If the soul forms at conception, then how do twins, triplets, etc. factor in?

[JackRT]

Levi paid tithes, being still in the loins of his great-grandfather Abraham. Hebrews 7:10

We must realize, that at that point in history, it was believed that the father, and the father only, contributed what we would today call the genetic make up of the child. What they called the male seed was regarded as containing an entire nascent human being. As a consequence, they regarded any wastage of the seed as tatamount to murder. This explains why masturbation, coitus interuptus and even wet dreams were considered to be serious sins. The role of the woman was solely that of providing the warm nurturing environment for the developing child. She had no genetic contribution to make. This entire theory fell apart about 200 years ago when it was discovered by microscopic studies that the mother did indeed contribute genetically to the child. She of course supplied the egg cell to be fertilized by the male sperm.

 

[JackRT]

There is no question that the egg, the sperm, the zygote, the embryo and the fetus are all alive. The real question is "when does personhood begin?"

 

[blackribbon]

There is no question that the egg, the sperm, the zygote, the embryo and the fetus are all alive. The real question is "when does personhood begin?"

Well, since the embryo, fetus, and baby are all 100% human and 100% alive and 100% the same genetically.....I am going to vote "at conception" when life begins.

 

[JackRT]

Well, since the embryo, fetus, and baby are all 100% human and 100% alive and 100% the same genetically.....I am going to vote "at conception" when life begins.

But when does that life become a person?

 

[blackribbon]

But when does that life become a person?

At conception...when it becomes alive and is 100% human life.

 

[MustardSeeed]

But when does that life become a person?

When they get exposed to agents of socialization - I would say. The number one agent of socialization in childhood years until teen years is the family household. Then it's peers. I would also say that some person-hood is inherent in God's design of each person. Just my thoughts.
Life still begins at conception but this is strictly personhood/personality

 

[blackribbon]

When they get exposed to agents of socialization - I would say. The number one agent of socialization in childhood years until teen years is the family household. Then it's peers. I would also say that some person-hood is inherent in God's design of each person. Just my thoughts.
Life still begins at conception but this is strictly personhood/personality

Newborns have distinct personalities and are their own people. I see this as I care for newborns on the postpartum floor. Even the preemies have a personality that is unique to each one.

 

[MustardSeeed]

Newborns have distinct personalities and are their own people. I see this as I care for newborns on the postpartum floor. Even the preemies have a personality that is unique to each one.

I agree. I did placement on a maternity/postpartum floor and the differences in personalities is definitely there. Some liked their first bath ... some not so much lol

 

[CrystalDragon]

At conception...when it becomes alive and is 100% human life.

I think what Jack meant was when it becomes a living soul in the sense that we generally think of a "person", because in the case which I expressed in the OP the moment of conception can result in two or more people stemming from it, and they don't have partial-souls or anything, so it seems it would be more of a case of several souls inhabiting that certain egg at conception which then split off later, or they don't truly get a soul until they're properly split.

 

[blackribbon]

I think what Jack meant was when it becomes a living soul in the sense that we generally think of a "person", because in the case which I expressed in the OP the moment of conception can result in two or more people stemming from it, and they don't have partial-souls or anything, so it seems it would be more of a case of several souls inhabiting that certain egg at conception which then split off later, or they don't truly get a soul until they're properly split.

I do consider a embryo and fetus to be a person...a full person. And I don't have an issue with two souls being in a single egg that is now programmed to split sometime in the first few weeks of existence.

 

[CrystalDragon]

I do consider a embryo and fetus to be a person...a full person. And I don't have an issue with two souls being in a single egg that is now programmed to split sometime in the first few weeks of existence.

I definitely agree with that first sentence, and the second part is a pretty good theory.

 

[Radrook]

There is no question that the egg, the sperm, the zygote, the embryo and the fetus are all alive. The real question is "when does personhood begin?"

When does the Bible indicate that it begins is what should be of concern to a Christian and not mere human opinion or conjectures.

Prov 3:
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

 

[blackribbon]

When does the Bible indicate that it begins is what should be of concern to a Christian and not mere human opinion or conjectures.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

You have to have some sort of personhood for someone to know you....so personhood starts even before conception according to the Bible.

 

[Radrook]

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

You have to have some sort of personhood for someone to know you....so personhood starts even before conception according to the Bible.

Very interesting point! Thanks for sharing!

 

[JackRT]

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

You have to have some sort of personhood for someone to know you....so personhood starts even before conception according to the Bible.

Quite poetic isn't it?

 

[blackribbon]

A baby knows and loves his mom at birth....I don't know how...she doesn't have to even speak but he looks adoringly at her...and never makes a mistake of who mom is....

 

[JackRT]

A baby knows and loves his mom at birth....I don't know how...she doesn't have to even speak but he looks adoringly at her...and never makes a mistake of who mom is....

You may be overstating the case. A baby can imprint on just about any sort of caregiver.

 

[Radrook]

We must realize, that at that point in history, it was believed that the father, and the father only, contributed what we would today call the genetic make up of the child. What they called the male seed was regarded as containing an entire nascent human being. As a consequence, they regarded any wastage of the seed as tatamount to murder. This explains why masturbation, coitus interuptus and even wet dreams were considered to be serious sins. The role of the woman was solely that of providing the warm nurturing environment for the developing child. She had no genetic contribution to make. This entire theory fell apart about 200 years ago when it was discovered by microscopic studies that the mother did indeed contribute genetically to the child. She of course supplied the egg cell to be fertilized by the male sperm.

So how did they explain that children resembled the mother physically?

 

[blackribbon]

You may be overstating the case. A baby can imprint on just about any sort of caregiver.

I am talking about a newly born baby. The mother is often not the first person they see...it would be the doctor or the nurse. And then for a while, they can't see clearly because of the eye ointment. And even if that baby and mother are separated for a while, that baby knows who "mom" is. I have never had a baby look at me as the nurse the same way they look at mom.

I am sure over time, they may learn to love those they can trust but the purity of love with which a newborn looks at his/her mother does not compare to anything else. Sometimes it is hard to convince them to breastfeed because they are too busy looking at mom.

This is my absolute favorite part of postpartum nursing. Watch that mom and baby interact....and when the dad just falls in love with the mom all over again along with the baby (not a given like the baby falling in love with its mom).

 

[JackRT]

So how did they explain that children resembled the mother physically?

Nine months in the womb.