As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Earlier this year, a joint effort …resulted in the creation of synthetic embryos using only stem cells. However, the latest achievement is being hailed as the first ‘complete’ embryo model” - Relevant
Read Part 1.
Opponents to embryonic stem cell research usually present four arguments against it. I’d like to survey these four arguments and then add a fifth.
In the eighteenth century, an Irish minister by the name of Jonathan Swift wrote a powerful satire, entitled, “A Modest Proposal.” In the most serious language, Swift suggested that Irish babies be sold for food, and that their skin be used as a kind of soft leather. As a result, there would be fewer mouths to feed, more food to go around, and a new industry that would create many jobs. This was his ‘modest’ proposal. In reality, Swift did not intend what he was recommending.
Researchers “have developed a technique that allows doctors to harvest stem cells from amniotic fluid and convert them into embryonic-like cells that can grow into other types, including nerve, blood, and heart cells. Extracting the cells, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), does not harm a baby.” WORLD
“A seemingly ethical new technique for creating stem cells, described in Nature Biotechnologyin September, could be the most promising alternative approach to date.” WORLD
“…dozens of evangelical leaders—have eagerly shivered and shaked their way through the ice bucket challenge, despite concerns from Catholic leaders and pro-life groups that the viral video craze may be sending millions to fund embryonic stem cell research.” CT
Discussion