Christian Bioethics in the Debate on Stem Cell Research
With more and more complicated diseases being discovered in today’s modern world, the necessity to find cures for these diseases is ever increasing. Most recently, the most promising research in the management and treatment of such debilitating diseases has been stem cell research, specifically embryonic stem cell research. But with any new medical advancement there comes a debate between the morals and ethics of the advancement. There is almost always a clash between the secular scientific views and the non-secular views that stem from faith and religion. The clash between these two viewpoints is what is fueling the ongoing debate over stem cell research.
Stem cell research has become important recently in the search to find cures to many incurable diseases because it offers a way to replace malfunctioning cells with cells that occur naturally in our bodies. Stem cells make it so that synthetic chemicals are not needed in order to cure diseases. Embryonic stem cells are the most crucial type of stem cell because these cells are undifferentiated, meaning they have no designated function yet. These cells also have to the ability to replicate without limitation, meaning that one tiny embryo could produce enough cells that could create a new organ or develop into cells that could combat an ever growing tumor. But the problem lies in how these stem cells are cultivated, and where the stem cells are coming from.
For Christians, the problem in stem cell research lies in the belief of the soul. The sacredness of the soul is why Christians have such a moral objection to stem cell research. The belief that the soul is created at the moment of conception is why stem cell research is immoral in their eyes. In stem cell research, it is required to take an embryo and separate the parts of embryo that are useful to the research, that being the undifferentiated cells. So for Christians this becomes an issue because when the embryo is dismantled, in turn, so is the soul, which to Christians is viewed as murder. As a result of the soul has such high standings in the eyes of Christians, the issue of moral status also plays a large role in the debate on stem cells. Secular-scientists do not believe that an undeveloped embryo should hold the same moral status and a mature adult. And that is where the main divide between secular and non-secular views lies.
Stem cell research has become important recently in the search to find cures to many incurable diseases because it offers a way to replace malfunctioning cells with cells that occur naturally in our bodies. Stem cells make it so that synthetic chemicals are not needed in order to cure diseases. Embryonic stem cells are the most crucial type of stem cell because these cells are undifferentiated, meaning they have no designated function yet. These cells also have to the ability to replicate without limitation, meaning that one tiny embryo could produce enough cells that could create a new organ or develop into cells that could combat an ever growing tumor. But the problem lies in how these stem cells are cultivated, and where the stem cells are coming from.
For Christians, the problem in stem cell research lies in the belief of the soul. The sacredness of the soul is why Christians have such a moral objection to stem cell research. The belief that the soul is created at the moment of conception is why stem cell research is immoral in their eyes. In stem cell research, it is required to take an embryo and separate the parts of embryo that are useful to the research, that being the undifferentiated cells. So for Christians this becomes an issue because when the embryo is dismantled, in turn, so is the soul, which to Christians is viewed as murder. As a result of the soul has such high standings in the eyes of Christians, the issue of moral status also plays a large role in the debate on stem cells. Secular-scientists do not believe that an undeveloped embryo should hold the same moral status and a mature adult. And that is where the main divide between secular and non-secular views lies.