When scientists create life from scratch will this affect Christianity?

Question

Is it only god that is allowed to create life or is it ok for humans to do it too?

I’m talking about when scientists create a new form of living being from non-living chemicals in a lab.

Answer 1

well. I see now how scientists and others are still creating life by the "scratch the Herpes" syndrome.

I still see no effects on Christianity. It only strengthens most of us.

Good Q*.
.

Answer 2

I think I'm seeing a pattern here, in these answers. It looks like the Christian fundamentalist puppet masters have come to realize that scientists will soon succeed in creating 'life' from organic chemicals, in the laboratory, under conditions that duplicate the environment of the early earth. This will clearly demonstrate that life probably DID arise spontaneously from a chemical soup. So, they have initiated a preemptive strike... they have 'moved the bar'. Previously, Christians insisted that it was IMPOSSIBLE for life to have arisen spontaneously, in accordance with the right conditions and simple natural laws. They used to say, essentially, that "You can't take dirt and zap it with lightening. That's impossible. God has to pick up the dirt, and breathe life into it."

NOW they are saying "Yeah... you did it... but that's cheating. You used the materials that were already created by god. In order to prove anything, you'll have to create your own materials, and your own universe, from nothing... and THEN make life. But, even if you accomplish that, it STILL won't prove anything, because you had to use machines, and stuff, that were essentially made possible by god, in the first place."

Take note, folks... you are watching the evolution in action... the next retrenchment... the EVOLUTION of the 'God of the Gaps'. This is really funny.

Answer 3

There is ethical debate to be had about humans creating new life, outside of religion. In any case, each individual Christian will probably have their own beliefs as to how such a "breakthrough" might implicate their religion. Some religious folk are really sensitive when it comes to any scientific advances, and some are more permissive.

Anyway, "something" else still created the true first life, and the building blocks for it. There are plenty of ingredients in nature for science to work with - I think the first elements coming from the void is still a more impressive event.

Answer 4

It wouldn't really change anything. People can build a house, but do you want to argue that given billions of years a house could, theoretically, just show up at random? Creating living cells from non-living matter is more complex. Having those cells change into something completely different (ie a different species with different genetic code) is even more complex and can't even be explained by science yet, let alone recreated. The theory of evolution is just that, a theory. It can't be proven, and takes just as much faith to believe in as creation.

Answer 5

Two scientists called up God and said he was no longer needed, cause they had made life from dirt.

so God said this might be interesting, so He said show me.

The scientist go into their back yard and bring in a bucket of dirt to start the experiment.

God said wait a minute, Get your own dirt.

Answer 6

No, since they will be using the chemicals God created.
If they really want to impress me, they'll have to do better than that...send a tremendous ball of burning energy hurtling through space, for instance, with a single word. That would impress me.
When they can truly start from "scratch"...that is, create their own sun, set some planets spinning around it, then create life from the dirt on these planets....wake me.

Answer 7

When people say God "created" something, they usually mean form nothing. They mean he made the laws and substances to allow for an organism in the first place. What you are talking about is using pre-established laws and substances to produce an organism; not the same idea. So it would produce no effect. But there is enough in the Christians' own text to undo their own case for them.

Answer 8

When scientists take nothing, no chemicals, no building blocks at all and make something then you can ask your question.

Scientists are always taking something and trying to make something else.

Let them try, as God did, and make something from nothing.

Answer 9

Christians, especially fundies, are too stubborn to change their beliefs based on something like "fact." Because we ALL know that "fact" is merely the devils work. In fact, I bet that's basically what they say. These people wouldn't stop believing for anything. It's sad, actually.

Answer 10

No - Even if they were able to create a lifeform from non-living chemicals - it's not the same. Where did they get the chemicals? Not even close!