Jim,
I am a strong pro-lifer and I have consistently argued the pro-life position from a scientific—that is, evidentiary—viewpoint.
Never before have I been attacked for accurately describing the events of early embryogenesis—at least by someone claiming to be pro-life. In fact, *most* pro-lifers seem to appreciate the scientific validation of their view.
I do not mock Christians or Christian belief, and avoid bringing religion into scientific discussions. However, I do sometimes respond when someone tries to make a scientific discussion into a religious one, which is what happened here.
You know, it is really very difficult to separate the one from the other. Something is either true... or it isn't. True science and true religion don't differ in truth. A very compelling can be made they merge in a Biblical world-view.
But I fear you are missing the big point. Whether you believe an embryo is a child at the earliest stage is not what is at stake here. Many people do and many people don't.
What is at stake here is the First Amendment right of religious freedom and individual freedom of conscience. It is the religious beliefs, freedoms, and sensibilities of myriads of Americans holding a "traditional" view which are being tramped upon by a Godless and powerful, grasping government which has no "compelling" reason to do so and yet which is claiming absolute supremacy in all three of these areas!
That is tyranny of the worst sort.