Conner
Dad, would it be cool if you could clone a sheep?
Me
I, personally, don't know. Why don't you ask the Scottish scientists who did just that?
Conner
SOMEBODY CLONED A SHEEP?
Me
Yeah. A sheep named Dolly. It was within your lifetime too.
Conner
Wow... That's AWESOME.
Me
Sure is, man. But not everyone thinks so.
Conner
Because it was a sheep?
Me
No, because the supposed uniqueness of a cloned being is diminished by the act of creating an exact copy. So there are a lot of people who believe that cloning is, essentially, the contemporary equivalent of building the tower of Babel.
Conner
Dad... Two questions. First, why are science and religion always battling?
Me
That's a great question with lots of long answers. I don't think we can cover it before your bus comes. But maybe a short answer to start thinking about, for now, is: ego. What was your other question.
Conner
Okay... It's just that... Dad? I don't know what "contemporary" means.