The following questions were taken directly from the When Does Life Begin Facebook page. These are some of the most common questions/objections pro-life advocates face. Note the calm and respectful tone of the answers. It’s great to practice that composure before you find yourself in a tense situation!
Just remember that the chances of changing someone’s mind in a single conversation are slim. But by “putting a pebble in their shoe” they’ll eventually have to deal with it.
The following questions were taken directly from the When Does Life Begin Facebook page. These are some of the most common questions or objections pro-life advocates face.
Note the calm and respectful tone of the answers. It’s great to practice that composure before you find yourself in a tense situation!
Just remember that the chances of changing someone’s mind in a single conversation are slim. But by “putting a pebble in their shoe” they’ll eventually have to deal with it.
Life begins at heartbeat
Teddy, at conception a biologically unique human being with its own complete 46 chromosome DNA – genetically separate from their mother or father is formed. Nothing further genetically will be added. Only time and nourishment are needed. The new human being is the same genetically at the moment of conception as when the heart begins to beat. The heartbeat is simply another milestone of development just as puberty will mark another immense physical change along the lifespan of a human. Click here for more comments and responses on this topic.
Life begins at brain activity
Braun, We can see brainwave activity as early as 5-6 weeks in utero and the heart begins beating at around 21 days. However, science supports the idea that life begins at conception. When the sperm and egg fuse, they create a human being with its own unique set of DNA. DNA is the identifier of life, which is why life must be protected from conception, the point at which a unique 46 chromosome human being comes into existence. Click here to see the rest of this answer and source material.
Life begins at heartbeat
Teddy, at conception a biologically unique human being with its own complete 46 chromosome DNA – genetically separate from their mother or father is formed. Nothing further genetically will be added. Only time and nourishment are needed. The new human being is the same genetically at the moment of conception as when the heart begins to beat. The heartbeat is simply another milestone of development just as puberty will mark another immense physical change along the lifespan of a human. Click here for more comments and responses.
Life begins at brain activity
Braun, we can see brainwave activity as early as 5-6 weeks in utero and the heart begins beating at around 21 days. However, science supports the idea that life begins at conception. When the sperm and egg fuse, they create a human being with its own unique set of DNA. DNA is the identifier of life, which is why life must be protected from conception, the point at which a unique 46 chromosome human being comes into existence.
Click here to see the rest of this answer and source material.
Life begins at viability
Maria, what about the baby born prematurely who needs artificial support for a period of time? Has that child’s life not begun? What about an older child or adult who experiences a medical emergency or accident that temporarily requires life support? Do we, depending upon our health, go in and out of being “alive” and deemed worthy as humans? If independence is the threshold of life then children would not truly be human until close to adolescence. Click here for the rest of this answer and more comments and responses on this topic.
Life begins at birth or first breath
Ryan, thanks for sharing your feedback! According to biologists, scientifically human life begins at conception. The fusion of the egg and sperm create a being with its own unique set of DNA — separate from that of its mother or father. This pre-born baby requires only time and nourishment to develop into a full-term baby. Premies are now routinely saved as early as 22 weeks. Here’s the June 5, 2020 story about Richard Hutchinson, born at just 21 weeks! Click here to see the rest of this answer and more comments.
Life begins at viability
Maria, what about the baby born prematurely who needs artificial support for a period of time?
Has that child’s life not begun? What about an older child or adult who experiences a medical emergency or accident that temporarily requires life support? Do we, depending upon our health, go in and out of being “alive” and deemed worthy as humans? If independence is the threshold of life then children would not truly be human until close to adolescence.
Click here for the rest of this answer and more comments and responses on this topic.
Life begins at birth/first breath
Ryan, thanks for sharing your feedback! According to biologists, scientifically human life begins at conception. The fusion of the egg and sperm create a being with its own unique set of DNA — separate from that of its mother or father.This pre-born baby requires only time and nourishment to develop into a full-term baby. Premies are now routinely saved as early as 22 weeks.
Here’s the June 5, 2020 story about Richard Hutchinson, born at just 21 weeks!
Click here to see the rest of this answer and more comments.
Life begins with sentience
Spence, brainwaves are “detectable” as early as six weeks in utero. Even so, human life biologically begins at conception. DNA is the scientific identifier of life. At conception a new human being with its own unique set of DNA, is created.Sentience itself is not well-defined. Has the person in a medical emergency who is temporarily non-responsive lost their humanity? If advanced AI achieves sentience, will that make computers human? Our human rights should be protected on the objective basis of our unique DNA – not on a subjective criterion. Click here for more comments and responses.
Parents determine when life begins
Lora, something as precious and irreplaceable as human life should not be determined by an arbitrary, shifting measure. The determination of life has an objective, scientific criteria – DNA. DNA is the identifier of life forms. When the sperm and egg meet a unique, 46 chromosome human being is formed. Nothing will be added apart from time and nourishment. Scientifically a human life has begun.
