I'm not sure where I heard this, but here's a joke that introduces a thought or two...

There was a team of genetic engineers who decided to compete with God by recreating man. Amused by their idea, God decided He would take on the challange. The team of genetic engineers went to their labs, and God stepped aside to watch... As the team began to gather dust from which they were to create man, God stepped in and said, "Ah-ah-ah! Get your own dust!"
The term "playing God" was properly addressed by cwk9's implementation of burning ants with a magnifying glass (bravo!).

Hitler "played God" by killing Jews. Early settlers of America "played God" by driving the Indians into poverty-stricken "reservations." /bin/lady "played God" by having planes crash into various buildings. On the other hand, .gov "plays God" by declaring whether one is "innocent" or "guilty."

The thought of "playing God" in many instances seems rather foolish to me (but call me a skeptic as you ponder why my handle is "Rev. Jazzman." )

No one can "play God." That's ridiculous. In my mind, "we live and learn" and that is "God's way." In my mind, we still have to answer to Him, regardless of what .gov thinks of us, and that's "God's way." In my mind, I seem to remember scripture "sightings" that go along the lines of:

"And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. " -- Gen. 1:26

"And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all the moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. " -- Gen. 9:2

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; and has put all things under his feet: " -- Ps. 8:6

"Playing God" has nothing to do with genetic engineering simply because God gave man dominion over creation. To say, "No! You can't do that!" would be closer to "playing God" than accepting that dominion.

Guess what... That is God's way...

My request is simple... If you're going to bring "Playing God" into the picture, at least roll the credits in the right direction... It makes for easier reading that way.

Long thought made short... As long as we're still using what God gave (and intended for) us to use, then wer're not "playing God..."

If the thought of playing God still bothers you, then check the parable of the talents (Mat. 25:14-30) to see whether it is best to bury what He's given us in the dirt or whether we should invest (use) it.

Best,

Rev