There are very few issues in this world that causes as much deliberation and emotion as the question of Abortion. It has been the topic of uncountable articles, speeches and demonstrations. One of the big questions raised are “When and How does life actually begin?” There are many deliberations on when an individual can in fact be said to have its own life – is it at conception or when the heart starts beating, or some other time?

WHAT IS “LIFE” AND “ALIVE” Life is a continuum (a continuous series of elements or items that vary by such tiny differences that they do not seem to differ from each other) eg. Human / Family generations.

Definition of Life: Noun; the existence of an individual human being or animal. Similar: person, human being, individual, mortal, soul, creature. Opposite: death, non-existence. Definition of Alive: Adjective; (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead. Similar: living, live, having life, not dead, breathing, moving, vital functioning, organic, biological existing, existent. Opposite: dead, extinct.

“LIFE” AND “SCIENCE” Question : When does life begin? Answer : Life Begins at Fertilization

Amongst many other the following references explain the fact that a new human embryo, the starting point for a human life, comes into existence with the formation of the one-celled zygote (the union of the sperm cell and the egg cell) • "Fertilization is a sequence of events that begins with the contact of a sperm (spermatozoon) with a secondary oocyte (ovum) and ends with the fusion of their pronuclei (the haploid nuclei of the sperm and ovum) and the mingling of their chromosomes to form a new cell. This fertilized ovum, known as a zygote, is a large diploid cell that is the beginning, of a human being." [Moore, Keith L. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker Inc, 1988, p.2] • "The development of a human being begins with fertilization, a process by which two highly specialized cells, the spermatozoon from the male and the oocyte from the female, unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote." [Langman, Jan. Medical Embryology. 3rd edition. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1975, p. 3] • "The development of a human begins with fertilization, a process by which the spermatozoon from the male and the oocyte from the female unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote." [Sadler, T.W. Langman's Medical Embryology. 7th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1995, p. 3] • "Although life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed.... The combination of 23 chromosomes present in each pronucleus results in 46 chromosomes in the zygote. Thus the diploid number is restored and the embryonic genome is formed. The embryo now exists as a genetic unity." [O'Rahilly, Ronan and Muller, Fabiola. Human Embryology & Teratology. 2nd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1996, pp. 8, 29. This textbook lists "pre-embryo" among "discarded and replaced terms" in modern embryology, describing it as "ill-defined and inaccurate" (p. 12}]

PICTURE OF A HUMAN Question : What does the first 14 weeks of life (Fertilization to Week 13) look like? Answer : Complex scientific methods and powerful technological instruments now allow us glimpses of the very young human. Even from the fertilization stage which is where life begin.

what every human being looks like from week 1 to 13 of his/her life

Gary Clark’s depiction of what a human being looks like about 14 weeks after conception

what a human being looks like shortly after birth

ABORTION AND CHRISTIANITY Question : What about Abortion and Christianity? Answer : God has known all life from eternity

We as Christians must base our faith and life on the Word of God. Life is pure and holy. We must respect it as we respect the giver of all life, our God and King. God knows all things, also that which is to come, and has known this from eternity, it is clear throughout the whole bible. He has also always known each person, each life – even before conception. Not only does God know every individual before they exist, He has a purpose with each of these lives.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

There is a variety of reasons why people choose to impulsively terminate pregnancy. The timing is not according to plan, parents believe that they cannot afford raising a or another child, the pregnancy is socially unacceptable etc, termination reasons that are “Logical” or, some would argue, “selfish”. Life is not ours to take and the word of God clearly states: “You shall not murder” Exodus 20:13. ” Terminating” a developing life for these reasons is just as much a sin against God and the unborn life. It is not a small thing to have to give account before God for taking a life that He has created. Disobedience of God’s law and will causes a lot of sorrow and pain. After pressuring for abortion, performing or undergoing an abortion, many experience deep psychological and spiritual trauma. True forgiveness and healing can only be obtained by seeking God, who is the Lord of life. He is a merciful and loving God and will give peace to those who seek Him with an upright heart.

Christianity is based on faith in the Almighty God, and in His creating power, both in natural and in spiritual things. The Bible, being the Word of God, is the basis for how we conduct our lives. Our trust is in God, the Almighty Creator, who knows all things – also the lives of those yet unborn. We, His creation, are called to live before Him in respect and amazement, with full, steadfast faith in His boundless love, goodness and wisdom. Any decision made with God brings rest and peace. We believe that many lives would have been spared if God had been sought in all His wisdom and power, before these decisions were made.

