Abortion is a contentious issue in American society. Although it is currently legal, many still think that it should be a criminal offense, arguing that killing a fetus is the same as murder. Others believe that women should have the right to choose abortion if they want. Although it would be nice if this debate proceeded on the basis of scientific data and political needs, in reality it generally proceeds on the basis of theological and religious disagreements.
The basic position of anti-choice activists is that abortion is murder and where religion comes into play is the assumption that a fertilized egg should be treated as having the rights and protections of an adult human because it has a "soul." Where a soul comes from, what it is, how it gets there, and why it's relevant cannot be explained empirically or naturalistically -- it's a religious doctrine which is adopted and maintained solely on the basis of faith.
Doubts about whether abortion should be licit can be built up from empirical and naturalistic arguments, but not if they focus on the moment of conception. Naturalistic arguments against abortion would have to focus on verifiable characteristics of the fetus which indicate that it merits greater protection -- like, for example, complex brain waves. Even so, such arguments would not automatically lead one to conclude that any interests a fetus might have necessarily outweigh those of the mother. Even if the fetus has a "right to life," that right doesn't obviously and automatically trump the right of a woman to determine what happens to her body.
Here again religion enters the picture: conservative, traditionalist religious conceptions of the woman's role focus almost entirely on her biological function of bearing children. It has become almost a cliche for the Christian Right to denigrate the idea that women should be able to make their own decisions about their reproductive organs, their reproductive processes, and whether they will even reproduce or not. In effect, this takes very basic decisions about a woman's body and bodily functions away from her -- but if she is not in control of them, who is? Power and authority over women's reproductive processes are placed in the hands of men: whether it's men in their lives like husbands and fathers or predominantly male institutions like churches.
According to Christian Nationalists, the role of the woman requires her to be subordinate, obedient, and helpful while the man's role requires him to take charge, lead, and make the tough decisions. Women exist to bear children and nurture the family; men exist to lead. Conservative evangelical Christians perceive a strict hierarchy between God and humans which must be replicated in the social and political spheres. Children must obey parents; wives must obey husbands; Christians must obey ministers; citizens must obey leaders.
Thus while it is possible to disapprove of abortion, and refuse to have an abortion, without reference to traditional religion, a strong anti-choice position is different. Opposition to abortion which goes so far as to advocate criminalizing abortion as if it were murder requires the acceptance of many traditional religious beliefs and assumptions. Even though there are a few atheists who oppose abortion to varying degrees, in the end on a practical level the debate between legalized and criminalized abortion is a debate between traditional, authoritarian religion and modern, secular autonomy.
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