This is a very very very old topic, now it is framed in the language of "Fetal Tissue". My own very old associations with this, is the question of, gods, no gods, or one god ? Followed by the notion of a "personal"god or a communal god. There are enough historical examples of both. Certainly enough examples of one group of people believing that their concept of belief promoted the killing of others, because they had a different belief system...AKA as "Faith". Such "faith" is grounded in the many personal experiences and intellectual systems of each one of us. Faith is an emotional associated feeling state and as such is very different than the mathematical rigor of science and intellect. As most of us know, emotion is more powerful than reason. Our "debate" therefore is really directed to that great middle area of folks who use both systems to help to define their own place in space and time. That group of questioners have the benefit of curiosity and continual discomfort via the search for such answers. That is the "karma" of those that question and are critical thinkers. Faith followers have the advantage believing that their "Karma" provides then with personal salvation. And then there are others who define god, in more natural, biological, and logical terms:i.e., god is what is not known, and the pursuit of god is the pursuit of knowledge that allow us to understand that what was mysterious before. The "Karma" for this group is that each discovery asks more questions. In a sense we have many gods, many ways to practice or try out many different paths. Each of us must walk the walk, he shall walk. Lets us celebrate the walk with out trying to tell others which walk to choose. For myself walking requires great effort and I have enough to do minding my own with telling us what to do. Bernie Barber " I think therefore I am" Descartes "When you think of me, I am" Barber "You better think of me, or you ain't" Zeus At 04:06 PM 11/14/98 +0000, you wrote: >I think we have got to debate the fetal tissue/abortion issue on the list. > >Rightly or wrongly, when a press release goes out saying "Hopeful treatment >for Parkinson's involes fetal tissue", we're into some sticky medical >ethics discussions. > >We, people with an interest in Parkinson's, need to be able to have an >educated debate about this with our legislators, doctors, friends, family, >and donors. > >If start that debate now, amongst ourselves, we will be better equipped to >make sure "the world" doesn't do something against our interests because >"the world" misuderstand what's involved, and what the benefits are. > >I personally have learnt a lot so far about the different opinions around >the pro choice/pro life issue, and how it involves Parkinson's treatments. > >I'd welcome a calm and respectful debate (which I think we are capable of >having), and that will help us influence that debate with the wider public. > >Dennis Greene's criteria are excellent tools to help us BTW..... > > > >Simon >--------- My opinions are my own, NIP's opinions are theirs ---------- >Simon J. Coles Email: [log in to unmask] >New Information Paradigms Work Phone: +44 1344 778783 >http://www.nipltd.com/ Work Fax: +44 1344 772510 >=============== Life is too precious to take seriously =============== >