Religion and Matters of Life

Ways Science can help start life;

In vitro fertilisation (IVF); baby made in a Petri dish, fertilised outside the womb, and put back in (test tube baby)

Artificial insemination (AIH and AID); AID is Donor's sperm and AIH is Husband's sperm

Surrogacy; when 1 women gets pregnant and carries a baby for the whole pregnancy and then hands the baby over when born to another woman. 

Ways Science can maintain life;

Blood Transfusions; Medical procedure where blood is replaced within the body, either because of loss of blood through an accident or operation.

Transplants; Medical treatment to replace faulty/damaged/useless organs.

The human embryo and fertilisation act is a law that scientists must follow to show respect for embryonic life and people's lives by trying to find cures.

• Embryo Research; only allowed on embryos younger than 14 days. They use spare embryos from fertility treatment.  Scientists learn how they develop and how genetic diseases develop too.
• Stem Cell Research; have the ability to become anything. They are being used to 'grow' organs and help repair parts of the brain.
• Genetic engineering; Scientists have worked on gene research and can modify the genetic makeup of cells to treat some genetic faults.
• Cloning; There is 2 types of cloning, Reproductive cloning which is the creation of an identical copy of an organism, and there is Therapeutic cloning which is sometimes known as stem cell cloning, the aim is to clone biological material to produce embryos from which stem cells can be taken and used in research. We only use therapeutic cloning in science.

Christians; 

• Go forth and multiply (Genesis)
• Infertility is a call from God to adopt (Roman Catholic teaching)
• Some Christians accept Fertility treatment as part of God's gift of medicine

Judaism;

• Do not commit adultery (Exodus) - links to AID as sperm is not the husbands but donated
• The sperm and egg must come from the couple only
• Go forth and multiply (Genesis)

Christians;

• Jesus helped others, e.g, John 4 claims that Jesus healed the Nobleman's son.
• All life is sacred (sanctity of life) so should be saved but also respected
• Organ donation and Blood transfusions are seen as acts of kindness. Pope Benedict XVI called it a 'free act of good will' and he agreed to be a donor after his death.

Judaism;

• It is forbidden to mutilate the body and the whole body must be buried
• Genetic engineering is acceptable if it is to get rid of disease but not improve G-ds creation (blasphemy)
• Should help life wherever possible, 'if one is in the position to be able to donate an organ to save another's life, it is obligatory to do so'