Comments on: Kurtis Mullaney (FGCU) Abortion http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/03/27/kurtis-mullaney-fgcu-abortion/ Sat, 19 May 2012 17:03:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jonathan R. Jacob http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/03/27/kurtis-mullaney-fgcu-abortion/#comment-561 Jonathan R. Jacob Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:19:24 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/03/27/kurtis-mullaney-fgcu-abortion/#comment-561 Different beliefs dictate when life begins. Humanists argue that it doesn't happen until birth, Catholics at Conception, Muslims anywhere between 7 and 16 weeks, when Allah breathes the soul into the body. 16 weeks happens to concur with the readings of higher brain function, which is the belief I hold. The definition of what is a human has long been a debate among schools of though. If it is to be by personal views, consciousness makes a human. To put it succinctly, "I think, therefor I am." As long as someone is aware of themselves and others, they are human. This requires higher brain function, which also rules out people in persistent vegetative states. When it comes down to it, many of the arguments for pro-life are just as bad. "We could be killing the cure for AIDS or cancer!" At the same time, we could be killing the next Hitler or Milosevic. The religious arguments are difficult to quantify, as they are based on a book that has been significantly altered over the years. In essence, there is no real solid evidence to claim what is a human life and what is not. What is important is this; the decision should be up to individuals, it is not the government's job to dictate individual actions based on religious teachings. If the state must be hands off with religion, the converse must also take place. Different beliefs dictate when life begins. Humanists argue that it doesn’t happen until birth, Catholics at Conception, Muslims anywhere between 7 and 16 weeks, when Allah breathes the soul into the body. 16 weeks happens to concur with the readings of higher brain function, which is the belief I hold. The definition of what is a human has long been a debate among schools of though.

If it is to be by personal views, consciousness makes a human. To put it succinctly, “I think, therefor I am.” As long as someone is aware of themselves and others, they are human. This requires higher brain function, which also rules out people in persistent vegetative states.

When it comes down to it, many of the arguments for pro-life are just as bad. “We could be killing the cure for AIDS or cancer!” At the same time, we could be killing the next Hitler or Milosevic. The religious arguments are difficult to quantify, as they are based on a book that has been significantly altered over the years.

In essence, there is no real solid evidence to claim what is a human life and what is not. What is important is this; the decision should be up to individuals, it is not the government’s job to dictate individual actions based on religious teachings. If the state must be hands off with religion, the converse must also take place.

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