What has religion to do with the question of when a human life begins?  This question is not one of religious belief or morality; nor is it a matter to be decided by legal experts or the courts; the question of when a human life begins is one of a simple, scientific fact. Life begins at fertilization (conception), or as Dr. Bernard Nathanson says "when the spark is struck." We are not talking about a scientific theory which remains to be proved; we are talking about a scientific fact which has been demonstrated in petri-dishes in in-vitro procedures across the world in science laboratories.

Today the scientific question of when human life begins has been answered. What value we place on that life is a different matter, and here religion and morality are important. Deny it as you will, abortion is the deliberate killing of a very young, very vulnerable human being, whose life is considered to be of little or no value, and therefore disposable. Millions of Christians, Orthodox Jews, and Moslems throughout the world believe innocent human life has its own intrinsic value, whatever may be its age, race, economic status, health, etc. That is why pro-life people work to protect, not only the pre-born child but others whose lives today are considered, by some others, to be of little or no value: the handicapped, the "pleasantly senile," the terminally ill, even children with cancer, and many others.

The question of when life beings is in the realm of science. The question of when my - or your - life ends may well be decided by the religion or medical ethics of your doctors. Choose well.