Posted on 03/09/2009 7:55:16 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Preserving life—it is extremely important in the Christian faith. But what is the biblical definition of life, and how does this definition affect stem cell research?
God clearly commands in Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder [the intentional, predatory killing of another]” (NIV; see also Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9). A big controversy today is that of determining when life begins. In the field of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR), this determination is especially crucial. Because technology is advancing faster than society’s ethics, we are left to solve such dilemmas in the midst of active research. Determining the ethics in these issues is especially difficult when the research promises to cure diseases that leave millions disabled or dying every year. However, the Bible clearly prohibits evil means to accomplish good ends (Romans 3:8). To develop a biblical worldview of ESCR, we first must sort fact from fiction.
A “stem cell” is an unspecialized cell with the capacity to change into many different cell types, such as blood, muscle, and nerve cells. Two main categories of stem cells are found in embryos and adults. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from human embryos shortly after fertilization (union of egg and sperm) in a lab dish and are considered to be “totipotent,” meaning that they can form any other type of cell in the human body. Adult stem cells are derived from varying locations in adults and are considered to be “pluripotent” or “multipotent” because they can give rise to some but not all the cells in a human body.
Harvesting ESCs kills the embryo, but harvesting adult stem cells does not kill or harm the adult...
(Excerpt) Read more at answersingenesis.org ...
An embryo is always alive. When an embryo is a person is determined by the law and is done arbitrarily, unfortunately.
Isn’t it a sad comment that now we are reduced to arguing when life begins just so we can not feel guilty about murder.
How much longer Lord?
I wish someone would start a website where you could sign up and agree not to use the “poisoned fruit” of embryonic stem cells.
I suspect if 25 million or 40 million or 80 million people signed the pledge, the drug companies developing these therapies would think twice about spending big bucks on this research.
It annoys me to no end that this sort of research is being billed as scientific. But science without ethics is inhuman and evil. What happens when the only treatment is rooted in embryonic cells and that’s all you can get from National Health Care?
If they don’t believe in God it doesn’t matter. Neither do they believe the Bible, so it doesn’t matter.
Yes, there are things “unquestionably clear”, God’s morals are “unquestonably clear”. I think I’ll try to follow them to the best of my ability because on that “great gettin’ up morn’”, it will be unquestionably clear which path I’ve chosen, and, according to His promise, it will be the right path.
If Pres. Reagan was twisting Scripture to further an evil agenda then shame on him, I will not be a part of that.
anyone want to join me for some ‘spotted owl egg ommlettes’? Since they aren’t ‘owls’ yet, then there should be no problem with me scrambling up a bunch of eggs eh?
King James Version
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished
It’s unquestionably clear.
That's a nice sentiment, but wasn't God specifically speaking about Jeremiah?
This is a predetermined conclusion in (vain) search of confirmatory results.
And the "perfection" of the species requires the deaths of certain members, thereof.
Sound familiar?
They may not believe in the Law Of Gravity either.
But it does matter, and govern their related actions.
I remember when Ken Ham only used the KJB. Now his group is using the New Age Bible? Sad.
I have no doubt that’s already occurring and there’s no doubt God is not pleased.
And because of that, why can’t we err on the side of caution on this issue? See my tagline.
Is it clear that nothing is “unquestionably clear”?
Of course, it matters.
Do they support embryonic stem cell research?
What about you? Is that a living human being from the moment of conception?
As a reminder I am still waiting for you to provide proof that cancer didn’t exist till the industrial age.
Hijacking the thread already?
It’s unquestionably clear.
That's a nice sentiment, but wasn't God specifically speaking about Jeremiah?
Why wouldn't it apply to everyone? If God knew him beforehand, He's capable of knowing all of us beforehand.
Why wouldn't God make it clear?
In context, it seems like Jeremiah is establishing himself as something special, a prophet.
He did make it clear.
Psalm 139 15 & 16: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
That’s better, but the hatred expressed at the end isn’t Christian.
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