Vatican warns scientists

[Lake View Too]

In the end really, that is probably the whole point. The definition of Evolution is really getting better all the time, under whatever circumstances you find your self.

It seems to me that we are the only specie that can actually manipulate our own evolution. All others simply evolve in response to their eviornment. We are now on the verge of being able to change our own biological destiny... it's truly scary considering how we've managed to mangle the Earth so far. LS said there's a learning curve to being God, and frankly, I think we're still in our adolescent stage. Is there a God College?

 

[30ashopper]

It seems to me that we are the only specie that can actually manipulate our own evolution. All others simply evolve in response to their eviornment. We are now on the verge of being able to change our own biological destiny... it's truly scary considering how we've managed to mangle the Earth so far. LS said there's a learning curve to being God, and frankly, I think we're still in our adolescent stage. Is there a God College?

Not scary for me, I want my biological destiny modified and extended through science.

 

[Lynnie]

We're done playing God. We are God.

This surprises me none, Son of Sam.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Ok, I won't argue with you there, the "heretic" statement may have been a wee bit overblown.

Frustrates me though that the church would involve itself and attempt to subdue something so promising.

But here is the point. For better or worse, the church feels that life is more than a batch of DNA in a lab someone figured out how to start transcribing, translating, etc. Furthermore, there is the question of 'the soul' which is not addressed in Frankensteinien quests. Gene therapy is the future of medicine, there is no doubt about that. I for one am all for aggressive genetic research, but I also hope people stop and think what the ultimate outcome could be. Could it be that one day we create organs 'in the lab' suitable for transplant or component donation? We probably will, and I would predict that accomplishments like that will not be seen as an end all. Could we create a living, breathing humans, and if so, what would we do with them? Would they be akin to lab rats or cars in a junk yard ready for a part to be pulled? Would they have civil rights? I think it sounds like the makings of a science fiction horror story. I am glad the church is voicing concern that some madman could open up a Pandora's box of scientific woe.

I for one do not want to live forever and am fine with dying one day. Countering your claim that the Vatican does not want genetic research because it would shake the foundation of God the Creator to the ground, I postulate that atheists want as much 'Genesis in the lab' as they can get because it absolves them of the fear that a higher force might be at the controls.

And one more thing. I don't think the Vatican has taken a stand on genetic research involving agriculture and genetic crop manipulation. If you went to just about any farmer's market anywhere in the US today and asked a consumer what they thought about genetically modified food, they would probably come unglued describing the evils of the practice. Ask the same person what they think about the Catholic Church cautioning against human genetic manipulation and you will probably hear scorn flung at the church and something about child molesters. It kind of makes you wonder about the scientific literacy of some people and their ability to see the forest for the trees.

 

[Lake View Too]

Not scary for me, I want my biological destiny modified and extended through science.

Question: Do you want Merck, Pfiser, Monsanto, BP, or The Federal Government to be in charge of this"modification"?

 

[Bob]

But here is the point. For better or worse, the church feels that life is more than a batch of DNA in a lab someone figured out how to start transcribing, translating, etc. Furthermore, there is the question of 'the soul' which is not addressed in Frankensteinien quests. Gene therapy is the future of medicine, there is no doubt about that. I for one am all for aggressive genetic research, but I also hope people stop and think what the ultimate outcome could be. Could it be that one day we create organs 'in the lab' suitable for transplant or component donation? We probably will, and I would predict that accomplishments like that will not be seen as an end all. Could we create a living, breathing humans, and if so, what would we do with them? Would they be akin to lab rats or cars in a junk yard ready for a part to be pulled? Would they have civil rights? I think it sounds like the makings of a science fiction horror story. I am glad the church is voicing concern that some madman could open up a Pandora's box of scientific woe.

I for one do not want to live forever and am fine with dying one day. Countering your claim that the Vatican does not want genetic research because it would shake the foundation of God the Creator to the ground, I postulate that atheists want as much 'Genesis in the lab' as they can get because it absolves them of the fear that a higher force might be at the controls.

And one more thing. I don't think the Vatican has taken a stand on genetic research involving agriculture and genetic crop manipulation. If you went to just about any farmer's market anywhere in the US today and asked a consumer what they thought about genetically modified food, they would probably come unglued describing the evils of the practice. Ask the same person what they think about the Catholic Church cautioning against human genetic manipulation and you will probably hear scorn flung at the church and something about child molesters. It kind of makes you wonder about the scientific literacy of some people and their ability to see the forest for the trees.

the church is looking out for the church. the pope needs to confess to himself via the mirror. the vatican has always been about power and control.

