Religious belief, ethics, biological principles and assisted conception
New reproductive technologies present ethical challenges to religious believers. In order to distinguish beneficial applications from harmful ones, believers should be guided by religious teachings and also be aware of current scientific knowledge. In this paper relevant spiritual principles from Ba...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Routledge
2005
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In: |
Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Year: 2005, Volume: 16, Issue: 3, Pages: 227-238 |
Further subjects: | B
ethical argumentation
B Law B Islam B Genetic technology B Ethische Argumentation B Abtreibung B Abortion B gene technology |
Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
Summary: | New reproductive technologies present ethical challenges to religious believers. In order to distinguish beneficial applications from harmful ones, believers should be guided by religious teachings and also be aware of current scientific knowledge. In this paper relevant spiritual principles from Baha'i writings are outlined and it is suggested that Christians and Muslims may identify similar principles in their own sacred texts and religious authorities. Medical procedures in assisted conception are also described, and it is explained that biological development from gametogenesis to birth is a continuum of processes rather than a series of events. It is suggested that ethical debates about the moral status of the embryo and related ethical issues do not lead to agreement on a single spiritually significant point in development, but in the current state of knowledge it can be argued that individuation at about fourteen days is of major significance. Striving for an absolute position should be avoided as scientific knowledge is relative and will change in the future. |
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ISSN: | 0959-6410 |
Contains: | In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/09596410500142981 |