The fertilized egg within a woman is looked at by various groups in today’s society differently. Religious groups, among others, believe that from the moment of conception, the fertilized egg should be considered a human with human rights. Those who believe in science for the most part agree that a fertilized egg does not necessarily mean that the zygote should be considered a human yet. To understand which of the two would be correct, the term human must be closely analyzed.
Humans are considered to be different from other species on this planet. Religions such as Christianity, state that God created man in his image and was the ruler over the beasts of the Earth. This simple testament of god would be considered the reason why humans are more intelligent. Science indicates that humans have a more complex nervous system, which in turn allows for the consciousness that makes humans more intelligent. The nervous system is vital to being a human. Without it, humans would be like any other beast on this planet. Both religious groups and scientists believe that what makes humans human lies within the intelligence humans hold. With that being stated, the area where the spinal cord, brain, and backbone would form is not present until about four weeks after conception. This area known as the neural tube. Although the organs nor the spinal column have been developed, around the 4 week period after conception would be about when the zygote could begin to be considered a human being. Before this period, it lacked the vital difference between humans and the rest of the organisms on the planet.
Religious groups believe that the intelligence humans obtain stems from the spirit or soul humans are given from God. Which should be an acceptable statement, but on multiple occasions in the Bible, it states that god breathed breath into mans body and then became alive. These statements could be found in Genesis 2:7, Job 33:4, Ezekiel 37:5 & 6, etc. This indicates that according to the bible life begins upon birth not conception. A human does not receive their soul making them human until they are born and take their first breath. This in itself shows that a fertilized egg could not be considered a human based off the Bible alone. Some form of outside support must be applied.
Before the first four weeks after development of the zygote, the neural tube does not finish taking form. This zygote could not be considered a fetus, because it has not met the eight week mark after conception to have this neural tube completely developed. The word fetus is normally associated with just the word unborn child indicating it applies to a zygote as well. Since zygotes are simply fertilized eggs, they should not be considered a fetus, unborn child, nor a human being.
Sources:
- Knapp, Julie. “Your Developing Baby, Week by Week.” Parents. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.
- “The Bible Tells Us When A Fetus Becomes A Living Being.” The Christian Left Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.
Rowan Counterintuitive 