Different religious and cultural beliefs greatly impact views on when life begins. Catholics hold that life starts at conception, while Muslims argue it occurs forty-two days later when an angel supposedly instills life. In contrast, ancient Greeks believed a fetus possessed a "vegetable" soul, and Jewish thought maintained that the soul enters at birth. These varied perspectives highlight the complexity surrounding the definition of life.

This discrepancy raises questions about the inconsistency of laws across different regions. For instance, Mississippi's legislation recognizes an embryo as a human being, while Massachusetts’ laws support a different perspective. Such contradictions demonstrate how subjective views on the beginning of life can shape legal and ethical interpretations in varied contexts.