Is human birth (in other words,in the passive sense, being born as a
human being) a right or a privilege?

I don't think this is really an answerable question, but as phrased, I
think I might have answer with, "Um...maybe it's neither?"

Um, it just sort of works out that way when the parents are human.

It is definitely a privilege.  Thank your parents.

If you are asking about whether it is a right after conception, it is
more than a 5 dollar question.  (I know that you know that, Monroe22,
but I'm staying on the sideline for this.)

myoarin-ga: Post your comment as an answer.
monroe22

A very interesting question. The Bible answers it very clearly. Which
makes it a gift from God. Genesis 1;. 28 Further, God blessed them and
God said to them: ?Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and
subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying
creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon
the earth.?

A privilege.

tr1234-ga:  Yes, it is possible to argue that it is neither. But the
human tendency to dispute virtually everything could also defend the
question. As in any debate, the most skilled debater will *win*, right
or wrong.
  I posted the question hoping for a persuasive and illuminating answer.
monroe22

I think neither applies.  It's a borderline non-sequiter akin to
saying "Potato: friend or foe?".

Hi Monroe,
Glad you liked my answer, but you know that as a mere commenter I
cannot post an answer.  We are all privileged to birth but not to
become G-A Researchers.  There is a different god in control, if
Pugwash will excuse my flippancy.  ;-)

myoarin-ga: I have seen so many comments of yours, I thought you were a GAR.
Perhaps in our next incarnations I can arrange payment.
Thanks,
monroe22

Monroe,

There is a simple way to tell GARs from other site users. Google
Answers Researchers' usernames are highlighted in blue and are and
"clickable." Non-GARs' usernames are standard bold text, and are not
hyperlinks. (This wasn't true during the earliest months of the site's
operation in 2002, however; when you look at very old questions and
answers, everyone's name is printed in the same fashion.)

pinkfrued-ga:  Thanks for the info, which I have just belatedly discovered.
The old system was so ingrained in my perception that I hadn't noticed
the highliting of GARs until recently. Perhaps I should be a
detective. Clouseau,
move over.
monroe22

The question of whether human birth is a right or a privilege reminds
me of "Desiderata":

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

http://hobbes.ncsa.uiuc.edu/desiderata.html

And that, in turn, reminds me of an old National Lampoon parody of "Desiderata":

You are a fluke of the universe. 
You have no right to be here. 
And whether you can hear it or not, 
the universe is laughing behind your back.

http://www.mit.edu/people/mwhitson/deteriorata.html

Personally, I feel that I have no right to existence. It's a gift. And
although the Creator of the universe is probably not laughing behind
my back, I do believe that He may be smiling a little.