There are very few issues in this world that causes as much deliberation and emotion as the question of Abortion. It has been the topic of uncountable articles, speeches and demonstrations.

One of the big questions raised are “When and How does life actually begin?”

There are many deliberations on when an individual can in fact be said to have its own life – is it at conception or when the heart starts beating, or some other time?

WHAT IS “LIFE” AND “ALIVE” Life is a continuum (a continuous series of elements or items that vary by such tiny differences that they do not seem to differ from each other) eg. Human / Family generations.

Definition of Life: Noun; the existence of an individual human being or animal. Similar: person, human being, individual, mortal, soul, creature. Opposite: death, non-existence. Definition of Alive: Adjective; (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead. Similar: living, live, having life, not dead, breathing, moving, vital functioning, organic, biological existing, existent. Opposite: dead, extinct.

“LIFE” AND “SCIENCE” Question : When does life begin? Answer : Life Begins at Fertilization

Amongst many other the following references explain the fact that a new human embryo, the starting point for a human life, comes into existence with the formation of the one-celled zygote (the union of the sperm cell and the egg cell) • "Fertilization is a sequence of events that begins with the contact of a sperm (spermatozoon) with a secondary oocyte (ovum) and ends with the fusion of their pronuclei (the haploid nuclei of the sperm and ovum) and the mingling of their chromosomes to form a new cell. This fertilized ovum, known as a zygote, is a large diploid cell that is the beginning, of a human being." [Moore, Keith L. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker Inc, 1988, p.2] • "The development of a human being begins with fertilization, a process by which two highly specialized cells, the spermatozoon from the male and the oocyte from the female, unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote." [Langman, Jan. Medical Embryology. 3rd edition. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1975, p. 3] • "The development of a human begins with fertilization, a process by which the spermatozoon from the male and the oocyte from the female unite to give rise to a new organism, the zygote." [Sadler, T.W. Langman's Medical Embryology. 7th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1995, p. 3] • "Although life is a continuous process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new, genetically distinct human organism is thereby formed.... The combination of 23 chromosomes present in each pronucleus results in 46 chromosomes in the zygote. Thus the diploid number is restored and the embryonic genome is formed. The embryo now exists as a genetic unity." [O'Rahilly, Ronan and Muller, Fabiola. Human Embryology & Teratology. 2nd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 1996, pp. 8, 29. This textbook lists "pre-embryo" among "discarded and replaced terms" in modern embryology, describing it as "ill-defined and inaccurate" (p. 12}]

PICTURE OF A HUMAN Question : What does the first 14 weeks of life (Fertilization to Week 13) look like? Answer : Complex scientific methods and powerful technological instruments now allow us glimpses of the very young human. Even from the fertilization stage which is where life begin.

what every human being looks like from week 1 to 13 of his/her life

Gary Clark’s depiction of what a human being looks like about 14 weeks after conception

what a human being looks like shortly after birth

ABORTION AND CHRISTIANITY Question : What about Abortion and Christianity? Answer : God has known all life from eternity

We as Christians must base our faith and life on the Word of God. Life is pure and holy. We must respect it as we respect the giver of all life, our God and King. God knows all things, also that which is to come, and has known this from eternity, it is clear throughout the whole bible. He has also always known each person, each life – even before conception. Not only does God know every individual before they exist, He has a purpose with each of these lives.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16)

There is a variety of reasons why people choose to impulsively terminate pregnancy. The timing is not according to plan, parents believe that they cannot afford raising a or another child, the pregnancy is socially unacceptable etc, termination reasons that are “Logical” or, some would argue, “selfish”. Life is not ours to take and the word of God clearly states: “You shall not murder” Exodus 20:13.

” Terminating” a developing life for these reasons is just as much a sin against God and the unborn life. It is not a small thing to have to give account before God for taking a life that He has created. Disobedience of God’s law and will causes a lot of sorrow and pain.

After pressuring for abortion, performing or undergoing an abortion, many experience deep psychological and spiritual trauma. True forgiveness and healing can only be obtained by seeking God, who is the Lord of life. He is a merciful and loving God and will give peace to those who seek Him with an upright heart.

Christianity is based on faith in the Almighty God, and in His creating power, both in natural and in spiritual things. The Bible, being the Word of God, is the basis for how we conduct our lives. Our trust is in God, the Almighty Creator, who knows all things – also the lives of those yet unborn.

We, His creation, are called to live before Him in respect and amazement, with full, steadfast faith in His boundless love, goodness and wisdom.

Any decision made with God brings rest and peace. We believe that many lives would have been spared if God had been sought in all His wisdom and power, before these decisions were made.