Ronald Cole-Turner
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262033732
- eISBN:
- 9780262270632
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262033732.003.0010
- Subject:
- Biology, Bioethics
This book draws upon the resources of traditional Judaism and Christianity to reflect on the meaning and destiny of human life, the values and principles that guide human behavior, and the meaning of ...
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This book draws upon the resources of traditional Judaism and Christianity to reflect on the meaning and destiny of human life, the values and principles that guide human behavior, and the meaning of the use of medicine and technology to maintain health and to enhance condition. It addresses the public conversation about human germline modification, and shows that religious scholars and leaders are generally open to the possibility of a morally acceptable approach to human germline modification. The book also considers the question of how to define human germline modification and what techniques might make it possible. This chapter provides an overview of those that follow.Less
This book draws upon the resources of traditional Judaism and Christianity to reflect on the meaning and destiny of human life, the values and principles that guide human behavior, and the meaning of the use of medicine and technology to maintain health and to enhance condition. It addresses the public conversation about human germline modification, and shows that religious scholars and leaders are generally open to the possibility of a morally acceptable approach to human germline modification. The book also considers the question of how to define human germline modification and what techniques might make it possible. This chapter provides an overview of those that follow.
Ronald Cole-Turner (ed.)
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262033732
- eISBN:
- 9780262270632
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262033732.001.0001
- Subject:
- Biology, Bioethics
We are approaching the day when advances in biotechnology will allow parents to “design” a baby with the traits they want. The continuing debate over the possibilities of genetic engineering has been ...
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We are approaching the day when advances in biotechnology will allow parents to “design” a baby with the traits they want. The continuing debate over the possibilities of genetic engineering has been spirited, but so far largely confined to the realms of bioethics and public policy. This book approaches the question in religious terms, discussing human germline modification (the genetic modification of the embryonic cells that become the eggs or sperm of a developing organism), from the viewpoints of traditional Christian and Jewish teaching. The contributors, religious scholars and writers, call our attention not to technology but to humanity, reflecting upon the meaning and destiny of human life in a technological age. Many of these scholars argue that religious teaching can support human germline modification implemented for therapeutic reasons, although they offer certain moral conditions which must be met. The contributions offer a variety of opinions, including a discussion of Judaism’s traditional presumption in favor of medicine, an argument that Catholic doctrine could accept germline modification if it is therapeutic for the embryo, an argument implying that “traditional” Christian teaching permits germline modification whether for therapy or enhancement, and a “classical” Protestant view that germline modification should be categorically opposed.Less
We are approaching the day when advances in biotechnology will allow parents to “design” a baby with the traits they want. The continuing debate over the possibilities of genetic engineering has been spirited, but so far largely confined to the realms of bioethics and public policy. This book approaches the question in religious terms, discussing human germline modification (the genetic modification of the embryonic cells that become the eggs or sperm of a developing organism), from the viewpoints of traditional Christian and Jewish teaching. The contributors, religious scholars and writers, call our attention not to technology but to humanity, reflecting upon the meaning and destiny of human life in a technological age. Many of these scholars argue that religious teaching can support human germline modification implemented for therapeutic reasons, although they offer certain moral conditions which must be met. The contributions offer a variety of opinions, including a discussion of Judaism’s traditional presumption in favor of medicine, an argument that Catholic doctrine could accept germline modification if it is therapeutic for the embryo, an argument implying that “traditional” Christian teaching permits germline modification whether for therapy or enhancement, and a “classical” Protestant view that germline modification should be categorically opposed.
Ronald Cole-Turner
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262033732
- eISBN:
- 9780262270632
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262033732.003.0114
- Subject:
- Biology, Bioethics
This chapter investigates the religious case in favor of human germline modification, exploring the moral conditions that are often tied to that approval, and presents a summary of the religious ...
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This chapter investigates the religious case in favor of human germline modification, exploring the moral conditions that are often tied to that approval, and presents a summary of the religious argument in support of human germline modification. The four moral or religious conditions—safety, protection of embryos, a concern for social and economic justice, and support for therapy versus enhancement—are also covered. The chapter shows that these conditions may limit the religious approval, and explains the risks posed by human germline modification.Less
This chapter investigates the religious case in favor of human germline modification, exploring the moral conditions that are often tied to that approval, and presents a summary of the religious argument in support of human germline modification. The four moral or religious conditions—safety, protection of embryos, a concern for social and economic justice, and support for therapy versus enhancement—are also covered. The chapter shows that these conditions may limit the religious approval, and explains the risks posed by human germline modification.
James J. Walter
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- August 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780262033732
- eISBN:
- 9780262270632
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262033732.003.0081
- Subject:
- Biology, Bioethics
This chapter investigates the question of human germline modification, and suggests that germline modification is defensible as consistent with a theological view of God’s creative and redemptive ...
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This chapter investigates the question of human germline modification, and suggests that germline modification is defensible as consistent with a theological view of God’s creative and redemptive purposes. It reviews the moral arguments against, and the moral arguments for, intervening in the germline for therapeutic purposes, and also describes from a Roman Catholic theologian perspective some of the moral themes connected to the topic. The chapter shows how Christian moral decision making on the new genetics is contextualized by specifically theological beliefs. It also proposes that the use of therapeutic technologies for the moral ends of preventing or curing serious genetic diseases in the germline can be a means of properly exercising human responsibility.Less
This chapter investigates the question of human germline modification, and suggests that germline modification is defensible as consistent with a theological view of God’s creative and redemptive purposes. It reviews the moral arguments against, and the moral arguments for, intervening in the germline for therapeutic purposes, and also describes from a Roman Catholic theologian perspective some of the moral themes connected to the topic. The chapter shows how Christian moral decision making on the new genetics is contextualized by specifically theological beliefs. It also proposes that the use of therapeutic technologies for the moral ends of preventing or curing serious genetic diseases in the germline can be a means of properly exercising human responsibility.
