If one approaches the viewpoint of cloning by first how one approaches the viewpoint of the spirit it is possible to take a different look at the issue of cloning. First one must visit one of the oldest the concepts of the spirit. In an earlier article the point was made that you are the spirit and you have a body.

Amongst students and philosophers of this approach, it is well known that you can and often do leave from and return to your body during your life time. It is natural for you to do so. You may also be one who prefers to hover near or over the body and not in it. The point here is that your body is something you control. It is not meshed and melded within "your soul" or vice versa.

To gain a clearer concept of this, compare it to a car. The car does not go without the driver. The driver is distinctly separate from and not cohesed in any way to the car. He may leave at any time. The driver may change cars at any time. The driver is the control point.

You are the spiritual being you are the driver. You choose a body at birth or conception: it's your decision. You see that body through all types of activities, injuries, etc. You may be in it, near it, beside it, over it, you may travel distances from it, but while it is yours, you do keep tabs on it and take care not to lose it. When that body dies. You get a new body and start the process again.

If one takes this view to the spiritual being, then the concept of cloning can be more easily viewed. If a full human-body clone was developed, the simplest of things would happen, a spiritual being who was looking for a new body would "get a break" so to speak. The being could avoid entering the body at birth or conception and having to go through all the growing process again - he may happily think he'll save himself some time. And well he might, if he also chooses not to go amnesic - which is rare, so many spiritual beings like the fresh start with the fresh new baby body and a chance to forget the memories of the past life. However, if he chose an adult clone body, and amnesia, he may find he has a truly difficult time adjusting.

There are other beliefs however. Following are two quotes from General Christian and Catholic views followed by a quote from the Qur'an. It is interesting to see how the issue can become more complex based upon how the religious group views the aspect of the human and the soul.

"Evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism, believe that a soul enters the body at the instant of conception. Thus the soul and the body somehow merge into one entity. Dividing that "baby" in half during an embryo cloning procedure would interfere with God's intent. The many cloned zygotes that died after a few cell divisions would be lost human beings; their loss is considered as serious as the death of a new born baby."

From the Islam group, we can see a quote from the Qur'an: "We created (khalaqna) man of an extraction of clay, then we set him, a drop in a safe lodging, then We created of the drop a clot, then We created of the clot a tissue, then We created of the tissue bones, then we covered the bones in flesh; thereafter We produced it as another creature. So blessed be God, the Best of creators (khaliqin)!"

It will be interesting to see how the discussions and views progress. It will be curious to see if the views of the spiritual being will broaden if man does create a successful clone . . .