My full Research Paper
The Christian View on Cloning and Genetic Engineering
Many religions disagree with the idea of cloning and genetic
engineering. Christianity is most definitely one of them. Christians disagree
with genetic engineering and cloning for several reasons. First, it leads to man
playing God’s role, destruction of God’s plan, false worship, murder, and will
cheapen the value of life. The bible, along with other references, can be
used to explain why Christians believe cloning and genetic engineering is wrong.
Genetic engineering is the manipulation of DNA to produce desired
characteristics. (Cloning and Genetic Engineering, 1) Cloning is the coping of DNA in an embryo to
duplicate its host. Cloning
and genetic engineering are very similar dealing with genetics and DNA in
embryos.
Christians believe in one God as creator of the earth. The bible is God’s written word. God’s son, Jesus, is the only way to get
forgiveness for our sins. If you accept Jesus into your heart God will
forgive your sins, allowing you to be with him in heaven.
Many people use the term
playing God. This
term indicates an individual, or group of humans, who try to take God’s role. No human can take this massive job, and it is
wrong to do so. The
Bible states that we are to be stewards of his creation. “There is a concern
that genetic engineering will take on a role beyond that which God has given to
us as stewards of his creation. The bible states that all things are created by
god and for Him (Colossians 1:16). God designed all living things to reproduce
after certain kinds (Genesis 1:11-25). Too much manipulation of the genetics
(altering species) could be tampering with things reserved for the Designer.”(Houdmann, 1) This quotation tells us
that Genetic Engineering and cloning is not our job. God did not assign us the task of designing or
creating. This is
not our responsibility. We are
to only watch over God’s creations and be stewards. “The
Bible teaches that God created each of us and has a specific plan.”(Houdmann, 2) Since we know that God
has this specific plan, why should we mess it up? Anderson says “We do not have the right to
rewrite the sixth day of creation.”(Anderson, 5) All Christians will agree that it is not our
job to be the Creator.
To genetically engineer and clone humans is like saying that God’s
original designs weren’t good enough.(Religion, 2) To suggest that God’s
plans are flawed, is very similar to saying God is flawed. This goes against the bible, for it clearly
states God is perfect. Since we
know God is perfect, why should we fix his designs? Many Christian disagree with Cloning and
genetic engineering for this reason.
If we genetically engineer and clone humans, we will be taking
God’s Job. “Genesis 11:1-9 discusses what happens when
creation attempts to exalt itself above the creator. The people in Genesis
11 were unified, yet they were not submissive to God’s design. As a result, God
stopped their progress. God certainly recognized that there were some
dangers involved with the direction in which the people were headed.”(Genetic engineering, 1) This quote is important because we do not
want to head in a similar direction. If we decide to genetically engineer and
clone than God could see it as an attempt to overpower him. As Christians, we do
not support this kind of action.
Should the human race really hold the power of life? It is not much different than abortion, or
murder. Abortion is the killing of an unborn child. If you support genetic engineering and
cloning than you also support Abortion. Cloning and genetic engineering involve the
killing of many embryos. Christians believe that life starts at
conception. Psalm 139:13-16 says:
“For you created my inmost
being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I
am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full
and well. My frame
was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven
together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained
for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”(Bible)
This excerpt from the bible is very important because it shows David,
who wrote this, had a relationship with God while in the womb. “Isaiah 49:1-5 speaks of God calling Isaiah to
his ministry as a prophet while he was still in his mother’s womb. Also John the Baptist
was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was in the womb (Luke 1:15).”(Houdmann, 2) This shows that others such as Isaiah and
John the Baptist, had relationships with god from the womb too. This means that their life and soul began
before they were born. The bible is saying that life started at
conception. This shows why Christians believe that life
begins at conception.
Christians believe that genetic engineering and cloning is wrong
for the same reasons abortion is wrong. To kill an embryo or an unborn child is the
same as killing a grown adult. Since
life has already started at conception, the killing of an embryo is the killing
of life. What is
then the difference from murder? “While
cells can be generated to make new organs, it is necessary to kill several
embryos to obtain the required DNA. In essence the cloning would throw away many
human embryos as waste material, eliminating the chance for those embryos to
grow into full maturity.”(Houdmann, 1) This quote states that when cloning, there
are many embryos that die. The
scientist will go through so many embryos because many die during the DNA
transplant. This
means there are multiple lives killed every time there is a cloning experiment. Christians will never support Genetic
Engineering and cloning unless there is a guarantee that all embryos can
survive the DNA transplant.
