ALTRAV,

<<If I may throw in a comment with a different spin. In response to "When does human life begin"? I propose that "human life", means a "living human being". Now even though it may be the same living organism that was once inside a womb and later is born, it is not necessarily a "human being", until it takes it's first breath.>>

Medical researchers disagree.

The world-renowned French geneticist, Dr Jerome Lejeune, discovered Trisomy 21, the cause of Down Syndrome. His medical research led to this conclusion: 'To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a matter of metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence', http://lejeunefoundation.org/jerome-lejeune-advances-pro-life-cause/.

This text on embryology explained when human life begins: "Human development begins after the union of male and female gametes or germ cells during a process known as fertilization (conception).

"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, or primordium, of a human being" [Keith L Moore 1988. Essentials of Human Embryology. Toronto: B.C. Decker Inc, p.2]

The University of New South Wales course on embryology for 2019 states that '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, or primordium, of a human being', http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Week_1

The medical fraternity confirms that fertilisation (conception) is the time when a human being begins.

thinkabit,

sure, no problem.
There are approx 7 Billion examples of humans possessing the appropriate specifications which qualify them as typical humans, including the exceptions.
To further confirm my point, one has only to ask the medical profession as to the function of nature and the specifications of a "human being".
I am well aware of the example you gave regarding "breathing" under water.
This is part of what is "not normal" to the human race.
So this entity, even though it would look like a human being, it is however, something else.
I have already explained the distinction.
As for holding ones breath, I assume that comment was in jest.

OzSpen,

sorry to be pedantic, but I do not disagree with the scientists.
Having said that, you will find that my explanation/interpretation of a "human being", still stands.
The scientists say Human life "begins" at fertilization.
I agree.
What it means is that the "process" of producing a human being just began.
You see it is not a "human" till it is born AND breathing.
Just exiting the mothers body, only constitutes, exiting the mothers body.
This "thing" that has just come out of this woman MUST start breathing before it can be classified as human.
So if the dreamers want to call conception a living thing they should choose some other words to describe the state of this thing as it progresses through it's nine months of forming into a human like form.
In the form of what is known as a "baby".

Alan B,

<<If we were to successfully outlaw abortion, we'd transition through 20 billion. Look what 7 billion of us have already done to the planet and her finite resources, Dumbo!>>

With your support for the genocide of the unborn through abortion, what prohibits you from extending your ethics/philosophy to other forms of genocide such as that perpetrated by Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and ISIS?

I find your recommendation of killing the vulnerable unborn to be a despicable philosophy of slaughter.

<<Or the calloused indifference of those who continuously critique, but never ever put their hand in their pockets to assist raising the economically unaffordable child.>>

That's your stab in the dark. How would you ever know how many people in Australia support the economically deprived?

Philanthropy Australia provided these statistics:

'It's estimated that 14.9 million Australian adults (80.8% of the population) gave $12.5 billion to charities and not-for-profits organisations in 2015-16. The average donation was $764.08 and the median donation was $200. Compared with 10 years ago, a smaller proportion of Australians are giving, but they are giving larger amounts', http://www.philanthropy.org.au/tools-resources/fast-facts-and-stats/

Giving $12.5 billion to charities in a year is a mighty big amount for this small population.

ALTRAV,

<<Having said that, you will find that my explanation/interpretation of a "human being", still stands. The scientists say Human life "begins" at fertilization. I agree.
What it means is that the "process" of producing a human being just began. You see it is not a "human" till it is born AND breathing.>>

That's your world view speaking. You didn't take any notice of the medical, scientific evidence I gave you at: Posted by OzSpen, Saturday, 17 August 2019 11:06:38 AM.

This evidence included:

+ 'To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a NEW HUMAN has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion' (geneticist Dr Jerome Lejeune);

+ 'This fertilized ovum, known as a zygote, is a large diploid cell that is the beginning, or primordium, of a HUMAN BEING' (Keith Moore, Essentials of Embryology);

+ 'This fertilized ovum, known as a zygote, is a large diploid cell that is the beginning, or primordium, of a HUMAN BEING' (UNSW course on embryology).

<<You see it is not a "human" till it is born AND breathing.... This "thing" that has just come out of this woman MUST start breathing before it can be classified as human.>>

According to the medical evidence, they are false statements. I agree that there is human development after birth of the infant but that growth of a human being (scientifically speaking) starts at conception. The human heart starts beating 4-6 weeks after fertilisation. It is not the heart beat of an 'it'.

<<So if the dreamers want to call conception a living thing they should choose some other words....>>

Resorting to this ad hominem (abusive) logically fallacy sends the argument into personal abuse ('the dreamers') instead of dealing with the issues relating to the murdering of the unborn child in the mother's womb. In Australia, we have the genocide of about 70,000 per year.

Worldwide it is estimated that there will be about 26 million abortions this year: https://www.worldometers.info/abortions/. That puts Hitler's genocide in perspective!

I would expect Lesbians are disposing of male fetuses.