When Does Human Life Begin? Exploring the Fertilized Egg Debate

Question
Dear Bill,

Thank you for being available to answer questions at Allexperts. Here's my question:

Do you believe that a fertilized egg -- composed of two cells -- is a human being?

If your answer is "no," you can ignore what appears below. Though I would like to know your opinion as to when human life begins, and how you arrived at that view.

If your answer is "yes" -- and I suspect it is -- how can you say that? I mean, it's composed of two cells. It has no body, no organs, no senses, etc, etc. It's two cells.

You can say that it's a *potential* human being. You can say that if left alone it will probably *become* a human being. But -- sorry to repeat this again -- it's just two cells.

A religious person could say that it has a human soul. But that is purely his personal belief, which can't be proven, so if you're talking to someone who doesn't believe that, the discussion can't proceed any further and is over.

You could say that it has human DNA -- but so does the hair which my barber cuts off and discards.

It just seems to me that the most basic common sense would tell a person that two cells do not constitute a human being.

[By the way: I think we should not ask "When does life begin?" but rather "When does human life begin?". That is, after all, what we mean.]

Thanks, David

PS: I'm surprised that you are apparently the only expert expressing pro-life views at Allexperts. Every other subject I've looked at has at least a few,

Answer
David,
I see the fertilized egg as a life form that is getting started.  Neither an egg nor sperm by itself can produce life, but the combination can and does.
You make an excellent point and I think it is good that you are searching on your own for the most intelligent answers.
My overall science background is lacking (I took college biology, but I was not the best student by far).
I look at things logically, as you do, and maybe due to my religious beliefs, that is what sways me, also, so a combination of logic and faith prevails for me.
If you ask if you present a logical argument, I would answer yes to that also.
Best wishes.