Changes

Two hundred years ago a one month premature fetus was not expected to live outside the womb.  Today, with the advancement of medical knowledge and care, a one month premature human fetus is almost surely expected to be able to be brought to a fully independent and functional mature human being capable of sustaining life on it’s own.  As medical abilities advance it seems entirely possible that a two month premature fetus could be expected to survive outside the womb and continue to maturity.  It would seem that, one day future, medical advancements could also nurture a three month premature fetus with the same result.  Logically, with great advancement in medicine, wouldn’t it seem possible that someday a fertilized egg could be nurtured to full maturity?  An acorn planted in an appropriate environment and with adequate nurturing is expected to become a mighty oak.  Just so, the fertilized human ovum, in the right environment, is expected become a fully functional baby.  An acorn will never become a human nor a fertilized ovum an oak tree.  In the bible, God speaks of the mystery of a man leaving his father and mother and being joined to his wife and the two becoming ‘one’ flesh.  I think we can extrapolate this mystery to include a sperm being joined to an ovum and the two becoming ‘one’ flesh, as well.  Life is in the acorn and life is also in the fertilized egg.

Two hundred years ago a one month premature fetus was not expected to live outside the womb.  Today, with the advancement of medical knowledge and care, a one month premature human fetus is almost surely expected to be able to be brought to a fully independent and functional mature human being capable of sustaining life on it’s own.  As medical abilities advance it seems entirely possible that a two month premature fetus could be expected to survive outside the womb and continue to maturity.  It would seem that, one day future, medical advancements could also nurture a three month premature fetus with the same result.  Logically, with great advancement in medicine, wouldn’t it seem possible that someday a fertilized egg could be nurtured to full maturity?  An acorn planted in an appropriate environment and with adequate nurturing is expected to become a mighty oak.  Just so, the fertilized human ovum, in the right environment, is expected become a fully functional baby.  An acorn will never become a human nor a fertilized ovum an oak tree.  In the bible, God speaks of the mystery of a man leaving his father and mother and being joined to his wife and the two becoming ‘one’ flesh.  I think we can extrapolate this mystery to include a sperm being joined to an ovum and the two becoming ‘one’ flesh, as well.  Life is in the acorn and life is also in the fertilized egg.

Life begins with conception.  --[[User:WPA|WPA]] 14:52, 13 October 2009 (EDT)

Life begins with conception.  --[[User:WPA|WPA]] 14:52, 13 October 2009 (EDT)