Hello Burgy,
-----Original Message-----
From: JW Burgeson [mailto:hoss_radbourne@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wed 7/24/2002 8:42 AM
To: Adrian Teo; asa@calvin.edu
Cc:
Subject: RE: Infusion of the soul as a process
>>Cells do not develop into human persons. Personhood is a
discrete category. The person either exist or not. I maintain that a
person comes into existence at the point of fusion.>>
And, as I said, that's fine. But at least recognize that the "point of
fusion" is still a process, and not an event, and so your position is
necessarily a metaphysical statement, for that "point" can never be
scientifically defined.
Burgy
Adrian: The reason why I am careful to use the word "point"
is to suggest an instant, more specifically, that instant in time
when fusion is completed. Scientifically, that is probably
unmeasurable, But for the sake of argument, there is a beginning
point at which the full complement of 46 chromosomes is in place and
activated.
Perhaps that point cannot be scientifically defined, but
nevertheless, it is reasonable to hold that there is such apoint at
which a person comes into existence, just as Christians have
traditionally maintained that there is a point at which creation came
into being.
Adrian.
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