For starters, the fertile egg is the result of a successful merging of an egg and sperm cell. But, there is something quite astounding about this union. A sperm cell, if left to itself, cannot grow ... into anything. So also, the egg cell. As solitary cells, they soon expire. But, once merged, they burst into a phenomenally complex life form. And that complex life form is already genetically complete inside that single fertile egg. With nourishment and time, each fertile egg will become a unique adult - 100% of the time. It seems more than the sum of its parts.
Some have called the human fertile egg, "potential human life." Scientifically, this statement is nonsense. It is not "potential human life" - it is human life. It is nothing else and it cannot become anything else. The fertile human egg is simply, and only, the earliest stage of human life.
But there is something even more basic about a fertile egg. It is living matter. This may sound like a stupid observation, but it is actually quite significant. Many things are not alive. Most of the matter on our planet is not alive. In fact, there may be no other living matter in the universe. If the weight of all living matter was added to all nonliving matter - it would not equal a speck of dust on the scales. In a universe ruled by inorganic material, the fertile egg is an extremely rare piece of living matter.
The "Life Element"
The human body is composed of twenty-eight elements. None are alive. Indeed, "life" is totally foreign to them all. Carbon is not alive. Iron is not alive. Lead is not alive. Calcium is not alive. Arsenic is not alive. The other twenty-three elements are also nonliving. And it is error to refer to these elements as "dead." That infers "life" is in some way a part of their sphere. In fact, all the elements of Organic Chemistry are themselves - inorganic. Life, whatever it is, is alien to every element. How any combination of non-living elements is alive ... is a total mystery. When present, the "life element" is obviously there - but, it continues to elude the scientist's grasp.
If some of these twenty-eight elements are missing from the fertile egg, then this "life element" is all the more astonishing. It collects the missing elements in the right quantities - at the right time - and constructs the body. In a sense, inorganics are being ingested. But, too much lead, iron or arsenic will result in the "life element" vacating the matter in which it resides - as will too little of these elements. This is all beyond comprehension.
But, is it "a person?"
With that question, we have now entered ... the abortion argument. Is the fertile egg, "a person?" There are three perspectives from which to examine this question - Naturalism, Theism and Humanism. But, actually there is a fourth perspective. Let's start there ... with you. I want you to put yourself in the shoes ... of a fertile egg. You are now a fertile egg.
A clock turned on the instant you became a fertile egg. With time and nourishment, you will turn into a unique adult - 100% of the time. Come to think of it ... that is exactly what you did. Now along the way, some people decided to crown you with the title - "being" or "person." Of course, the instant you were crowned as such, nothing physically changed. And, had this apposition been withheld, well, that would not have changed anything either. Actually, this title has no physical impact - one way or the other. So, what is this title? Well, it is ... a word. It is a metaphysical, subjective concept based upon nothing but the thin air between the ears of the adult humans bestowing it. One evidence this "designation" lacks foundation lies here: credentialing adults disagree on "being's" meaning, its essence ... or when it starts. Arbitrary points are picked all along the life-line for this coronation. Some wait until air can be breathed - but others grant this mystical designation much earlier. "Being" is synonymous with another word - "opinion." But rest assured, O fertile egg. Your physical march toward adulthood is separate from these opinions.
The Naturalist ... and "Being"
For the Naturalist (atheistic evolutionist), the question of "being" is as ridiculous as it is irrelevant. It is a vain attempt to make humans - more than an animal. No one ever wonders when cows or dogs reach "cow-hood" or "dog-hood." Naturalists summarily dismiss this "being" query as dribble.
Furthermore, any assault on a fertile egg is seen by Naturalists - as actions of fools. Every species is continually battling to adapt and survive. Each fertile egg is a jewel of evolution - as profitable mutations arise randomly. Any one may contain the needed adaptation(s) for that life line to continue. Each fertile egg is the future of any species.
The Biblical Theist ... and "Being"
For the Biblical Theist, this personhood concept is also irrelevant. Since God "Himself gives to all life" (Acts 17:25), if the "being" issue is of concern to Him - well, that will be resolved between Him and that life. No one else is inside that loop.
In light of this, an assault on a fertile egg leaves the realm of "fool". It is insanity. "The hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives" (Eccl 9:3). God, "the Lord ... makes alive" (1Sam 2:6), and the stronger among us are given a special charge for protecting the weaker. To attack "innocent" human life at any point on its life-line ... well, you do the math.
The Humanist ... and "Being"
For the Humanist, this personhood issue is of great importance. By withholding this designation, the "non-being" is relegated to a blob of protoplasm. It depends on which Humanist you are talking with as to when "being" arrives. Some believe a severed umbilical cord ushers it in. For others, being "wanted" by one or more of the parents, earns "personhood" - while still in the womb. Other Humanists talk trimesters. The point? The "being" issue has about as many opinions as there are Humanists. But all Humanists do agree on one point. Before the moment when "being" is reached, anyone can do anything he/she wants with this subhuman blob of protoplasm.
A Word To - "Mom"
Mom, if you search every mountaintop, every ocean bottom, every cave on earth - and even scour the nest of every living thing - in all of nature, you will not find even one human egg. If you gaze into the night sky, that immense expanse (of which you are seeing almost nothing) does not contain ... one human egg. If humanity is valuable, there is only one place it originates - in you. Through you come all the world's thinkers, inventors, artists and leaders ... and no one knows who will come from any particular womb. Humble circumstances have often spawned the world's most productive citizens. Your womb, and man's future, are inextricably intertwined. You are humanity's gatekeeper.
Conclusion
Each fertile egg is a one-of-a-kind entity in all of past reality, present reality, and future reality. Each is genetically complete, astoundingly unique and beyond replication. Also, it is an exceedingly rare piece of living matter. It contains genetic "triggers" that engage at the proper times so the correct elements, in proper proportions, are corralled for the construction that unique adult. We may find that the most complex physical entity in the entire universe is the human fertile egg. No matter rivals it. From a scientific perspective, one fertile egg is filled with inexhaustible wonders. The abortion debate begins here. I now stand in awe of the fertile egg ... and its Creator.
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Robin has written a powerful Ebook on the abortion argument and abortion in the Bible . This article is an excerpt. Other Ebooks: no tithe for the Christian, love, capital punishment, and death. Each Free Christian Ebook download is at www.freelygive-n.com ! Robin has a BA, Bus Admin (Milligan College '90) and M-Div (Emmanuel School of Relign '92). He loves mental adventurers!
