G'day Izzy, Izzy, you have introduced "human being" and "really human". David has introduced "soul" and "spirit" and cloning.
Shakespeare (not on the list) wrote "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". However, in discussing issues, if there is no agreement on the meanings of terms, then what someone intends by what they write, is not what I hear them say. I use "person" because the OT Hebrew word "nephesh" identifies an independently functioning unit or "living person". Izzy, you haven't explained, from the Bible, what a human being is and when they start. You have clearly identified the continuum problem. Why should we stop at birth? Biologists/Psychologists have argued that human children are born 9 months too early and "personhood" might start there. Others say that 2 years is about right because that is when cognitive memory has developed. By the way, a Roman paterfamilias (Head male) had the right of life and death over his children until they became adults. The continuum problem is a reason why, as a way of defining when a human person appears, I choose Bible models rather than science. Here's a picture. _____ / \ [ o o ] | ^ | \ = / Cheers Peter -- Peter Eyland Sydney Australia Web page: http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~epe ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
