or upwards of 80,0000 per inmate to incarcerate. We have the most prisoners per capita on the planet. I might also note that many or these people who have a ton of kids they can't support, love Jesus and pray daily, so converting everyone to some higher moral ideal won't solve the issue of unwanted
pregnancy.

Why is this the bigger question? Those that don't believe in god still have an opinion about when a fetus becomes a human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way to be certain of this, thus the enduring, unresolvable argument.

The bigger question is: is the bible real, does god exist, does god care about the unborn and killing, etc? It takes a huge leap of faith to believe all of this. Once you buy into this, the answers are all cut and dry, right?

Even when a pregnancy is a fetus, I believe there are certain situations when it's more ethical to end its life.

I am an agnostic and very liberal. Abortion is a necessary evil.

I think the government should offer people money a lump sum pay out to opt for sterilization after they have had two children.

Statistically, children born into a very poor home are more likely to be a burden to our society. This is who on welfare for life, and who has more children earlier to add to the rolls. This is who spends life in and out or prison, also at the cost or upwards of 80,0000 per inmate to incarcerate. We have the most prisoners per capita on the planet. I might also note that many or these people who have a ton of kids they can't support, love Jesus and pray daily, so converting everyone to some higher moral ideal won't solve the issue of unwanted
pregnancy.

Why is this the bigger question? Those that don't believe in god still have an opinion about when a fetus becomes a human.

These discussions always quickly devolve into ultimately what God thinks. Whether one believes in God or not, e.g: 7:52 above, the second response in. I was rolling my eyes a bit as I typed it. I don't think a reasonable discussion of when life begins can occur when what God and what he allegedly wrote in his book is a determining factor.

[Anonymous]

There is no way to be certain of this, thus the enduring, unresolvable argument.

I am an agnostic and very liberal. Abortion is a necessary evil.

I think the government should offer people money a lump sum pay out to opt for sterilization after they have had two children.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ITA.

[Anonymous]

At the point of viability, or when the mother decides she wants to have the baby, whichever comes first.

[Anonymous]

when it qualifies for welfare, free medical care, paid maternity leave, foodstamps

[Anonymous]

I'd say when the fetus reaches viability it should be illegal to abort. But the problem is defining viability given the current science we have. In the end, I think abortion should be legal up to the first trimester. After that, I'd say only where the mother's life is threatened by the pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the point of viability, or when the mother decides she wants to have the baby, whichever comes first.

Pro-choice. I see viability as the point at which a fetus becomes a human. I really don't understand the viewpoint above. How does the point as to when an individual decides when she wants a baby have any bearing on as to when a fetus actually becomes human?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say when the fetus reaches viability it should be illegal to abort. But the problem is defining viability given the current science we have. In the end, I think abortion should be legal up to the first trimester. After that, I'd say only where the mother's life is threatened by the pregnancy.

OP here. Just to clarify, I'm more interested in hearing opinions as to when fetuses become humans, not necessarily when abortion should be restricted. The two do not necessarily need to go together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the point of viability, or when the mother decides she wants to have the baby, whichever comes first.

As a short answer to a complex question, that captures an amazing amount of what I feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say when the fetus reaches viability it should be illegal to abort. But the problem is defining viability given the current science we have. In the end, I think abortion should be legal up to the first trimester. After that, I'd say only where the mother's life is threatened by the pregnancy.

OP here. Just to clarify, I'm more interested in hearing opinions as to when fetuses become humans, not necessarily when abortion should be restricted. The two do not necessarily need to go together.

THANK YOU.

And to answer your original question, I have no idea. I know when I would consider a fetus to be a human, but it's subjective. So, I don't know when you would consider a fetus to be human.

I do, however, know how a bill becomes a law, if that helps.

[Anonymous]

pro choice
Faced with the decision 53 yrs ago at the ages of 19 &17 we married rather than have a"back room" abortion. Our 53rd anniv was 7/3 Still very happily married
The thought of our daughter not be a wonderful contributing member of society confirms all our decisions FOR US

We live in a county where, in theory, church and state ate separate. By foisting your religious convictions upon others who do not believe as you do, your arrogance in doing so, violates all that make this country unique?

Abortion when and if is a choice best made by the two people who conceived the child, not the government, not a church i may or may not believe in and not a G - d whose not anyone else but the two people or just the mother as dictated by circumstance. rape, incest health, etc.

We'd all be best served if all you G-d fearing zealots
kept your beliefs to yourself and cease with your insane demonstrations, justification, incentivizing the murder of Md's
and heartless taunting of women seeing abortion.
When is life prior to birth, is a personal, ethical choice, not one to be dictated by a church,or a government

[Anonymous]

14 weeks