Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Zeev Hed]

The Hebrew text does not have coma, as a mater of fact, the hebrew text does not have vowels either, thus allowing for broad interpretation of the scriptures. I would guess that "accepted" interpretation of the scriptures are 25 times or more, more voluminous than the scriptures themselves, the whole Mishna and Gemara are all interpretation of the scriptures, and for that matter mostly only the Torah, not the rest of the old testament. These interpretations serve as a "fence around the Torah". The question of "when ensoulment" and thus life starts has been laid to rest in those interpretation a long time ago, and they came square on the Gen 2:7 interpretation, with the first independent breath. That is of course a Jewish Law interppretation and it does not exclude other interpretations that are diametrically opposite by others. My point is that in any event, the determination of "when life starts" is a religious decision, and not one that can be imposed on all.

Zeev