Hm. The majority of people believe in souls. Even those who aren't religious are inclined to believe there is something "more" to us than the biological. Ego, perhaps, could be another word for it.

[ what is the ego if not the dividing line between the base instinct and the inner voice of reason? living in a way that fulfills both is how people fight with their ego, achieve their desires, and carve the path to the life they most want. it isn't illogical at all. noa spares a glance to kaiser cutting his fish into ready made pieces, unsure what to make of it but not thinking it has any deep meaning either, as he chews his small cut of brain. only when his mouth isn't full does he circle back to the earlier question. ]

The religious community was a benefit, a safety net of sort, but not what I meant. It was lucky because she didn't believe in abortion. A person without those religious beliefs might have chosen to terminate the pregnancy given the poverty we lived in.