Recently, news has it that scientists succeeded in making clones of human. They did it for the sake of parents who coudn't make babies in a 'natural' way. For me, to think of exact clone of myself is pretty scary, even though he is 20 years younger than me. What do you guys think of human cloning?

I agree it's a bit scary for me too.

But i think we have to wait for the results to see if cloning can be done without side effects we shouldn't totally deny it.
It could have many benefitial effects on people overcoming fatal diseases.

But I've also heard some strange opinions about it.
Some people say that cloning (human not CD's of course )
could lead us to eternal life.By cloning ourselves and afterwards by implanting our brain inside the young and healthy clone.

A baby who has a 80 year-old person's brain. lol

or maybe a baby with smoking and drinking habbits of a 30 years old man
His first words would be " Vod - ka " or "Beeeer mommy"

Pro's : Immortality , Lots a body spare parts

Cons : Unstable , Responsibilities , Ethics

Although I am a man of science, I think cloning humans may be a bridge too far. Some things should be handled with care. Cloning as a publicity stunt is wrong.

If it is used for the purpose of good, why not. We have a lot to gain by technologies we have a reluctance to accept at first.

However, the thing is that most inventions are not only used for the good, but can be used for the bad as well. But does this mean that all good is so easily surpasssed by the chance of something evil?

As far as the cloning of human beings, as long as they are treated the same as every human being and not as some lab rat, kept in a cage, under scrutiny for 24/7 and subject to all kinds of tests that would never be performed on non-cloned human beings such as you and me, I have little objections.

We have to keep in mind that our DNA only determines who we are up to a point, a lot is determined by the way we were raised and in what social environment we grew up. So, although genetically people may be the same, they may turn out to be different persons in the end....

If i have a soul , does my 100% clone have one as well ?

*shudder* Imagine several of these:

Ok just for that cloning should be banned.

Else let the cloning begin. Let us see if we have what it takes to create a human being. Actually true test of our genious is not in creating clones but creating normal different humans like oursleves with different eye color, hair color and allowing them to being able to procreate just like us. Now that would be really testament of our genious. We shall see if we have what it takes to be a God (or aliens, for those that belive in therory that we were created by aliens).

Preserve the beauty and handsome.

to all those that say we are playing god with cloning - arent we playing god already ? we save animals from extinction - we save environments. we destroy animals, and environments. i'd rant on and on, but im not in the mood

personally, if i had a clone, he'd be my butler. and he'd commit crimes for me. that'd be his job.

anyone ever see the calvin and hobbes with the clones?

if he commited crimes for you, the police wouldn't know which person to arrest and probably nab both of you.

But wouldnt the young and health clone also be a person.
Wouldnt that be murder

hence my question , does a clone have a soul ?

I believe that a soul can only be given by the almighty God.

The body will probably be like an animal. It can be taught to live like a human, but it is just a body, and when it dies, it is a corpse. No heaven or hell, just a corpse.

Also, I wonder how it will be emotionally (love, mercy, sensitivity), because I have some belief that this can be related to your soul not sure about this one though.

If such cloning can be done it would be a proof that god doesn't exist
Up to know the only cloning that has been done is embryo cloning.
So people can still have hope

We have cloned thousands of flowers and plants. Weren't they also God's gifts to humanity ?

If you have sex with your clone, is that masturbation? Hmm, can your clone be another sex? Hmm, free sex with minimum work, sign me on! Then again, its like screwing your sister.... damn!

Just some questions to consider...

So cloning rednecks is legal

Cloning is the only God's area?

We destroyed our environment. We made many creatures extinct. Isn't it that we interfere with god's area? Then, why does only cloning matter? We often advocate ourselves that destruction of environment was inevitable in human progress. Can human cloning also be justified in that reason?

I couldn't agree more.

Sure, if I die, make a mini-me with super strength, but will everything else be the same (brain, emotions, etc.)?

I think that God (I'm Catholic) does everything for a reason, and if some people can't naturally have kids, God has a reason. Human life is impossible to 100% replicate, however I am not against it [cloning] nor am I for it.

Okay, that's enough.

Yeah.

Oh yeah! My signature describes it perfectly!!!

How can you not be against it and still believe in God? I mean, unless you are a Raelian or something like that, you should clearly see what's going on. Sure, technology is great, but dealing with human lives is another thing. People are learning to manipulate things they shouldn't mess with.

Belvedere: Yes, they are God's gifts to humanity, but they don't have a soul. According to the Bible, Humans are the only creatures to have a soul. I cannot say yes or no, but that is what I believe.

Also, "soul" raises another interesting thought. When they develop teleportation, how would that work with your soul? It seems like the original molecules are destroyed and replicated at another location, so you are technically "dying" and a clone is built?

It depends on what you mean with the word "soul".Does soul mean the humans ability to speak , think and act with logic ?

If you mean that i can agree , but you can't deny that even animals and plants have life inside of them they aren't just gifts of god that we humans can use in whatever way we want.

That kind of interpretation of the Bible that you mention led humanity to a destructive exploitation of nature as if we humans own it. While older religions had a great respect for nature and thought of nature as god itself.

Well I don’t have a problem with the idea of cloning a human. You can look for the answers to your questions with identical twins.

From the point of view of a having a soul, wouldn't having a clone be exactly the same as an identical twin? - are identical twins immoral?

The issues with the clones having the same biological age, but not physical age, as the person they were cloned from, and therefore suffering from illnesses such as arthritis, etc. is the only complicated issue to be debated: Is it right (ethical view) or is it a sensible use of resources (nihilistic view), bringing a human that may well be a considerable drain on society, and will live a much reduced life?

A question that can not really be answered until you have tested it with human clones.

A more contentious issue in my view, is should genetic engineering of humans be allowed? For example should I be allowed to improve the human race by genetically engineering consenting parents children to all have IQs 50 above average, and an aptitude for medical research? This would be of benefit to both them, and society.

Surely the problems you might get with a genetic underclass of the poor (who can not afford this 'treatment'), is a side effect of natural selection, they were not sufficiently able to flourish in society and were left to die out by it? In the same way a neanderthals were by modern man?