As an agnostic Jew, I have no religious eggs in this basket, but my short answer to the OP is yes, life begins at conception. To answer elsewise is to open the possibility of degrading human life at many other stages.
Someone up yonder suggested that the human brain was not functioning, possibly as late as six months (roughly 26 weeks). Both of my daughters were born at about 22 weeks, weighing 560 grams (a bit less than four sticks of butter in weight), and their brains were functioning nicely, and continue to do so nearly 27 years later. Fetuses much heavier than my daughters at birth are routinely dissected and disposed of for convenience.
It is far too easy to disregard the sanctity (I hesitate to use that word, but it works) of human life at all stages. Either all human life from conception to old age is precious, or none of us are worth the ten-pound sack of carbon we consist of.
Meanwhile, over the years I've known fellows who have sat in trees to protect the redwoods or chained themselves to processing plant gates to protest chicken beheadings, and the same idiots were violent supporters of the rights of women and doctors to slice and dice preborn human children. Frankly, I think we fellers would do the world a great favor if more of us acted like men and supported our women and our children, rather than treating them as inconveniences. Only a rare woman would decide to abort a child if she knew the father was willing, able and proud to raise the kid.
You youngsters who support abortion? I truly hope you never need offspring to assist you in your old age.