We all disagree on abortion — so who gets to decide when Life begins?

If there was a movement that started advocating for the legalization of abortion at 35 weeks-to-45 weeks of a healthy pregnancy — I would be staunchly Pro-Life. I would be a sign-wielding, hear-my-heartbeat bumper car sticker, adoption-is-the-option, sharing dead baby photos on social media, in-your-face protestor outside every late third-trimester abortion clinic.

If there was a movement that allowed mothers to kill their child within the first 3 months of birth if they decided motherhood was not for them — I would be zealously Pro-Life.

I would be as strong as any Pro-Life supporter because I personally believe that viable life begins in the late third trimester. But before that? Prior to week 35 (I will even concede to 28), it is merely a conglomeration of cells still trying to figure out how to move the butt hole while forming an earlobe.

Here lies the tricky bit, isn’t it? Between fertilization to birth, who gets to decide when a mass of cells becomes sentient life?

Conservative (and liberal) Christians who are Pro-Choice have made it loud and clear that they believe life begins at conception. But what about every other religious, cultural, philosophical, scientific perspective that informs an individual’s belief in the United States?

Any federal or state-issued restriction of abortion is the sanctioning of the Christian interpretation that life begins at conception. It negates any other religious, cultural, or philosophical interpretation of when Life begins between conception to birth.

As a Buddhist, my interpretation of abortion is that the reincarnating-soul can now either avoid entering a womb that does not want it or be freed to enter a different womb, a womb of a mother who wants to see it to Life. Early abortion is an act of mercy and compassion to the reincarnating soul, allowing it to find a better home.

But this is my belief. It probably sounds absolutely ridiculous to someone who was brought up differently — just as life begins at conception sounds insanely illogical to me.

The universal truth on the topic of abortion is that we all disagree and diverge in opinion as to when Life begins. Any law that restricts abortion after an arbitrary cut-off is shoving a politician’s personal interpretation of when Life begins into what was previously a highly medical, religious, cultural, and personal decision.

We can disagree, shout at each other over dinner tables, or scream at each other at protests — let there be passionate and hateful disagreement as to when Life begins.

But please don’t let politicians decide for anyone when that line is drawn. That is a conversation between a woman and her physician, and the consequences are ours and our Karmic cycle (or Maker) alone to bear when our time comes.

Disagree with me but don’t legislate me.