 

[LuciferSam]

But here is the point. For better or worse, the church feels that life is more than a batch of DNA in a lab someone figured out how to start transcribing, translating, etc. Furthermore, there is the question of 'the soul' which is not addressed in Frankensteinien quests. Gene therapy is the future of medicine, there is no doubt about that. I for one am all for aggressive genetic research, but I also hope people stop and think what the ultimate outcome could be. Could it be that one day we create organs 'in the lab' suitable for transplant or component donation? We probably will, and I would predict that accomplishments like that will not be seen as an end all. Could we create a living, breathing humans, and if so, what would we do with them? Would they be akin to lab rats or cars in a junk yard ready for a part to be pulled? Would they have civil rights? I think it sounds like the makings of a science fiction horror story. I am glad the church is voicing concern that some madman could open up a Pandora's box of scientific woe.

I for one do not want to live forever and am fine with dying one day. Countering your claim that the Vatican does not want genetic research because it would shake the foundation of God the Creator to the ground, I postulate that atheists want as much 'Genesis in the lab' as they can get because it absolves them of the fear that a higher force might be at the controls.

And one more thing. I don't think the Vatican has taken a stand on genetic research involving agriculture and genetic crop manipulation. If you went to just about any farmer's market anywhere in the US today and asked a consumer what they thought about genetically modified food, they would probably come unglued describing the evils of the practice. Ask the same person what they think about the Catholic Church cautioning against human genetic manipulation and you will probably hear scorn flung at the church and something about child molesters. It kind of makes you wonder about the scientific literacy of some people and their ability to see the forest for the trees.

You're projecting your own views about how atheists might think. I don't think there's a fear of the creator, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to some people. I have no problem with being wrong about that one and no fear if somebody could definitively prove otherwise.

My biggest concerns about manipulation of life forms would be the possibility of producing defective human life forms who might endure a lifetime of suffering. Of course that happens without human intervention, but there is not the feeling of culpability.

As far as "soul" is concerned, I think more and more that concept is becoming unraveled. I think we should try to learn more about the brain and consciousness before we rubber stamp that one. There are a lot of things where I happen to take the position of "I don't know, so therefore I don't believe". This is one of them. I'm also not about to embrace a belief system that amounts to nothing more than some sort of wager to avoid eternal punishment. My reasoning on that one again is "I don't know, therefore I don't believe".

 

[LuciferSam]

Not scary for me, I want my biological destiny modified and extended through science.

So you're not willing to give prayer a chance? The video is astounding. As for me I'll take Craig Venter's god over the old one any day.

No better demonstration of the futility of prayer : Pharyngula

Then there was another heart attack, and another, and another. Pray, pray, pray. Pray some more.

She isn't dead yet. At this point I feel like screaming, "Stop praying! You're killing her!" It sure doesn't seem like they're helping at all. I would call six heart attacks in a row a good reason to admit that no, God doesn't seem to want to stop tormenting this poor woman.

 

[30ashopper]

But here is the point. For better or worse, the church feels that life is more than a batch of DNA in a lab someone figured out how to start transcribing, translating, etc. Furthermore, there is the question of 'the soul' which is not addressed in Frankensteinien quests.

These are pure religious concepts, only believed by some, so they should not be injected into policy that revolves around scientific discovery.

Gene therapy is the future of medicine, there is no doubt about that. I for one am all for aggressive genetic research, but I also hope people stop and think what the ultimate outcome could be. Could it be that one day we create organs 'in the lab' suitable for transplant or component donation? We probably will, and I would predict that accomplishments like that will not be seen as an end all. Could we create a living, breathing humans, and if so, what would we do with them? Would they be akin to lab rats or cars in a junk yard ready for a part to be pulled? Would they have civil rights? I think it sounds like the makings of a science fiction horror story. I am glad the church is voicing concern that some madman could open up a Pandora's box of scientific woe.

All of these issues will be addressed over time as discoveries unfold. While I understand the concerns, based on past record, I don't think the church should be the primary body involved in formulating policies that surround these issues.

The church isn't just voicing concern, it is actively medling, which they've been doing for ages. Look at the history of the decisions by the church - The Condemnations, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Darwin, and now the makers of Dolly, stem cell research, genetics, ... let the record show the church doesn't have the best track record in deciding what is to be considered valid science, and what should be off limits.

 

[30ashopper]

Question: Do you want Merck, Pfiser, Monsanto, BP, or The Federal Government to be in charge of this"modification"?

The modification is my decision. I welcome the choices by any of the above listed companies. (Plus all the other drug companies, gene research companies, etc..) I'd prefer the FEDs not regulate my choices either.