> So I'm wrong, but you, of course, are right.
I know scientists. The idea that they do what they do to "set themselves up as God," "usurp the Creator," or any similar foolishness, is just ludicrous. They do science to get paid, they do it from curiosity, they do it from the hope to help mankind (or critters, depending), they do it to gain personal fame, they do it to score with the chicks (a decidedly unsuccessful strategy, generally). But the scientist who tries to replace God largely exists only in cheap monster movies.
> A human being willingly giving a pint of blood to help another human being is a far cry from 'creating' new creatures that never existed before, only to kill them.
What, you mean like how we've genetically modified crops, in order to eat them; have bred more docile cattle, in order to eat them; created fatter sheep and pigs, in order to eat them? Humans have been creating new forms of life for 10,000 years in order to kill and eat them.
> So you'd be okay with cloning human beings without brains?
Turn it around. What arguement can you come up with regarding the unethicalness of that? Don't just give me "it's sick and evil..." reason it out.
If something is helpful and is not unethical... then I'm generally ok with it.
And I'm still waiting for an answer to this one:
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> It is an attempt that will fail, of course. No one can usurp God.
Umm... it has *already* succeeded. Read the article, there are a number of successes already. What does that imply?
Nothing like hyperbole to distract from the issue. Maybe you weren't aware that I wasn't talking about the cackling mad scientist who wants to take over the world. I'm talking about someone who is so full of pride, he must do something just to prove he can do it rather than care whether to do it is right or wrong. Maybe that's to subtle for you to grasp.
"Humans have been creating new forms of life for 10,000 years in order to kill and eat them."
Selecting breeding is a far cry from slicing and dicing, mixing DNA from different species. And yes, we eat animals. Not sure of your point there. Are you a member of PETA?
"What arguement can you come up with regarding the unethicalness of that?"
The argument is that human life is special - made in the image of God. Based on your posts, you don't seem to see a difference between humans and mice. If that is the case, then I'm sure you have no issues with all kinds of things, like abortion and euthansia for humans with bad tempers.
"Umm... it has *already* succeeded."
I don't think you meant to reveal so much of your mindset with that comment. Just because someone slices and dices some DNA doesn't mean they have usurped God. (They can't. He's God, they are mere humans.) But they are attempting to (even if subconsciously). You've shown that very attitude with your post.