I am a part of the United Methodist Church. The Methodist faith formed during the revival movement within the Church of England during the mid-18th century. The Catholic Church is the first and earliest form of Christianity. All other forms of Christianity branched from the Catholic Church. Even though the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church are both branches of Christianity they have differing views on the controversial issue of stem cell research. However, some aspects of their views are the same as well. Both the United Methodist Church and the Catholic Church agree that there are more moral forms of stem cell research than using embryonic stem cells. They have few qualms about the use of adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. Both support these methods because neither of them are any danger to human life. The Catholic Church in particular is a big supporter of adult stem cell research. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote the forward for a book "The Healing Cell: How the Greatest Revolution in Medical History Is Changing Your Life" to show the Vatican’s support for stem cell research. The book gives an overview of the role of adult stem cells in the future of regenerative medicine. The Catholic Church is also a supporter of umbilical cord blood stem cells. The United Methodist Church supports both of these methods of stem cell research and prefers these to embryonic stem cell research. However, they do not go in to much detail except that these forms of research “raise few moral questions.” The United Methodist Church is not completely against embryonic stem cells, they actually support it, but with some stipulations. The United Methodist Church believes that it is “morally tolerable” to use embryos l... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited 1. Bennett, Dan. "Tackling the Moral Questions." Center for American Progress. 22 Mar. 2007. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. 2. "Catholic Church Upholds Stem Cell Research." GMA News Online. 4 Apr. 2013. Web. 19 Jan. 2014. 3. "Ethics of Embryonic Stem Cell Research." The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church. Nashville, TN: United Methodist House, 2008. UMC.org. United Methodist Church. Web. 19 Jan. 2014. 4. Fairchild, Mary. "Methodist Church History." About.com Christianity. Web. 18 Jan. 2014. 5. Fournier, Keith. "Catholic Church Is Leading the Way on Ethical Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine." Catholic Online. 14 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. 6. Fox, Cynthia. "Biopolis." Cell of Cells. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2007. 117-18. Print. 7. O'Brien, Nancy F. "Stem-cell Research and the Catholic Church." American Catholic. Web. 19 Jan. 2014.
Medical researchers utilize this versatility to develop treatments for incurable diseases. Despite the considerable benefits of stem cells in medical applications, the use of some sources of stem cells is not ethical. In article 1761 of the Catholic Catechism, the church teaches "One may not do evil so that good may result from it.” The good of medical discoveries does not justify the evil of killing to obtain the stem cells. Therefore, people have a moral obligation to restrict the use of ethically collected stem cells such as those from umbilical cords or adult bone marrow. Stem cell research has potential to cure many diseases. However, in order to conduct ethical research, scientists must limit refrain from using fetal and embryonic stem
For the past few years stem cell research has been a widely debated topic; however, former President Clinton?s stance?allowing federal money to be spent on tightly controlled stem cell research?lead to intense debates over federal funding for stem cell research. There are four ways of obtaining stem cells, which are taken from embryos that are approximately one week old. They are using unwanted embryos from fertility clinics, embryos from aborted fetuses, cloned embryos, and embryos created for research purposes. Stem cells can also be taken out of adult bone marrow, but scientists do not think that adult stem cells hold as much medical potential. Conservatives are against federal funding for stem cell research because they feel that by doing such the government would be contributing to ?murder.? This idea is rooted in the religious beliefs, which include the belief that life begins at conception, held by conservatives. However, liberals support federal funding for the research of embryos because they question whether embryos are full human beings and believe the research could expedite potential medical breakthroughs.
Principles of Morality. Seattle: Ponster Printing, pp. 89-92. 2010. Print. The. Gevinson, Matilda.
In a recent article, “Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research”, Father Mark Hodges, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian argues that human lif...
Pollock, J. M. (2010). Ethical Dilemmas and Decisions in Criminal Justice Sixth Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Stem cell therapy is a controversial topic that falls on the list of things not to discuss over thanksgiving dinner, very much like religion and politics. While the potential of stem cell research and therapy stand to make leaps of progression in cures for disease like Cancer and Alzheimer’s; Pros, Cons and morality still surround the issue.
...ns of a morally questionable nature. It is necessary that our practices remain ethical and that we uphold the value of a human life, as this is the cornerstone of human society. Embryonic stem cell research is one such operation that forces scientists, policy makers, and the larger society to define what constitutes a human life and to find an answer to the crucial question: Is it morally acceptable to violate the rights of a human life for the for the sake of medical progress?
Stem cell research is a heavily debated topic that can stir trouble in even the tightest of Thanksgiving tables. The use cells found in the cells of embryos to replicate dead or dying cells is a truly baffling thought. To many, stem cell research has the potential to be Holy Grail of modern medicine. To many others, it is ultimately an unethical concept regardless of its capabilities. Due to how divided people are on the topic of stem cell research, its legality and acceptance are different everywhere. According to Utilitarianism, stem cell research should be permitted due to the amount of people it can save, however according to the Divine Command of Christianity, the means of collecting said stem cells are immoral and forbidden.
Siegel, A. (2008). Ethics of Stem Cell Research. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/stem-cells/.
Monroe, Kristen, et al., eds. Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical and Political Issues. Los Angeles/Berkley: University of California Press, 2008. Print
Waskey, Andrew J. “Moral Status of Embryo.” Encyclopedia of Stem Cell Research. Ed. Clive N. Svendsen, and Allison D. Ebert. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2008. 347-52. SAGE knowledge. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many “emotional images [that] have been wielded” in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress” by Virginia Postrel; “Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity” by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and “Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention” by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments.
Lanza, Tyler. "The Stem Cell Research Controversy." Stem Cell History. N.p., January 5, 2011. Web. 16 Feb 2012.
Christianity was founded from Judaism. The first people to convert to Christianity were Jews so Christianity was seen as a branch of Judaism. The converts, who were encouraged by the Apostle Paul, eventually acknowledged that their faith was distinct from Judaism.
Pettit, Philip. “Consequentialism.” A Companion to Ethics. Ed. Peter Singer. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 1991. 230-240. Print.