Matters of Life Revision Sheet
Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life Revision Sheet 1.
Why is life so special?
Sanctity of life = belief that life is a sacred and precious gift given by God.
Fertility Treatment: The choice to have a child.
Stages of Human Development
Conception = the moment the ovum is fertilised by the sperm. Zygote = the just fertilized ovum.
Blastocyst = the stage after five to seven days of cell division.Embryo = fertilized ovum at about 12-14 days when implanted into the wall of the womb.Foetus = fertilized ovum at about 11 weeks when the organs have developed.
Types of Fertility Treatment.
AIH = Artificial Insemination with the husband’s sperm, when artificial methods are used to put
husband’s sperm into the woman.
AID = when the mother’s egg is fertilized with a donor’s sperm because the male partner is infertile, or if
a single woman wishes to have a child.
IVF = In Vitro Fertilization, where the egg and sperm are collected from the man and woman and put together to achieve fertilization in a glass dish. Hence the term ‘test tube’ babies.
Surrogacy = when a woman has a baby for another woman. She may become pregnant by sperm
donation from either the father or another man. Regulated by the Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985.
Fertility Treatment and the law.
Human Fertilization and Embryology Act 1990 = set out regulations on Embryo research, the storage
of eggs, sperm and embryos as well as surrogacy.
Thinking about the Medicine.
Cloning = the production of genetically identical individuals. Two types:Embryo cloning = removal of one or more cells from an embryo and encouraging the cells to develop into a separate embryo. This has happened with several types of animals.Therapeutic cloning = taking the DNA out of an embryo and replacing it with DNA from another individual. The embryo is killed in the process, but the stem cells may then be grown into a replacement heart, liver, skin etc. It would mean perfectly matched replacement organs could become available to those who are seriously ill. No danger of the body rejecting the transplant because the organ’s DNA would match the patient’s DNA.
Embryo Research = In the UK only allowed before 14days. To learn more about disease and find cures.
Genetic Engineering = a science whose aims include the control of hereditary defects by modification or elimination of certain genes.
Stem Cell Research = Every Embryo contains stem cells. Stem cells can be developed into any part of the human body. They are being used to grow organs like kidneys or repair parts of the brain in suffers of Parkinson’s disease. The moral issue is the Embryos die once the stem cells are removed.
Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life Revision Sheet 2.
Sikh and Christian Attitudes to Matters of Life.
Christian Beliefs.
Christians believe God is the creator of life and that humans have a special relationship with God.
‘Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us.”’
Genesis 1:26.
All Christians believe in the Sanctity of life.
Fertility Treatment and Surrogacy.
Christians see children as a gift from God. One of the purposes of Christian marriage is to provide a stable and loving environment for the raising of a family. Not all Christians hold the same views on fertility treatment.
1.The R.C. Church does not support the creation of spare embryos, which are either thrown away or used for experimentation. They believe life begins when the egg is fertilized, so it is killing human life. Also they do not agree with AID, IVF and surrogacy. They believe every person has a right to have two biological parents.
2. Other Christians including Methodists, Baptists, Anglicans and the Salvation Army, accept AIH and IVF, but not AID. They argue that AIH and IVF are all right because the parents are married and how the pregnancy began is not important.
3. Christians do not support AID or IVF, where donated sperm or ova are used, because it is like a third person in the marriage (adultery).
4. Surrogacy is considered to be wrong for similar reasons.
Embryology, transplant surgery and blood transfusions.
Many Christians believe embryo research threatens the sanctity of life. They also oppose the idea of freezing embryos for later use, even if they can be used to help those suffering with Parkinson’s disease or diabetes.
‘The human embryo has the right to proper respect. Test tube babies are real babies not simple embryos to be manipulated, frozen or left to die.’
The R.C. Truth Society, 1985.
Other Christians support research provided it does not take place after the embryo is 14 days old.
Most Christian denominations support organ, blood and tissue donation and see it as an act of charity. Jehovah’s Witnesses will not accept blood transfusions based on Leviticus 17:10-11.
Genetic Engineering and Cloning.
Christians are divided over Genetic Engineering – some believe that it is making dangerous changes to God’s sacred creation. Others see God’s work as on-going and genetic engineering is man’s contribution to curing diseases in the future.
Most Christians are opposed to human cloning because it takes away individuality. However, some Christians believe that if therapeutic cloning was carefully controlled then there might be benefits to the human race in curing fatal diseases.
Sikh Beliefs.
Sikhs believe God is the creator of all life. In each person there is the ‘divine spark’ (the soul). This soul is part of God and will return to God on release from the wheel of rebirth. Man has no control over this.
‘By Divine Law are beings created;…
Others by His Law are whistled around in cycles of births and deaths.’ Japji 2.
Fertility Treatment and Surrogacy.
Tradition rather than Sikh religious teachings encourage married couples to have children. A son is wanted to carry on the family name and care for the parents in their old age. Fertility treatments such as AIH and IVF are permitted but AID and surrogacy are not allowed.
Embryology, transplant surgery and blood transfusions.
To most Sikhs the embryo is a person from conception so the production of embryos for scientific research is not allowed but spare embryos from IVF treatment may be used. A small number of Sikhs believe life really begins at 120 days.
Blood transfusions and organ transplants are acceptable within the Sikh religion and seen as an act of kindness. The selling of organs is seen as totally unethical.
Genetic Engineering and Cloning.
Gene therapy to cure or prevent diseases is not opposed. However, the issue of cloning is very complex. Obviously there is no guidance directly relevant to the issue in either the Sikh holy book or the Reht Maryada (Sikh code of conduct). Sikhs are therefore divided, they see that cloning could be used to provide organs for transplant, but used in the wrong way it could be very destructive. They believe it should not be totally ruled out.