Scientists, not God, Create Life!
Posted: Friday, May 21, 2010
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
Dateline May 21, 2010.
Scientists Create First 'Synthetic' Cells - Researchers Imbue Cell With Engineered DNA.
- by MICHAEL SMITH MedPage Today Staff Writer.
"In a development that seems likely to stir a firestorm of controversy, researchers said Thursday that they have used genes made in the lab to create a synthetic species of bacteria. . . . The new species, Venter said, started with researchers digitizing the genetic code for the new species on computers, then assembling the nucleotides using "four bottles of chemicals" into sections of DNA. The DNA sections were assembled in yeast cells to form a synthetic chromosome, which was then transferred to a related species of bacteria, M. capricolum. . . . bioethicist Art Caplan of the University of Pennsylvania, wrote in the commentary that the result is "one of the most important scientific achievements in the history of mankind."
Robert Field, professor of Law and Health Management and Policy at Drexel University, said the "ability to create new life forms may be emerging from the world of science fiction."
After reading Michael Smith's article, religious stalwarts could rationalize that God (or the life force) created the scientists who then created life, but that is quite a stretch and a pretty weak attempt at rationalization. The fact is, test tubes, computers, and man's ability to think and learn has created life, and that is a giant step forward in the advancement of man's innate intelligence opposed to the blind belief that life is in God‘s hands and is somehow sacrosanct.
Life is just life, nothing out of the ordinary and simply based on cause and effect. If you look closely at animals, their muscular structure and their organs, there is no difference really from us. Nothing sacred there, just the results of karma, biological cause and effect. The sacredness, if there is any, is the fact that life can be used to dig into nature and find out all about it, to actually transcend the physical mind into areas unfamiliar to the vast majority of people.
Buddhism always has respected and regarded science as the leading edge of human intelligence because science proves thing out as a modality and doesn't rely on beliefs or opinions.
Nothing that science could ever prove would disagree with Buddhism, because Buddhism is an open inquiry into what is happening right now, not what happened in the past. Buddhists understand that life is always transient and in flux, that life incurs a certain amount of discontent, and that there is no self or life force or entity standing behind what is obvious.
When Buddhists meditate, resulting in insight and wisdom that transcends the physical, that meditation deals with the moment as well and in no way interferes with science. As a matter of fact, in the field of theoretical physics, science and Buddhism are coming very close in their conclusions.
Good God, you guys. This is almost too much for a transient being to ingest! Which is precisely what the power brokers, who keep most people's wages at a point to where they are barely above water so that they do not have time to critically dissect issues such as these, and almost all of the modern religions that rely on the teaching of an outcome based existence to keep you in fear so that they have control over you, rely on.
The truth of life and reality I think is evident if you do not harbor foregone conclusions, however this does not lend itself to a vehicle of the amassing of power and wealth, and so the beat goes on!Very perceptive David! That's why Buddhist monks (real ones, not "citified" ones) live in the forest in abject poverty. That's the only way that they can become free. Once free, then the world can be navigated again, but without a rudder! (Action without attachments).
Okay, so that's one life form for science, billions for God. Sounds to me like science has a lot of catching up to do. Hey, if they hurry, they might be able to get to 100 by the year 4000. :-) Somehow, I don't think God is worried about being outdone.Actually, I think God's response would be something sarcastic like this, when He responded to Job when Job was getting to little too big for his britches (selected verses from Job 38 and 39 - KJV):"Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible."
Hi Terry, Again, since God has never been proven to exist, all of your arguments, biblical quotes etc, etc., establishing hearsay as a truth based on an unproven God are fallacious.
That's the beauty of science, theories must be proven and scientists never rely on beliefs as proof. If they did, they might embrace radical Islam and strap a bomb to their chest! Your statement therefore that God has created billions of life forms is only hearsay, nothing that can be proven.
Just wishful thinking and trying to create answers for everything. But of course you may believe as you choose and i respect your right to believe whatever as long as it does not harm anyone.
But I do not believe what you believe, and therefore have a different perspective on your religion because I am neither attached to it or reverent of it. It's just one religion amongst thousands, in my mind, and Jesus just another profit, if he is historically true as depicted, which is questionable, and God a figment of imagination in the many various minds that wrote the bible over the centuries.
Don't forget, I was a Christian once for many years, was raised with it, but left it post haste as soon as I attained the age of reason.Best.....e
Scientists will never be able to create consciousness, nor free will.
