Christian Views on Genetic Engineering

Monday's Group and their ideas.....

Liberal protestant attitude.
Genetic engineering is a good thing but only if for medical reasons and not to try and create a master race.
Some support the work of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
· Jesus was a healer, you should do everything you can to cure disease.
· God gave us the ability to do so, therefore we should.
· Creating cells is working with god not taking over god’s role.
· Embryo’s are not regarded as potential human life (time limit)
· They accept most of the non-religious arguments in favour of genetic engineering.

Roman Catholic attitude.
· Life begins at conception whether in a womb or glass dish –we have no right to interfere.
· Sanctity of life, life is holy and belongs to god.
· Killing an embryo is killing a person; this is against the law.
· Embryos for research have been produced by methods with which the Catholic Church disagrees.
· We are not allowed to ‘play god’
· Only heaven is perfect, not earth.


Tuesday's Group and their ideas...

Liberal Protestants think it’s a good thing if it is done for the cure of disease and not to produce perfect humans.
These Christians support genetic engineering because:
*Jesus was a healer who showed that Christians should do all they can to cure disease.
*God would encourage trying to improve human life, discovering the genetic make-up of humans can help us do this.
*There is a difference between creating cells and creating people (creating people by science rather than sex would be wrong because it is taking over Gods role in the creation of life.)
*Embryos can not be regarded as potential human life until they are 14 days old.
*They accept most of the non religious arguments in favour of genetic engineering.


Some Christians mainly Roman Catholics believe that genetic engineering is permissible as long as it is only for curing diseases and does not use human embryos.
They agree with genetic research for the same first three reasons as liberal protestants but disagree with the use of embryos because:
· Life begins at the moment of conception whether in the womb or in a glass dish.
· Killing an embryo is killing a human life. This is banned by the bible and the church.
· Embryos for research have been produced by methods which the Catholic Church disagrees with.

Some Christians are opposed to any form of genetic research at all. They have this attitude because:
*They believe that God has created the genetic make-up of each human being at the moment of conception and people have no rights to interfere with gods will.
*They believe that genetic engineering is “playing God” and that is a great sin.
*They believe that it is wrong to try to make the earth perfect as only heaven is perfect (except for certain members of the Tuesday Group of course!)
*This life is preparation for heaven and should not be used to try and make heaven on earth.
*They accept the non-religious arguments against genetic engineering.


Who gave the best explanation? You decide......!