THOUGHTS ON THE 'A' WORD

I posted this on another site, and after re-reading it, and after recently posting on bonobos, thought it raised too many issues not to share here, as well:

"I don't have a dogmatic response---I don't claim to know 'THE Truth' on this topic---but I do have a lot of uncomfortable questions, based on what I know about the state of biology at present.

At what point is a child not a child? We don't actually know. But we know this: gametes are potentially zygotes, and at some point in the very near future, it will be possible to clone a person from any cell, not just a gamete, so any cell will potentially become a zygote. The same thing can be said for any mammalian species.

Since that's the case, shouldn't our deliberations about what is sacred and worthy of legal protection focus on that which is uniquely human, rather than the biology we happen to share with all mammals? The scientific community can't make that determination at present, of course, but unless there is a systematic worldwide campaign to eliminate research in reproductive biology, that data will eventually emerge, I think. What will happen to the entire notion of the sacred if we have committed ourselves, in advance, to an absolutist position on the sanctity of human life?"

BONOBO HANDSHAKE

Some will find this precious, some will find its' frank discussion of primate sexuality vaguely disturbing. Whether or not it is suitable for work depends on your workplace, I suppose, but in any case I think everyone should know about bonobos, and this charmingly candid lady's blog is as much as diary about her life with one of our closest relatives as it is science.

She's written a book, too. And all of its proceeds, apparently, help support the very bonobo sanctuary that she's immersed in! Stop in, say hello, learn something about your 'kissing cousin' and consider making a donation if you find this kind of work laudable.

INSTEAD OF ALDERSGATE, IT'S WAL-MART

God is speaking to Mark.

******UPDATE******

Apparently someone else is talking to Mark, too. A local journalist is interested in interviewing people 28 and younger in the Central Valley who are seriously skeptical about God's existence.

Unfortunately, despite being a hopeless sucker for free publicity, I fail to qualify on more than one account. But if the above sounds like you, and you're interested in being interviewed, contact Mark on his blog for more info!