Will Cloned Humans Have Souls?

I think it's VERY important that Christians agree that clones have souls.

Given that identical twins are clones, I'd say that's pretty much a philosophical truth.

 

Johnv you dont understand what I am saying. What you have described is conception taking place. These are all natural events.

Scientists cannot tell you why these events cause life. Life happens in this fashion for sure. but simply watching a process does not explain how the gift of life is given.

 

Cloning is not the creation of Life. It is making a decision to put the living matter together and let nature take its course.

This is the same process a couple follows as they decide to make a baby. The tools are different but the means and end are the same. Cloning is still a natural process.

It won't be natural if ever man can create life from scratch... Then the question of soul existence should be addressed, but not now.

True unnatural life creation is bring a cell to life. This is not done in the process of Cloning as the egg is already living.

[ November 30, 2002, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: post-it ]

 

You are absolutely right. They are still created in God's image, correct?

Sorry to be 12 days behind you, brother, but at least I'm behind you!

[ December 11, 2002, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Refreshed ]

 

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1293.asp

 

The thing about identical twins that sets them apart is the fact that they are not “identical”. Just like you and me, every individual is different. Identical twins may have different personalities, prefer different activities and may also behave differently.

Correct. Identical twins, from the moment of conception, are impacted upon by nurture. No two individuals have the same environmental, societal, physical, and mental exposures, hence no two people appear or act exactly the same. The same would be true of an individual resulting from a cloned dna source. That person would have completely different extrenal exposures from the donor. Hence, that person would not act or look exactly like the original.

 

If the Spirit/Soul is created at conception, does it divide along with the cell (in Identical twins)? Of course not. A new soul is created after the time of conception has occured. Since the fertilization has already occurred it is now producing another cell from itself and if we believe the spirit is created at conception, then in essence this is a microcloning occuring in the production of an Identical twin. Since we believe all Identical twins have a soul, then the process of cloning ...(creating another human from a previously concieved egg/human) will produce a like occurance of a Spirit/Soul in the clone.

Therefore, conception is not the only time nor the only circumstance a Soul can be created. This also opens the possibility that a soul/spirit could be created at a later time also.... like at First Breath.

 

Could the clone of a Calvinist become an Arminian?

I'm just kidding folks!

 

If you clone someone from Armenia, and raise them in the Reformed Church, would they be an Arminian Calvinist???

Doh!!!!!! I better stop!!!!

 

Glad to have you back post it and glad to see that your abortion views haven't changed after all. Or have I misunderstood the implication of "first breath"? Once again it is good to have you back things have been a little boring.
Murph

 

Good to be back. Work has me spending more time making sure we keep the IRS in the black.

My understanding of when life begins didn't change,I don't think it begins until first breath. What you might remember me saying is that I changed my mind about it not being a sin.

One doesn't change the other. It isn't a sin to abort because a fetus is alive since it really isn't, but rather it is a sin because the Government implies it is wrong since they now define a fetus as a person with equal rights. Therefore, it is considered a sin according to Romans 13.

Just as speeding is not a sin because it is wrong to move a great speed, but because we are told to obey our leaders rules, otherwise we act against God.

 

So in short your stance is still that abortion if it were deemed legal by the government would not be sinful because life doesn't begin until first breath. Please correct me if I am incorrect.
Murph

 

Correct, up to about 5-6 months it wouldn't be sinful. After that it would be murder since first breath could occur if the baby is outside the womb.

 

If cloning is not creating a living being by taking sperm and egg and joining them to make a human life as God created it to be then how can a true clone be a true human being? Do you Think God will bless man's efforts to be a god by giving a soul to something man created as a mockery of God's creation. I do not. A clone is in no way procreation as God made man and woman capable of doing.