I have learned (here at Answers) that it is possible for a human to have two sets of chromosomes if two zygotes fuse into one, for example. The resulting animal - which could be human - is one of many forms of chemerism. At the same time, much of the debate and doubts around abortion are based on the existence of a soul which grants humans of a special status.
While most or all people agree that killing a 6 or 7 month fetus is as wrong as killing a new born, oppinions begin to diverge as the age of the fetus reduces. At some point in the fetus time-line, being anti-abortion is something only the most radicals agree with: if you think that the pill doesn't prevent fertilization, it is technically a form of abortion of a 2 or 3 day zygote.
On the other hand, if abortion is wrong because life is sacred, when does it become sacred, i.e., when do we get a soul? At conception? So how does chimerism come into play? Do souls fuse? Or do we get souls only at birth? Or are we soul-less?
2006-07-05 07:54:20 · 8 answers · asked by leblongeezer 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I honestly have no opinion on these and am as confused as most people (I think), so I am asking for honest (and intelligent)opinions. ANY copy paste from scriptures will not be considered neither honest nor intelligent..
2006-07-05 07:56:45 · update #1
I would like to comment on the first 2 answers. Although the concept of "soul at birth" makes for a strong logic, it also implies that, killing a 8 1/2 month baby is not murder (and maybe legally it isn't). So if you shoot a pregnant woman on the belly and kill her almost born baby dies (bt she doesn't) it's not the same as shooting a baby on the stroller. I find hard to accept that, but, of course, this is all very open to oppinions.
2006-07-05 08:24:34 · update #2
To Kimber G: What? I can't relate your answer to any part of my question or additional comments. For sure that is a result of my own stupidity, so could you care to explain how that answer relates to the question, which I am sure you read.
2006-07-05 09:26:07 · update #3
From my understanding, there is a stage that the fetus bears resemblance to many different species of mammals. It just takes the injection of the right DNA to make it human, which it gets. So at that point in time it is not truly human, which makes me believe it does not have a soul. It forms a soul after is receives the proper human DNA. I also feel that you do not get a soul right away. It grows as you do. That is why you cannot remember certain things before a certain age, because you are not fully there. Your soul is whole when you come to the realization that your actions have consequences. Like when my girls were around 18mos. They would hide behind a door or some place secluded to do things they shouldn't have. Cutting hair off their head, drawing with marker on the back of the door, eating dirt, and so on and so forth. They knew they were doing wrong, so they hid to do them. Weird seeing as to before those incidents I had never told them NOT to do those things. That's all I have.
2006-07-05 08:37:38 · answer #1 · answered by tyingtobenice 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think the whole question about when exactly a fetus getts a soul is pretty ridiculous as well as irrellevant. What abortion comes down to is people not wanting to have a baby when they are not ready. People are going to have sex, and there will be unwanted pregnancys no matter how hard to try to stop it. The fact is a neglected baby/child is one of the most horrible things I have ever witnessed (and I have witnessed it). Of course somepeople argue that even extremely neglected children someties can pull it together and make something of their lives, but that is a very very small minority. Most people who grow up in neglected homes will have serious problems with their life.
If people don't want, or are not able to take care of a child then they should definately not be forced to, as people who are not ready or unwilling to raise a child are not going to give it the love and attention it deserves, resulting in long term psycological and social defficiancies
2006-07-05 21:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by Brocktoon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love kids but I am not against abortion but I don't advocate it either. I just don't have a strong conviction about a fetus having a soul. No one could prove that, just your faith.
Our souls are our connection with our Creator, like our bodies are our connection to the physical world.
I believe our souls will only come into existence if we are already capable of reasoning or at least reacting to things around us, meaning once we are born. As a fetus, it is still part of a woman's body and the woman has a right to it. I am not really sure but that's what I am imagining right now.
But still, I don't advocate abortion unless it is a matter of life and death for the woman.
2006-07-05 08:07:27 · answer #3 · answered by Olivia Maer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Did you know that the heart beats the second the baby is conceived? " Our life source is our heart, pumping blood in and out.... Part of the man and part of the woman have formed a baby, to some it may be not yet a baby, but in my opinion and with strong conviction as to why, this is a baby that cannot defend its self.... The parents are responsible for this child's care . And to abort it is a cruel and in humane thing that is unimaginable to me. Try looking at an ultrasound of a baby six weeks into conception, you will see the heart beating very strong and sturdy.. You will see a part of you. (Chimerism ) sounds like something of satanic origin you should stay away from.
2006-07-06 18:41:50 · answer #4 · answered by ~ Lavender ~ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe the soul is a complex form of energy fused to material life by the energy of conception (the fusing of egg and sperm). I also believe that souls are not limited to human beings, that they can grow or shrink in complexity, that death is part of life, and reincarnation is all a part of the 1st Law of Thermodynamics (matter neither created nor destroyed).
In this case, chimerism would only affect the complexity of soul attracted.
I am also pro-choice, because the actuality of life must take precedence over the potentiality, and death is not bad in my thinking.
2006-07-05 18:28:52 · answer #5 · answered by candy2mercy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that one's sould emerges when he/she is born. Abortion should be applied when necessary since it is a full woman's right that no one should be able to take away from her. A soul is separate from any physical body so it cannot be considered as such.
2006-07-05 07:59:25 · answer #6 · answered by London 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why would you want to take away someones soul that could have a life and kill it, I just don't see why you would want to mess with that.
2006-07-05 08:55:41 · answer #7 · answered by kimber g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we are soul-less.
2006-07-05 08:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by sauwelios@yahoo.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