Is there anything sacred about the atoms, molecules, DNA or cells that make up the human body?

If so, at what point of complexity does our matter acquire sanctity? Atomic, molecular, genetic or cellular? Or does that sanctity relate only to vital organs and their constituents?


Does our matter suddenly lose its sanctity when expelled from the human body? Or would that depend on its potential importance to other humans?


And does the matter that makes up the human corpse retain its sanctity? Even after it has been ingested by worms?


';Sanctity'; in this context need not exclusively refer to the religious concept of sanctity, but also to e.g. the view widely held by humanists that human life is sacred.Is there anything sacred about the atoms, molecules, DNA or cells that make up the human body?
All living things can be considered sacred. Humans have the very egocentric view that they are more sacred than other living things. And while, being a human myself, I can understand this attitude in a way, I don't share the commonly held belief that it's just ok to kill other living things because they are in your way or you are afraid of them.





But dead things do not hold that quality of being sacred. People feel that their loved ones' dead bodies are 'sacred' only because they remember that this now empty vessel once held the spirit. But when the spirit is gone the vessel becomes part of the whole connected system again. And the organic parts will live again in some sacred living thing.Is there anything sacred about the atoms, molecules, DNA or cells that make up the human body?
The frequency of vibration.
I would say the atoms in your body are just as sacred as the rest of the universe, its the combination that makes you unique that sets human beings apart.





If you're coming from a religious 'spirit of god' perspective, your question will expose one of the many hypocrisies that exist when trying to marry up scientific reason with religious faith. But I guess they will say the 'soul' leaves the body at death, which is when it loses sanctity.





From a more physical perspective I'd imagine the concept of time must enter into how sacred humans are; the matter of our bodies having once existed in star dust and will end up as who knows what. Human consiousness (which I would say is a more narrow definition that just human life) would be sacred in that its a point along this journey that becomes aware of events around its own existence, and wonders.





Good question, but to summize my answers to your many subquestions:





Is there anything sacred about the atoms, molecules, DNA or cells that make up the human body?





Not individually, but together in a human, yes.





If so, at what point of complexity does our matter acquire sanctity?





Consciousness? Or when surrounding humans consider potential life precious, such as embryos. I think this hints at sanctity not being a very objective term.





Atomic, molecular, genetic or cellular?





As above, only in combination.





Or does that sanctity relate only to vital organs and their constituents?





In Combination.





Does our matter suddenly lose its sanctity when expelled from the human body?





Yes, at least for a years until it can be reabsorbed into our bodies as food.





Or would that depend on its potential importance to other humans?





Sperm? Yes many would consider this sacred, due to its potential. Subjective term given by humans though.





And does the matter that makes up the human corpse retain its sanctity? Even after it has been ingested by worms?





Being ingested with worms helps it towards being sacred again as it gets reintroduced into the food chain?





Anyhow, nice question, I'll be interested in what you think the answers could be.
At an intellectual level...I think...
Because every body has a soul, a spiritual being inside, that is what makes a human being sacred both regarding the religious concept AND why human life is treated with the utmost sensitivity. Only not everyone is aware of that but the feeling is so strong that humans aren't to be treated like inanimate objects. Some would say it's because we are capable of emotional reasoning, but that is just proof that one soul feels for another.
This question implies that there is anything special about humans at all- or that the universe itself is not simply a huge wonder. Don't you ever sit back and marvel at the fact that everything your are comes from four little molecules? I think that, in itself, makes all life pretty sacred.





But to come closer to answering your question- no, matter doesn't loose sanctity when lose from the idea of ';sacredness';. To be honest, human consciousness doesn't count for much. In the scheme of things, we're just as tiny as an atom is to us.





I think DNA is sacred. It's a code that writes everything you are. From the color of your skin to the food you like, your DNA is YOU. Therefore if you are sacred, so is it. You are the sum of your parts. The atoms that have collided and bonded are you, also, and by whatever force that gives you a collective, subjective conscious capable of evaluating the miracle of looking at the skin on your hand and knowing all the cells will have regenerated in two weeks also calls you sacred should acknowledge that even the tiniest parts are important- most important, in fact.





So even if sanctity is a subjective idea, you can apply it to everything. The atoms that make you up also make up the door to your house and the rocks, and grass, and trees that sit outside. In this way, science manages to be almost religious. Everything is made up of the same stuff. All life springs from the same chemicals. If that isn't sacred, I don't know what is.
In a word -- absolutely.