by madmatt

Created on: March 01, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

AbortionWe Don't Really Know

There is debate as to whether or not abortion is right or wrong, obviously. That mass of cells at the beginning of a pregnancy causes a lot of red faces and broken relationships. If we can demonstrate that it is not a human life, and instead something else, then abortion is nothing more than the eradication of a group of cells akin to the treatment of cancer. On the other hand, if that mass of cells is in fact a human life, then abortion is murder, all legality aside.

That mass of cells, known by many as a "fetus," is most certainly not a microwave, a new car, or a big-screen. Chances are that if a pregnant woman were to carry that fetus to term and deliver it, it would turn out to be a baby. Sure the sex of the baby might be a surprise, but nobody is ever disappointed with the baby they honestly thought was a sound system for their car.

Some Doctors and scientists hold that the mass of cells in the uterus of a pregnant woman is not a child, but instead simply a growth of cells. I think the correct term is "organism." Given a certain set of criteria, we live. That set of criteria differs from organism to organism, but that set of criteria doesn't determine whether or not the organism is living. That mass of cells in the uterus of a pregnant woman is living. Take away the uterus and it dies. The very fact that it can be aborted is evidence that it is living. The argument must then be based on what that organism iswhether or not it is human life.

We can all agree that that mass of cells either is or eventually becomes a human. There's a chance that life begins at birth. I doubt it very much, but I'll admit that it's possible. It is also possible that that growth of cells is a human life. To me, life is sacred and is not something on which I'd like to place bets. Also, I believe murder is wrong. I don't base my decisions on a guess, especially when I may be dealing with a human life.

Why not give life the benefit of the doubt?

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