Liberal Protestant view: genetic engineering is a good thing which should be supported by the Church as long as it is done for the cure of disease (therapeutic cloning) 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.
• Discovering the genetic make-up of humans and using those discoveries to improve human life is part of what God wants humans to do as stewards of his creation. It is no different from research into drugs that can be used to improve human life.
• There is a difference between creating cells and creating people. Creating people by science rather than by sex would be wrong because it would be taking over God's role in the creation of life, but creating cells is working with God.
• As far as using embryos for genetic research is concerned, embryos cannot be regarded as potential human life until they are fourteen days old (the time limit set by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for genetic research).
• God gave humans dominion (power) over the world, so it is OK to try to make the most of it as long as no harm is caused.
• Jesus was a healer who showed that Christians should do all they can to cure disease.
• Discovering the genetic make-up of humans and using those discoveries to improve human life is part of what God wants humans to do as stewards of his creation. It is no different from research into drugs that can be used to improve human life.
• There is a difference between creating cells and creating people. Creating people by science rather than by sex would be wrong because it would be taking over God's role in the creation of life, but creating cells is working with God.
• As far as using embryos for genetic research is concerned, embryos cannot be regarded as potential human life until they are fourteen days old (the time limit set by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for genetic research).
• God gave humans dominion (power) over the world, so it is OK to try to make the most of it as long as no harm is caused.
Roman Catholic view: Some Christians, mainly Roman Catholics, believe that genetic engineering is allowable 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 a womb or a glass dish.
• Killing an embryo is killing human life which is banned by the Bible and the Church.
• Embryos for research have been produced by methods with which the Catholic Church disagrees (i.e. IVF).
• life begins at the moment of conception whether in a womb or a glass dish.
• Killing an embryo is killing human life which is banned by the Bible and the Church.
• Embryos for research have been produced by methods with which the Catholic Church disagrees (i.e. IVF).
Conservative Evangelical view: 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 right to interfere with God's 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. This life is a preparation for heaven and should not be used to try to make heaven on Earth.
• They accept the non-religious arguments against genetic engineering.
• 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. This life is a preparation for heaven and should not be used to try to make heaven on Earth.
• They accept the non-religious arguments against genetic engineering.