Life begins with sentience
Spence, brainwaves are “detectable” as early as six weeks in utero. Even so, human life biologically begins at conception. DNA is the scientific identifier of life. At conception a new human being with its own unique set of DNA is created. Sentience itself is not well-defined. Has the person in a medical emergency who is temporarily non-responsive lost their humanity? If advanced AI achieves sentience, will that make computers human? Our human rights should be protected on the objective basis of our unique DNA – not on the subjective criteria of “sentience”. Click here for more comments and responses.
Parents say when life begins
Lora, something as precious and irreplaceable as human life should not be determined by an arbitrary, shifting measure. The determination of life has an objective, scientific criteria – DNA.
DNA is the identifier of life forms. When the sperm and egg meet a unique, 46 chromosome human being is formed. Nothing will be added apart from time and nourishment. Scientifically a human life has begun.
No one really knows when life begins
Halee, actually there is almost universal consensus among biologists that human life begins at conception. In a landmark study in 2019 Steve Jacobs “emailed surveys to professors in the biology departments of over 1,000 institutions around the world.” The results showed that the vast majority of biologists believe that life begins at conception. Jacobs wrote, “I found that 5,337 biologists (96%) affirmed that a human’s life begins at fertilization, with 240 (4%) rejecting that view.” Click here for the rest of this answer.
No one knows when Life begins
Halee, actually there is almost universal consensus among biologists that human life begins at conception. In a landmark study in 2019 Steve Jacobs “emailed surveys to professors in the biology departments of over 1,000 institutions around the world.”
The results showed that the vast majority of biologists believe that life begins at conception. Jacobs wrote, “I found that 5,337 biologists (96%) affirmed that a human’s life begins at fertilization, with 240 (4%) rejecting that view.”Click here for the rest of this answer.
My body my choice
Jennifer, half the babies aborted are females. What about their bodily autonomy? A human is a human from conception, and each of us has a right to bodily autonomy. The woman’s right to bodily autonomy is best exercised before another human being is created. But for the woman in an unintended pregnancy, we should provide a generous spectrum of resources. But the position of valuing one human life over another is the very basis of oppression throughout the world. Every human life has intrinsic value. When we put people in categories, we are all eventually put at risk. Click here for more comments and responses.
It’s about personhood
Tori, there is no “potential” because it is a human being from conception. The fusion of the egg and sperm to create a human being with its own unique set of DNA – separate from that of the mother or father. For something as irreplaceable as a human life, an objective criterion – such as genetics – should determine humanity. The fetus shows many other signs of life long before birth: a detectable heartbeat and brainwaves by 6 weeks, pain receptors by 7.5 weeks, fully formed organs by 10 weeks, REM sleep by 23 weeks, and all five senses by the third trimester. For more comments and responses, click here.
My body my choice
Jennifer, half the babies aborted are females. What about their bodily autonomy? A human is a human from conception, and each of us has a right to bodily autonomy. The woman’s right to bodily autonomy is best exercised before another human being is created. But for the woman in an unintended pregnancy, we should provide a generous spectrum of resources.But the position of valuing one human life over another is the very basis of oppression throughout the world. Every human life has intrinsic value. When we put people in categories, we are all eventually put at risk. Click here for more comments and responses.
It’s about personhood
Tori, there is no “potential” because it is a human being from conception. The fusion of the egg and sperm create a human being with its own unique set of DNA – separate from that of the mother or father. For something as irreplaceable as a human life, an objective criterion – such as genetics – should determine humanity. The fetus shows signs of life long before birth: a detectable heartbeat and brainwaves by 6 weeks, pain receptors by 7.5 weeks, fully formed organs by 10 weeks, REM sleep by 23 weeks, and all five senses by the third trimester. For more comments click here.
Rape/incest
Brent, pregnancy as a result of rape is incredibly traumatic, and we must treat rape victims with overwhelming love and compassion. As we discuss abortion policy, however, let’s remember that situations involving rape and incest make up less than 1% of abortion decisions. Also, some studies have found rape victims have better psychological outcomes giving life to the child than going through the further trauma of abortion. We can care for both the woman and baby. The baby is innocent as well. Should she pay with her life for the sins of the father? For more comments and responses click here.
Life of the mother
Jamie, since 1883 when Robert Lawson Tait performed the first successful removal of the ruptured fallopian tube, women have received care for ectopic pregnancies. That long-time standard of care is not considered an elective abortion although it results in the removal of the embryo. The mortality rate for ectopic pregnancies decreased from 72-90% in 1880 to 0.14% in 1990. That care will remain post-Roe. Suppositions that deaths will result due to the overturn of Roe are being used as a scare tactic and ignore the reality of over a century of medical practice and care. For more comments and responses click here.
Rape/incest
Brent, pregnancy due to rape is incredibly traumatic, and we must treat victims with overwhelming love and compassion. As we discuss abortion policy, however, let’s remember that cases of rape/incest make up less than 1% of abortion decisions. Also, some studies have found rape victims have better psychological outcomes giving life to the child than going through the trauma of abortion. We can care for both. Also, should the innocent baby pay with her life for the sins of the father? For more comments and responses click here.
