We are failing our kids in education.
Sex education, that is. The common curricula cover sexuality, sexually-transmitted diseases, abstinence, abortion, birth control methods, physiological/biological changes of human sexual development, and there is now a push for alternate sexual preferences to be taught as a part of sex education. But do we teach them why humans have sexual intercourse? What is the ultimate purpose of procreation?
Life.
Procreation was the process God gave us to continue our species by creating new life. That is the primary purpose of that human act. As soon as a sperm fertilizes an ovum, a new human life begins. One that is completely unique. Yet, the secular world balks at the phrase “life begins at conception.”
For years, the pro-abortion lobby has fought to remove all terms of humanity or life regarding a preborn baby. There is no scientifically-based reason to deny the term. It is scientifically correct. Life, in fact, begins at conception. For humans, for animals. Even for plants. At least those which reproduce sexually.
I am amazed, though, how many people, adults even, fail to be educated on this basic knowledge. In different discussions I have joined on the topic of abortion, I have heard many “scientific points” attempted to be made to excuse why abortion is okay. The number one attempt is “a fetus is not a human being.” The second is “a fetus is a parasite.” The third is “it is only a clump of cells.” How can we convince people that life begins at conception when so many do not even understand basic biology?
If you are unsure of why these “scientific points” are incorrect, let me speak to you.
“A fetus is not a human being” – A fetus is a human in the stage of human development. He/she was determined to be a human at conception when the sperm enters the ovum and the process of meiosis begins fusion of the genetic structures. This is when the new DNA is determined which creates a new separate human who begins the stages of human development.
“A fetus is a parasite” – A parasite is an organism who feeds on another living species called the “host.” It is to the detriment of the host, most often ending in death. A fetus is a human in the stage of human development. Human development requires a period of time (approx. nine months) in the uterus of a female (the mother), in which the human receives nutrients and protection from his/her mother. Both the fetus and the mother are human. They are the same species. They are both performing their biological purpose in human development. The biological changes a woman goes through during pregnancy allows for her body to tend to her baby’s needs while in utero.
There are some women who have a hard time with pregnancy. Some women do die during childbirth. These sad circumstances are not the normal human developmental process, however, and should not be used as a reasoning for abortion.
Finally, “it is only a clump of cells” – This one is a vague comment. Yes. At every stage of prenatal development, a human is “only a clump of cells.” Humans, in general, are “only a clump of cells.” What is important is what those cells are and what they entail. They begin differentiating into specific tissue cells immediately. Tissue means complexity and purpose. It means metabolic change. It means physiological change. It means Life.
We, as adults, can shed various tissue cells without any harm. We have plenty. Even a fetus can be harmed if he/she loses certain tissue cells. Each cell is THAT important for that human in that stage of development to exist.
I was pleased to read recently that the Oklahoma state legislature is considering a bill declaring that our state will place childbirth above abortion and would begin an education program, teaching the public that humanity begins in utero and that life begins at conception. This is a much needed lesson for our society.
But the neatest part of the science of human development is that even before it was fully discovered, the Lord told us.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart” (Jer. 1:5).