At some point the mass of cells, to me, becomes able to live without the support of its mother. When that occurs (and this is different for every pregnancy, so I'm told) then, to me, it's life. Therefore, 90 days where it's generally not viable seems like a reasonable place to draw one of MY bright lines.
It's false to say that there are only two points - conception and birth - and generally, that's a problem I have with the Republicans in the current administration - you're with us or against us - you support the war or you're unpatriotic - polar extreme views that completely eliminate anything in the middle. If, as you say, only the two exist, then birth control such as the pill should be illegal as well. Because it doesn't prevent conception, only implantation.
I hear you on the birth control issue - I would love it if families would handle it reasonably, much the way my family handled it (I was raised in a household that taught me to respect myself and to view my body as a gift and to give it carefully, but also that it was normal and that I should protect myself, which kept me a virgin much longer than my girlfriends). But for reduction to work, birth control has to be widely available. If you leave it to families, you won't get the kind of reduction in abortion I think is possible, but I can compromise on this one provided we're all connected to the realities of some households.
While I find your last statement eloquent, I don't see where society has been damaged by safe, legal abortion. I realize that it bothers many principled people and bothers them deeply, but I think that is separate from societal "damage", which is what you suggest.
Your philosophies are relativist and nearly repugnant, but you have my thanks for keeping it civil. Lurked this thread since you started it, and I admire you for taking the fire and seeming sincere.
Stick around, but stand up for something - there is no "center" - there is right and wrong as expressed as a society. Abortion, as a day-to-day issue, isn't on most folks' radar; however, the Rule of Law and the role of government in light of natural rights is. These things should be decided by the legislative process, not judicial decree. Why bother having a legislature otherwise?
Good Luck to you and yours. And may God bless you, if that's not offensive.
I think it has damaged society in that it has cheapened life. It hardens peoples hearts to killing people like Terri Shiavo for convenience.