Discussions and debates over the medical use of stem cells and cloning have always had a religious component. But there are many different religious voices. This anthology on how religious perspectives can inform the difficult issues of stem cell research and human cloning is a contribution to the discussion. Contributors reflect the spectrum of Christian responses, from liberal Protestant to evangelical to Roman Catholic. The noted moral philosopher, Laurie Zoloth, offers a Jewish approach to cloning, and Sondra Wheeler contributes her perspective on both Jewish and Christian understandings of embryonic stem cell research. In addition to the discussions found here, "God and the Embryo" includes a series of official statements on stem cell research and cloning from religious bodies, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America. "Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry," from the statement of the President's Council on Bioethics, concludes the book. The debates and the discussions will continue, but for anyone interested in the nuances of religious perspectives that make their important contributions to these ethically challenging and important dialectics, "God and the Embryo" is an valuable resource.
IntroductionRonald Cole-Turner PART ONE: Frameworks 1. Religion Meets ResearchRonald Cole-Turner 2. What Is the Appropriate Contribution of Religious Communities in the Public Debate on Embryonic Stem Cell Research?Brent Waters 3. The Ethics of Human Stem Cell ResearchGene Outka PART TWO: Embryos4. Does the Human Embryo Have a Moral Status? Brent Waters5. Is a Human Embryo a Human Being?James C. Peterson 6. Principles and Politics: Beyond the Impasse over the Embryo Ronald Cole-Turner 7. To Be Willing to Kill What for All One Knows Is a Person Is to Be Willing to Kill a PersonRobert Song PART THREE: Research8. A Plea for BeneficenceTed Peters and Gaymon Bennett 9. Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Ethics in the Face of Uncertainty Kevin T. Fitzgerald, SJ 10. Freedoms, Duties, and Limits: The Ethics of Research in Human Stem CellsLaurie Zoloth 11. Talking Like Believers: Christians and Jews in the Embryonic Stem Cell DebateSondra Wheeler Appendices A: Declaration on the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem CellsPontifical Academy for Life B: Embryonic Stem Cell Research in the Perspective of Orthodox ChristianityThe Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America C: Urgent Action Alert: Urge Senators to Support Complete Ban on Human CloningUnited Methodist Church D: Resolution: On Human Embryonic and Stem Cell Research Southern Baptist Convention E: Support for Federally Funded Research on Embryonic Stem CellsUnited Church of Christ F: Overture 01-50. On Adopting a Resolution Enunciating Ethical Guidelines for Fetal Tissue and Stem Cell Research-From the Presbytery of BaltimorePresbyterian Church (USA) G: A Theologians' Brief on the Place of the Human Embryo within the Christian Tradition, and the Theological Principles for Evaluating Its Moral Status H: Cloning Research, Jewish Tradition and Public PolicyUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America I: Human Cloning and Human Dignity: An Ethical Inquiry The President's Council on Bioethics Index
