The Christian concept of human dignity is deeply rooted in the idea of imago Dei, the belief that all individuals are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The way we approach bioethical concerns like stem cell research, designer babies, and abortion is greatly influenced by this viewpoint, which is essential to comprehending human value. According to St. Augustine (397/2012), Christians believe that people are important and have a relational and spiritual purpose that motivates them to honor and worship God. The sanctity of human life is emphasized by this view, which gives rise to pro-life perspectives on abortion, the conviction that every human life is valuable, and the notion that altering human genetics—as in the case of designer babies—interferes with God’s plan for humanity.

Human dignity is another issue that is raised by the ethical dilemma of stem cell research. From a Christian perspective, the destruction of embryos for the sake of embryonic stem cell research is problematic since it compromises the sanctity of life from conception. Despite the fact that stem cell research may be able to treat illnesses, the killing of embryos is viewed as unethical since it disregards the worth and dignity of every human person, even in their most vulnerable forms (White & De La Torre, 2012).

Imago Dei advocates for a respectful approach to bioethical challenges, making sure that advances in technology and medicine respect the dignity of every human life. Humans look for happiness and harmony in their relationship with their Creator, as stated by St. Augustine, and upholding the sanctity of life in bioethics serves to respect this important fact.

References

White, N. H., & De La Torre, V. (2012). God, humanity, and human dignity. In St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (pp. 19-22). The Augustinian Press.

St. Augustine of Hippo. (2012). Confessions (N. H. White & V. De La Torre, Trans.). The Augustinian Press.