For those who think abortion is wrong, where do they draw the line? [View all]

Human sperm and eggs are in fact living human tissue and have the potential to reproduce a human. Some take the approach that even at this juncture human protoplasm is sacred. While certainly extreme, this seems to at least be the most honest as at least there's no demarcation of when human tissue is suddenly endowed with metaphysical properties.

For all others some arbitrary point must be defined. Science isn't much help here. Those that do try to use science to define that point are inevitably biased by their religion, which is itself a bit odd because religion isn't much help either. Biblical references suggest this point happens at birth.

Some suggest fertilization, which is neither supported by biology or religion, but evidently some are convinced it's at this juncture of reproduction when human tissue is endowed with metaphysical properties.

After about a week after fertilization the blastocyst embeds itself into the uterus and pregnancy has been established. So for some termination of the process is wrong after this point.

Other points identified are when autonomous movement starts, the heart starts beating, brain activity begins, viability of the transition from fetus to infant, or some point of time between fertilization and birth.

For anyone who thinks abortion is wrong, my question is always at what point do you make that determination? Is every sperm sacred or have you decided on some other point in the process? Most I've asked of this seem pretty perplexed by the question. In their mind abortion is wrong, but they haven't given much thought to when it's wrong. All this really does is it allows the extremists to claim an ally.

Any rational justification of the point of right and wrong is extremely problematic because there's just no way around the arbitrary and capricious nature of the decision. So really what you have is emotion and metaphysical beliefs are driving public policy, which is never a good idea.