The Christian conviction that all people are created in the imago Dei (Genesis 1:27), giving them inherent dignity and worth from conception to natural death, has a profound impact on my understanding of human value. This belief emphasizes the sanctity of life and the moral obligation to defend it, which informs my position on bioethical concerns including stem cell research, designer babies, and abortion.

Regarding abortion, I think that since life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13–16), ending a pregnancy is an affront to the intrinsic dignity of the unborn child. Designer babies, which are created by genetically altering embryos for purposes other than therapy, also raise ethical questions regarding eugenics and the commercialization of human existence (Sulmasy, 2018). Although hereditary illnesses can be prevented by modern developments, changing a person’s characteristics for personal desire compromises the inherent individuality of each person that God created.

The use of embryonic stem cells in stem cell research raises ethical concerns. Medical advancements are important, but the sacredness of every human life is violated when embryos are destroyed for research. Adult stem cell research is one ethical option that I endorse because it respects human dignity and advances science (Koenig, 2018). Therefore, my philosophy advocates for moral medical procedures that respect human life at all stages.

References

Koenig, H. G. (2018). Religion and spirituality in patient care: Why, how, and what?

Templeton Press.

Sulmasy, D. P. (2018). The rebirth of the clinic: An introduction to spirituality in health care.

Georgetown University Press