# What happens to the soul of a fetus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 9, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298 "2005-08-09T17:20:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sixball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sixball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixball)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/1 "2005-08-09T17:20:24Z")
If a fetus is aborted, what becomes of its soul? Without having been born, is it without sin? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/2 "2005-08-09T17:24:01Z")
It’s named Casper and gets its own cartoon. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/3 "2005-08-09T17:26:33Z")
James Brown absorbs it, just like all other dead fetus souls. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/4 "2005-08-09T17:27:36Z")
I don’t belive in the soul. Ergo, nothing happens to it, as it doesn’t exist. Of course, most abortions performed in the U.S. happen well before quickening (when the mother first notices fetal movement), which was traditionally thought to be when the soul entered the fetus, so even if you believe in the soul, according to traditional belief aborted fetuses don’t have them yet. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/5 "2005-08-09T17:33:59Z")
What religion are you wondering in? In mine, (neopagan\*), it has not incarnated into its body, but has been sort of hovering near the mother since conception. Only at birth does it begin to inhabit the infant body, and even then it goes in and out quite a bit. The point at which the spirit becomes fully incarnate varies, but is recognizable when the infant is more “here” and less newborn-fuzzy. A soul which never gets the chance to incarnate goes off again to wherever it is that all souls hang out between lifetimes (sometimes called “The Summerlands”), and waits to be called to another woman. \*warning: ask 10 neopagans a question, and you’ll get at least 11 answers. This is the World According to Me and some others, and not doctrine or dogma. “Sin” makes me think you’re thinking in more Christian terms though. IIRC, all infants are born with the sin of having been conceived through a sexual act, and having been born to a mother who herself was conceived through sex. (Except Mary and Jesus, of course.) For years, there was Limbo - a place where all unbaptized babies went, including misscarriages and abortions, but I’m pretty sure that’s been discarded. I’m not sure what replaced it. Perhaps we can beg \*\*Polycarp \*\*or **Friar Ted** to enlighten us. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/6 "2005-08-09T17:42:09Z")
I don’t believe in souls, but IMHO the most logical thing to happen to it if they were to exist is for the supreme being to not bother giving a soul to an embryo/fetus, is it’s not going to be born. He’s the supreme being, he’ll know which ones will be born and which ones won’t. Whether he gives a soul to a baby that dies during birth, or shortly after, I have no opinion as to what would be most logical. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/7 "2005-08-09T17:59:50Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > James Brown absorbs it, just like all other dead fetus souls. You are my hero. ---
**Author:** ![sixball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sixball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixball)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/8 "2005-08-09T18:08:08Z")
I guess I was really asking what the real issue is. Even if one believes life begins at conception why is being born so vital? Isn’t life just full of temptation and confusing dogma? Wouldn’t it be easier to just start your eternity without the few years here where you can blow the game and damn yourself to hell? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/9 "2005-08-09T18:26:20Z")
> [@sixball](#): > > I guess I was really asking what the real issue is. Even if one believes life begins at conception why is being born so vital? Isn’t life just full of temptation and confusing dogma? Wouldn’t it be easier to just start your eternity without the few years here where you can blow the game and damn yourself to hell? Yeah, our time on Earth is really just for being contestants in a _hilarious_ reality show for supreme beings to watch. :: _Heavenly announcer_ :: _…These humans thought Original Sin was Adam & Eve’s problem…now they’re the next contestants on - HELL…ON… EARTH!!!_… ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/10 "2005-08-09T18:36:06Z")
God recycles it and uses it in another fetus, and just keeps trying until little Soul #53819238458298347 manages to get born. ---
**Author:** ![sixball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sixball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixball)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/11 "2005-08-09T18:42:27Z")
So, no real harm… I guess this should settle the abortion issue once and for all. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/12 "2005-08-09T19:03:13Z")
IMO, your soul is your “software”, that is, the information in your brain including the operating system that drives consciousness interface. If a fetus has only developed rudimentary hardware capable of running only basic-function software, then it’s a long way from having any significant data to be uploaded were it to be killed at that time. Ain’t got no soul. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/13 "2005-08-09T19:12:00Z")
> [@sixball](#): > > So, no real harm… > > I guess this should settle the abortion issue once and for all. Well I guess I’ll thank you for not proselytizing and mention that not everyone believes in the Christian God. Some believe in living a honest, loving life, and that that will get them into their own hereafter. I mean do you believe the pygmies in the jungle who have never heard of the Christian God will be condemned to hell? Even though they may live an honest, loving, life with nature? Personally, I do not think any all loving God would send them to Hell\* Seems like a topic for a new thread… ---
**Author:** ![JerH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/14 "2005-08-09T19:14:15Z")
If you’re Catholic…while the Church used to say that unbaptized babies (a category that would include the unborn in their ethics) ended up in Limbo, they’ve long since moderated that viewpoint. They now say that they don’t know but that God takes care of them. As for my belief - I think the souls go to Pittsburgh. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/15 "2005-08-09T19:14:52Z")
> [@sixball](#): > > If a fetus is aborted, what becomes of its soul? Without having been born, is it without sin? I guess it goes to the same place as all the other souls - nowhere because there’s no such thing as a “soul”. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/16 "2005-08-09T19:33:08Z")
Given that nobody has suggested a horrible/undesirable fate for the soul of an aborted fetus, does that mean that there are no negative spiritual consequences to abortion? If so, doesn’t that mean that the anti-abortionists don’t have a spiritual leg to stand on? (Yeah, I know, logic and religion don’t mix, but…) ---
**Author:** ![sixball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sixball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixball)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/17 "2005-08-09T19:43:40Z")
THAT is just what I was fishing for. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/18 "2005-08-09T19:46:45Z")
> [@sixball](#): > > THAT is just what I was fishing for. Can you be a little more specific? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/19 "2005-08-09T19:56:20Z")
In Catholicism, the body and soul exist with each other and neither exists without the other. The creation of a body means the creation of a soul. What do you mean, “fishing”? ---
**Author:** ![sixball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@sixball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixball)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298/20 "2005-08-09T20:02:16Z")
That if the Christian God is merciful, how can a person who was never born be damned. And if the unborn is not damned, why risk damnation by being born and sinning or rejection Jesus? Therefore, why call abortion “murder” and picket clinics, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-the-soul-of-a-fetus/316298.md?page=2)