"Rowland C. Croucher" <> writes:

>(To keep the pot boiling)... :
>*** Much of developed world wrestles with abortion
>Most of the world's women live in countries where abortion is legal,
>but this is still an issue that sparks controversy even decades after
>the courts have ruled. About 61% of the global population lives in
>the 54 countries that have laws authorising abortion on broad social
>and economic grounds; the other 39% are in the 97 countries that
>generally forbid abortion, according to the Center for Reproductive
>Law and Policy in New York. The U.S. Supreme Court recognised a
>constitutional right to abortion on Jan. 22, 1973, but the matter is
>still the subject of heated debate. See >http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=7084209-1c1

To keep the pot further boiling ...

What do we understand by "a human being"? We keep hearing references to "human life begins at the moment of conception" (this has recently been written into part of Queensland's Criminal Code) but I have major problems with the term "the moment of conception".

The Biblical phrase "... and she conceived ..." almost certainly refers to the first missed menstrual period, which takes place (roughly) a fortnight after the sperm has fertilised the ovum. It is this two week period about which I think we should be a bit cautious.

B. Ward Powers' book on marriage and divorce in the New Testament (can't remember the exact title) says something along the same lines. He is willing to grant that after implantation we must take the greatest care possible to avoid harm, but leaves the time before implantation open. Thus he would not classify IUDs or the "morning after" pill as involving murder, while the more extreme position would be to take the moment of fertilisation as the start of human existence.

Since the Bible gives us no help on this issue, we need to discuss things rationally, and use the brains God has given us. Is there an embryologist reading this newsgroup who can help us with advice, so that we at least get the technical side of issues correct?

>Shalom! Rowland Croucher ()

Ken Smith <>