Life of the mother
Jamie, since 1883 when Robert Lawson Tait first successfully removed a ruptured fallopian tube, women have received care for ectopic pregnancies. This is not an elective abortion though it results in the removal of the embryo. The mortality rate for ectopic pregnancies decreased from 72-90% in 1880 to 0.14% in 1990. That care will remain post-Roe. This supposition is being used as a scare tactic and ignores the reality of over a century of medical practice and care. For more comments and responses click here.
Fetal abnormalities
Arlinda, life is indeed hard for us all and that can be increased with a disability. However, please watch this video of Nic Vujicic.
We believe you will find it one of the most inspiring you have ever viewed! Nic was born without arms or legs yet lives a full life as a painter, sky diver, motivational speaker, husband, and proud father of two sons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P2nPI6CTlc
Reversing Roe won’t lead to fewer abortions, just fewer safe abortions
Ira, regarding “back-alley abortions”, that is an image that quite honestly was manufactured by abortion advocates and debunked by abortion proponents. In1960, Dr. Mary S. Calderone, a former director of Planned Parenthood wrote in the American Journal of Public Health, “Abortion is no longer a dangerous procedure…whether therapeutic or illegal, is in the main no longer dangerous, because it is being done well by physicians.” Moreover, we need to keep the focus on the main issue. If abortion takes the life of an innocent human being – which it does – then it is wrong.
Fetal abnormalities
Arlinda, life is indeed hard for us all and that can be increased with a disability. However, please watch this video of Nic Vujicic. We believe you will find it one of the most inspiring you have ever viewed! Nic was born without arms or legs yet lives a full life as a painter, sky diver, motivational speaker, husband, and proud father of two sons.
Reversing Roe won’t lead to fewer abortions, just fewer safe abortions
Ira, “back-alley abortions” evoke an image manufactured by abortion advocates but debunked by more honest abortion proponents. In 1960, Dr. Mary S. Calderone, PP director wrote in the Am. Journal of Public Health, “Abortion is no longer a dangerous procedure…whether therapeutic or illegal, is in the main no longer dangerous, because it is being done well by physicians.” The main issue is that abortion takes the life of an innocent human, so it is wrong. Society doesn’t allow the taking of innocent life in any other context.
Comprehensive sex ed and access to contraception is the solution
Paul, yes, the best way to reduce abortion is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. But the supposition that comprehensive sex ed and access to contraceptives is the answer does not bear up under scrutiny. Let’s compare two US states – California and Texas (pre-Dobbs). California has very “liberal, progressive” reproductive healthcare policies while Texas has been more conservative. California’s abortion rate was 16.4 in 2017. Texas was 9.4 in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available from the Guttmacher Institute’s national survey of abortion-providing facilities. Click here for the rest of this answer.
Comprehensive sex ed and access to contraception is the solution
Paul, yes, the best way to reduce abortion is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. But the supposition that comprehensive sex ed and access to contraceptives is the answer does not bear up under scrutiny. Let’s compare two US states – California and Texas (pre-Dobbs). California has very “liberal, progressive” reproductive healthcare policies while Texas has been more conservative. California’s abortion rate was 16.4 in 2017. Texas was 9.4 in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available from the Guttmacher Institute’s national survey of abortion-providing facilities. Click here for the rest of this answer.
Abortion is a Constitutional right
Robin, please remember that the Dred Scot Supreme Court decision which upheld slavery was also a 7-2 decision. The Plessy v Ferguson Supreme Court decision was a 7-1 vote. That horrible decision upheld segregation. Therefore, we know historically that sweeping votes do not indicate correct votes.
The issue of abortion is a human rights issue – just as the two cases cited above. Genetically a unique human life begins at the moment of conception. Click here for the rest of this answer.
Planned Parenthood provides many good services
Michael, non-abortion services provided at Planned Parenthood (PP) clinics decreased in nearly every major category during the 2017–18 fiscal year. PP’s provision of contraception decreased by 80,000, cancer screenings by 45,000, and other services such as well-woman exams and prenatal services decreased by 13,000. The only category that significantly increased was abortion procedures and tests/treatment for STDs. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/…/190118 Please note PP’s business plan is to increase its share of abortions – not decrease them.
Abortion is a Constitutional right
Robin, please remember that the Dred Scot Supreme Court decision which upheld slavery was also a 7-2 decision. The Plessy v Ferguson Supreme Court decision was a 7-1 vote. That horrible decision upheld segregation. Therefore, we know historically that sweeping votes do not indicate correct votes.
The issue of abortion is a human rights issue – just as the two cases cited above. Genetically a unique human life begins at the moment of conception. Click here for the rest of this answer.
Planned Parenthood provides good services
Michael, non-abortion services provided at Planned Parenthood (PP) clinics decreased in nearly every major category during the 2017–18 fiscal year. PP’s provision of contraception decreased by 80,000, cancer screenings by 45,000, and other services such as well-woman exams and prenatal services decreased by 13,000. The only category that significantly increased was abortion procedures and tests/treatment for STDs. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/…/190118 Please note PP’s business plan is to increase its share of abortions – not decrease them.