No, we do not agree. Human life is present in the human egg and sperm before conception, and so human life does not "begin" at conception. We must distinguish between human (adjective) life and A human (noun) life. You are correct that we continue to debate the meaning/value of an early stage of human life. http://www.2think.org/sagan_abortion.shtml Despite many claims to the contrary, life does not begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain that stretches back nearly to the origin of the Earth, 4.6 billion years ago. Nor does human life begin at conception: It is an unbroken chain dating back to the origin of our species, hundreds of thousands of years ago. Every human sperm and egg is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, alive. They are not human beings, of course. However, it could be argued that neither is a fertilized egg.
Come on Granny, you are being VERY disingenuous. Every human being's life begins at conception. That is scientific fact whether you acknowledge it or not! Human life, as exists in a spermatazoa or egg, is not a new human being.
You insults indicate that you are uncomfortable with your post. You should be. Only an idiot would say that the billboard contains any reference to abortion.
Carl Sagan is a rather well-known scientist who says you are wrong. Sperm and eggs are not A human being, neither is egg which met sperm A human being.
You don't know much about Carl Sagan, do you? He is a scientist trained in both astronomy and biology.
On the contrary I am quite comfortable with my post and I meant no insult. It was just a comment on the obvious point the sign was implying. Don't tell me you missed it or you do not agree. No you got that backwards. Only an idiot would not recognize the abortion angle of the sign. I guess you did miss it after all.
So tell me where it said abortion, just the word abortion, or "pro life, or "pro choice" or any other abortion related term. Just direct me to the corner of the billboard the words are located in.
Unless you have better credentials, you had best let this one go. http://www.csicop.org/si/show/carl_sagans_life_and_legacy_as_scientist_teacher_and_skeptic After two years as a postdoctoral fellow in biology at Berkeley and Stanford
I am sorry whaler, this has something to do with the ability to interpret things correctly and you are not know for that, or being able to place things in context and you are not known for that either. Perhaps you are not the right person for this particular debate. But I am curious, what do you believe the is purpose and the intended message of the sign?
Yes, noted for both. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_carl_sagan#ixzz1Zm0ywc2l How funny, you claim YOU know when life begins, but Carl Sagan wouldn't be authoritative enough for you, LOL.
"Anthropology" eh? do you even know what that means? Look it up. He is not an authority on whether or not a fetus is a human being. It is so obvious I am sure he never even addressed the question.
Please, now you are trying to discredit Carl Sagan's scientific knowledge? You are embarrassing yourself. btw, Carl Sagan spent two years as a postdoctoral fellow in biology at Berkeley and Stanford.
Not embaraasing myself in the least. Biologically we know that a fetal human being is a human being at an early stage of development. That is all biology can tell us. A biologists opinion of whether that human being's life is significant is no more correct or important than a janitors is.
Grasping at straws is not a good way to hold on to reality. Now you have to invent new terminology? WTF is a fetal human being? Well then, that means that your opinion is as correct as a janitors. Come to think of it, it is on par with it so you are right.
OMG I cannot beleive you don't understand what the word fetal means. Yet you claim to be all biology based in your opinions? That one made me spit my coffee on the keyboard.
I understand what fetal means, I just find it amusing to what lengths you will go in twisting or making up stuff. Fetal human being? Come on man, there is no need to become ridiculous is you have a valid point or a strong case.
Because anyone with a modicum of intellectual acuity fully understands what a fetus is. You, by piling on necessary descriptives are only betraying the insecurity you have in your position.
Of course its a baby - but who cares about that? Just because its a baby, doesn't change the fact that killing it is fine.
Whaler said: The Merck Manual is a well respected medical reference book. This is may be off point, but I believe this is the first time ever the words "Merck" and "respected" have been used in the same sentence!