Christian Views on the Use of Embryos Religion

Christian Views on the Use of Embryos Religion, Medicine and the Human Body: Lesson 7

Starter Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. What is a saviour sibling? List 3 laws on the use of embryos. What are 2 strengths of IVF? What are 2 drawbacks of IVF?

Religious Views On The Use Of Embryos Aims: • Explore religious views on the uses of embryos. Success Criteria: • Be able to become an expert on at least one religious viewpoint on the use of embryos. • Be able to effectively answer examtype questions on these views.

Expert Task Part 1 • You will be given an information sheet about the Christian view on the use of embryos. • You are to write 10 questions (with answers on the back) about this religious view. Part 2 • You are to then swap sheets with your partner and read the new sheet thoroughly for 5 minutes. • Your partner will then test your knowledge using the questions they have written.

Christians For Christians there are many mixed views, but they all boil down to two main issues: • When does life begin? And what is morally acceptable to do to something once it has life? • Should humans take over the life-creative role which perhaps belongs only to God?

When do Christians Say Life Begins? § Most Christians agree that life begins at conception. They take this from scripture. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. (Jeremiah 1: 5) § They argue that you become a person from conception. § The DNA is decided and the soul is present.

Christians There are some major differeneces of opinions between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland. • Church of Scotland: Citing the greater good as their reason. Issued a statement (2006) saying that surplus embryos could be used up to 14 days for research. • But no embryos were to be created solely for research.

Christians • Church of Scotland argues that the ‘Divine ideal’ would be a world without a need for embryo research. • However we live in the reality of a ‘fallen’ world therefore we sometimes have to make difficult choices to benefit humanity.

Christians Church of Scotland updated its views in 2006: • Embryo research permitted up to 14 days using only surplus embryos, but only for very good reasons. • To oppose the creation of IVF or cloned embryos purely for research, except under exceptional circumstances. • To oppose animal-human hybrid and parthenogenic embryos.

Christians However the Roman Catholic Church takes a very different stand: • Against any form of embryo research. Life begins at conception, every embryo is sacred and defenceless, therefore requires special protection • Therefore the destruction of embryos (even surplus) would be considered abortion.

Quotes to Remember • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart. ” Jeremiah 1: 5 – This is used to suggest that the embryo is a life from conception onwards.

Quotes to Remember • “In the image of God he created them. Male and female he created them” - Genesis 1: 27 - All human life is sacred as it has a spark of the divine. This even includes the life of an embryo.

Quotes to Remember • “Thou shall not kill” Exodus 20: 13 • This is one of the ten commandments which gives Christians the explicit instruction not to kill. Since embryos are discarded through IVF and embryo research, and since the embryo is seen as a life from conception, this is seen as killing the embryo and therefore deemed a sin.

Quotes to Remember • “Defend the weak and the fatherless” Psalm 82: 3 The embryo deserves special protection as it has no one to protect it. It cannot consent to research so we must protect the embryo from unwanted harm.

Quotes to Remember • “the mere probability that a human person is involved would suffice to justify an absolutely clear prohibition of any intervention aimed at killing a human embryo. ” Pope John Paul II • Although there is much debate about the question of when does life begin, Pope John Paul argues that even if there is a chance that the embryo is a person, we shouldn’t risk researching on it as this results in ending the embryo’s life.

Quotes to Remember • “God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply” Genesis 1: 28 This was one of the first commands God gave to humans in the book of Genesis. Embryo research can be used to develop infertility treatments. So some might argue that maybe God wanted us to use embryos in research.

Recap your knowledge in pairs… • Church of Scotland Catholic Church