Bioethics

From a religious standpoint, is modern biotechnology to be interpreted as “playing God” or as collaborating in the on-going work of creation? ~Dr. Gurinder Shahi

The above question expresses an important ongoing bioethical debate. Within many religious traditions, ultra conservatives often see modern biotechnology as playing God. In-vitro fertilization (IVF), genetic engineering, and other medical interventions have been argued to be playing God. Along this line of argumentation, Jehovah’s witnesses do not accept blood transfusions, for example. However, other less conservative individuals of major religious traditions see humans as co-creators. That is, God endowed man with the mental capacity and resources to address new problems in novel ways. Francis Collins, for example, is an evangelical Christian and head of the Human Genome Project who reconciles modern science and Intelligent Design (see Language of God).

In certain cases, the line of what is acceptable to members of various religious traditions becomes hazier. For example, In-vitro fertilization (IVF) with donated oocytes allows infertile women to become pregnant in their sixth decade of life (see Dr. John Jain’s work at USC). I tend to agree with the co-creator camp. However, I feel that certain biotechnological innovations are unethical, as in the above case. What do you think?