Thursday, February 22, 2007

Cloning Christians

Do you remember when they cloned that sheep named Dolly? It's hard to believe it was ten years ago. And I never knew they named the sheep Dolly - after Dolly Partin - because the DNA they used to clone her came from a breast cell. Ha.

Anyway.... there is a pretty good article on 10 Years After Dolly: Clones, Crooks and Crazies: How scientific progress was thwarted by fears and frauds.

I never really understood the whole stem-cell research thing. I am probably opposed to it - and cloning in general - simply on the basis that it kinda seems like trying to play God to me. But at least according to this article we don't seem to have too much to worry about.

However, do you suppose we ever try to clone Christians? I mean, not make actual new bodies, but do we try to force people into an image we have of what a Christian is? Certainly we are to be being conformed to the image of Christ... a Christian is supposed to be striving to be more Christlike. But don't you think some people have a picture in their mind of what that looks like; and maybe they can even think of someone they knew once who was a really Christ-like person... and maybe they compare everyone to that image they have. That's what they think all Christians should be like. And some people will manipulate and try to "help" their friends and loved ones fit into that mold.

I dunno. This probably doesn't make a lot of sense. That's the problem with blogging before thinking. But I do believe most people have a preconceived idea of how they would like others to behave... and depending on how much we define life by this idea can have a big impact on our frustration levels, our expectations of ourselves, and how well we get along with others. We've all got a journey to take. But even if we're all following the same Guide, it's unlikely we'll all be at the same place at the same time. But we can try to encourage one another along the way. Right?

So... I guess it's good that Dolly has come and gone (I wasn't aware she didn't live very long). And maybe the best thing to do is simply say, "Here's looking at EWE, kid." :)

(is that a sheepish grin on yer face?)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow dad, your jokes are pretty funny there at the end of your blog. :) I really did LOL, which caused me to look somewhat foolish here in the admissions office. oh well...

On a serious note, I've been thinking the same thing for the last couple of days. I guess great minds really do think alike. :)

Apparently I'm full of :)'s today. Makes like fun I suppose.

Anyway, just wanted to let ya know that you're not alone and it does make perfect sense - to me anyway. Maybe we're the only two who think like this. Scarey thought...At least we know we're right! (one more) :)

JAH said...

Maybe we all just need to make sure we are trying to "copy" or be like the original instead of trying to copy a copy of a copy of a copy - okay you get my point. I think sometimes we get to a point where we don't even remember what the original was like in the first place.

Anyway - just a thought - and I have nothing funny to add so I am a little disappointed in myself...but very impressed with you other two!

MR said...

They missed the opportunity for a great gag by cloning a Llama and naming it Dolly.

Of course, HE might not have thought it was funny.