Problem dealing with death as an atheist

[Girlysprite]

This argument can be ramped up even more. Lets take a strictly scientific view: All human beings are made from atoms and these atoms are rather commomplace. In otherwords, there are no special carbon atoms in your body. If they were all replaced with some other carbon atoms it would have no effect on either the functioning of your body or your personality.

Now assume the special computer copies your body atom for atom and reconstructs a truly atomic clone of your body. Since every atom is the same, then the brain of the clone would be identical to your brain with every memory and sensation intact. Scientifically speaking this must be the same person as the original. But since, scientifically speaking, one person cannot be in two bodies at the same time, we are at a point of contradiction. One obvious explanation is that there exists another substance which, unlike the commonplace atoms, such as carbon, is in fact unique and cannot be copied. This would resolve the contradiction. Is this the basis of the belief in a human soul?

I would say that right at the moment of waking up, they are the same person. Not in the sense that they are one thing, but they are exactly the same, yes. The moment they wake up and start processing things around them in just the slightest different way, they become different. However, the base is still the same.

And yes, I believe that if I were to be cloned in that way, the clone would be the same person as I would be. Only through continued living and amssing different experiences we'd grow apart and become different persons.
The point is that the question 'what makes me ME' is not a scientific one, really. It is more philosofical. And that means that you'll get as many answers as there are people.