Christian Responses To Genetic Engineering Flashcards
Genetic engineering
also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome.
It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species to produce improved organisms.
Some Christians are against any form of genetic research at all. This is because:
1) They believe that God has created the genetic make-up of each human being at the moment of conception and people have no right to interfere with God’s will.
2) They believe that it is wrong to try to make the earth perfect, as only heaven is perfect. They think life is a preparation for heaven and should not be used to try to make heaven on earth.
The Catholic Church
-With regard to GM crops, the Church gives approval as it is one of the ways in which the poor can be fed.
-Since there is a vast amount of malnutrition in the world, GM crops could help.
-GM animals - in terms of natural moral law, altering the genetic code of animals is wrong, as it does not allow then to fulfil their final end – their genetic structure was given by God. (Can link to Xenotransplnatation + risk of disease passed on to humans).
-Therapeutic GE (GE designed to repair genes in order to eliminate diseases) – generally approves of this where there is the potential to cure diseases. E.g., Parkinson’s; it is a way of using their God given skills.
Catholic Church - germline thereapy
Germline therapy (where the healthy genes are introduced to the egg or sperm with the idea of being passed on) – generally hesitant as bad effects that are unforeseeable could be passed on to different generations.
GE could lead humans to change their characteristics to become stronger or more intelligent.
The Catholic Church rejects this idea as it is destroying the idea that we are created in the image of God (imago dei).
Why does belief in the ‘imago dei’ doctrine challenge genetic engineering?
We are made in the image of God – we should not be genetically modified.
If we are genetically modified, we would no longer be in God’s image.
GE could lead to idolatry: worshipping trans-humans, rather than God.
Could lead to children being seen as a commodity (rather than gift from God). Think of build a bear!
Create a two-tier society, with discrimination against those who couldn’t afford to modify their future children.
‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you’ (Jeremiah 1:5).
God is sovereign over life. Scientists should not ‘play God’ by making these modifications.
Enhancement therapy, genetic modification with a social rather than medical purpose, is aimed at improving the human race in terms of intelligence, physical strength and appearance. It is rejected by Catholics and many Protestants.
Genetic engineering technology could be abused and lead to Eugenics (belief in breeding ‘ideal humans’ and eliminating others from the population).
The Protestant church
-Most are in line with the Catholic Church’s stance regarding GM crops and therapeutic GE, and opposing germline therapy.
-There are some who argue that all human potential is given by God the creator. If new technologies are developed to improve life, then they should be embraced.
Situation ethics and Enhancement therapy
If adequate controls are in place, there is no reason why humans should not be redesigned to improve the species.
‘Morality of an action is dependent on the situation’ – Joseph Fletcher
You are using God-given skills to follow in Jesus’ footsteps as a healer.
‘Love is the only universal’.
Could be seen as the most loving thing to do if it will help to cure currently incurable diseases.
“It is entirely possible given our increasing pollution of the human gene pool through uncontrolled sexual reproduction, that we might have to replicate healthy people… Needs are moral stabilisers, not rights… If human rights conflict with human needs, let needs prevail”
Joseph Fletcher
Natural Moral Law & Genetic Engineering
Consider the five primary precepts: preservation of life, worship of God, ordering of society, reproduction, education of children and whether the different types of engineering fulfil/violate these.
Natural Moral Law is based on belief that everything has a ‘telos’ from God – a purpose. Key question is whether genetic engineering would help to fulfil that purpose or would actually contradict that purpose.
God is the ultimate sovereign over the universe. Genetic engineering could be an attempt to ‘play God’ and exalt the human law above the natural, divine and even eternal law. Hierarchy is key.
Creation of designer babies / transhumans could lead to idolatry, which would violate the ‘worship of God’ primary precept.
Somatic-cell therapy, designed to correct genetic disorders, could be allowed as it is about protecting human life - preservation of life, one of the five primary precepts.
Use of animals: St Thomas Aquinas believed there ‘life and death is subject to our use’. Therefore, if their modification could help to preserve human life, could be seen as acceptable under NML. However, this also risks violating the Natural Law because it would involve interfering with – and changing - God’s blueprint of creation. This could violate the ‘worship of God’ primary precept.
GM Crops could help to solve world hunger, so would fulfil the primary precept for the ‘preservation of life’. This would also fulfil the key teaching from Jesus to ‘feed the hungry’ (divine law).
Could lead to radical social changes – a challenge to the ‘ordering of society’ primary precept.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church:
Humans are given great power by God, and with this power comes great responsibility.
i) Sanctity of life – GE could reduce the meaning of being human and therefore devalue life.
ii) Protection of human dignity – knowing a person’s genetic profile may have confidentiality problems.
iii) Acceptance of social responsibility – how will the benefits of GE be shared between rich and poor?
iv) Stewardship – should there be boundaries with GM of animals and plants?
