Posted by Sean Patrick Rushton on July 12, 1999 at 15:19:35:
In Reply to: Re: Are there no supporters out there? posted by Anna on May 18, 1999 at 21:38:18:
"...Now for the subject of cloning whole humans. We have no right to decide a single person's genetically determined characteristics. If you believe in God, how would you feel knowing that he had no part in deciding your genetically determined characteristics? How would you feel knowing that an imperfect being decided how you would look, how smart you would be, or whether or not you would be athletic. Humans can't understand or control themselves. Deciding other's genetically determined characteristics is outside our jurisdiction..."
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I believe in God and I take offence to the idea that He DID play any part in deciding our genetically determined characteristics. Do you think God creates a child (hundreds a day) with horrifically crippling genetic defects for 'our own good'. Why would He do that? To teach the parents a spiritual lesson at the expense of the childs immense suffering? To teach the child that life is cruel and painful and hope that some kind of spirital growth happens because of that realization? Given, some people do grow spiritually out of a painful experience, but just as many if not most, are crushed, demoralized, made bitter and angry at God when they believe that He is behind it. The only God that I can believe in is one of love, not of suffering and divine esoteric schemes to 'better us'. God has given us Nature, in all its glory and in all of its horrors. I also that God has given us the spiritual resources (that part of us made in His image), and the freedom of choice free from divine intervention to refine Nature as best we can...."Too much Sanity is Madness, but the madest of all is to see life as it is and not as it should be".