General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Abortion: what is really the issue? [View all]Klaralven
(7,510 posts)Once the fetus receives a soul, it is human, not animal, and killing it from that point on is homicide.
Ensoulment may occur as late as birth. After all, "soul" and "spirit" are closely related and the latter is associated with breath. Therefore, it is possible that the fetus does not become human until it draws first breath. This is consistent with the practice that stillborn fetuses that never draw breath are usually not accorded a funeral and burial.
Another view is that ensoulment occurs with "quickening", that is, when the fetus begins to move in the uterus. That seems to have been the rough consensus for most of Christian history.
The view that ensoulment occurs with conception is the most radical, and it became more widespread only in the 19th century. Conception itself is not completely clear - it may be when the sperm and egg fuse, or it may be when implantation occurs. Most fertilized eggs fail to implant.
Of course, for any of this to make sense, you have to believe in a "soul", which is a pretty daft concept in itself.