The Religious Objection to Abortion Makes No Sense

In a previous essay, I touched on the subject of “ensoulment” and the contradictory ideas that accompany this belief, but after giving this issue some more thought, I decided that I would expand on it and flesh out some ideas; hence the essay you’re now reading.

When does the soul enter the body? Catholic Online tells us “Scientists discover moment souls enter eggs at the time of conception.” In Islam the soul is said to enter the body at roughly 120 days after conception. Believers in reincarnation will tell you that your soul existed before you were born. In Hinduism, Krishna says to Arjuna, “Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” Finally, here’s Paramhansa Yogananda echoing the Catholic point of view (though Catholics don’t subscribe to any talk about an “astral world”):

“At the moment of conception. When the sperm and ovum unite, there is a flash of light in the astral world. Souls there that are ready to be reborn, if their vibration matches that of the flash of light, rush to get in. Sometimes two or more get in at the same time, and the woman has twins, triplets, or even — well! It is important, therefore, to come together physically with an uplifted consciousness. That flash generated in the astral world reflects the couple’s state of…