Another danger of genetic engineering and cloning is the danger of
false worship. It is
actually possible that people will begin to worship the technology of genetics
over our God. “We have a similar warning in Romans 1:18-32. There God describes individuals that have
become so enamored with the creation (actually worshiping it rather than the
creator) that those individuals spiraled down to destruction.”(Genetic engineering,
1) This quote tells us that in bible
times, people became so in love with their invention that they began to worship
it. God punished them for this. There is no reason to go down that road again. These are some more reasons that Christians
will never support genetic engineering and cloning.
The idea of genetic engineering and cloning as whole cheapens the
value of life. The
instant man becomes able to create and design life, the rarity and beauty of
life goes down. For
example if it is believed that thin, tan skin, smooth long hair, and blue eyes,
composes a beautiful woman, and genetic engineering were allowed, then the
majority of parents would give these physical characteristics to their children. Our future world would then all consist of
this type. These
beautiful characteristics would become very common. Our diversity would
shrink and the value of these characteristics would decrease. Genetic engineering can be viewed negatively
by many people including Christians for this reason. “Genesis 1:26-27 asserts that man is created
in God’s image and likeness and is unique among all creations. Clearly, human life is
something to be valued and not treated like a commodity to be bought and sold.”(Houdmann, 1) This quote shows that the bible says human life is
valuable. Cloning technology will be
sold as a service to create and design human life.
Is it right to buy and sell this type of service? The value of life will be decreased. Normally the value of life is priceless. Many Christians could be upset with this idea.
If Cloning was allowed for organ transplants than the value of
life would continue to decrease. An
example of this society is from the novel, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo
Ishiguro. Imagine having a twin brother
or sister who was locked away in a prison. Their only purpose in life is to supply you
organs. Sure it
would be nice to have some spare parts, but this is simply not humane. How would you feel if
you were the twin who was locked up?
This kind of society would most likely never exist but it shows us what
cloning technology is capable of. Scientist
would more likely use the technology to duplicate only a certain organ, but
this involves the killing of many embryos. Christians would definitely not support this
kind of activity.
The Bible says it is very important to take care of our bodies. First Timothy 5:23 says
believers have the responsibility to use the body properly in that it is the
temple of the Holy Spirit. Cloning
and genetic engineering technologies will not use our bodies to honor God. Christian will never agree with this
technology.
As Christians today we must do our best to slow down the
technology uses of genetic engineering and cloning. Humanity is not ready for this kind of power. “Genetic engineering
gives scientist the god-like technological ability, but without the wisdom,
knowledge, and moral capacity to behave like God.”(Anderson, 4) This quote explains that we are unable to
handle the power of this technology. “The scientific
community must act responsibly when it comes to genetic research. An ethical line must be
drawn, and I believe cloning crosses that line.”(Long, 1) Many people believe that the applications of
genetic engineering and cloning technology are too dangerous for our society. If this destructive technology becomes legal
in our world, we must have the ability to control and use it properly.
Although there are different interpretations, the bible’s text is
never changed. Since
Christians believe in the bible, they will never support Genetic engineering or
cloning. This technology does not support god’s plan of
creation. Christians will never agree with genetic
engineering or cloning.
Works Cited
Anderson, Kerby. "Genetic Engineering - A Christian
View." Probe Ministries. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.probe.org/site >.
"Cloning and Genetic Engineering." Public Understanding of Biotechnology. Department of Science and Technology,
n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.pub.ac.za/factfiles/cloning.php>.
Dave. "Religion: Religious views on Genetic Modification and
Engineering." Hub Pages. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://hellodave.hubpages.com/hub/Religion-and-Genetic-Modification>.
"Genetic engineering." Applying CHristian Ethics. N.p., 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://philosophicalinvestigations.co.uk>.
Houdmann, Michael S. "How Should a Christian View Genetic
Engineering?" Got Questions.
N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.gotquestions.org/genetic-engineering.html>.
Houdmann, Michael S. "What is The Christian View of Human
Cloning?" Got Questions. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.gotquestions.org/cloning-Christian.html>.
Long,
Chris. "Stop cloning around!." Campus Life Sept. 1997: 7. Religion
and Philosophy Collection. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. < http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu>
