The Status of the Human Embryo: An Analysis from the Christian and Islamic Viewpoints (Published)
The issue of when human life begins and the present state of scientific developments has made the status of an embryo a major controversial issue. Developments such as embryonic research, human cloning, genetic engineering, assisted reproduction techniques, pre-implantation diagnosis and genetic screening, among others have brought forth weighty questions on the status of the human embryo. This question of the status of the human embryo has been debated upon by many in the medical field, secular philosophy and by religious scholars. This article describes the nature of the embryo from religious point of view (Christianity and Islam), and further makes an analysis between the view points of these religions. The objective is to ethically examine the status of the embryo from the perspectives of Christians and Muslims. This involves an analysis of the ethical concerns of the two major religions to ascertain their position on such an existing contemporary ethical issue. While most people in the scientific community describe the embryo as none other than a human tissue, religious scholars view it as human or a potential human being which should be treated with the highest respect and dignity. This in a way has created an impasse which is somehow affecting scientific researches as well as religious thoughts. The paper is made relevant due to its quest to comparatively examine the take of religion -which shapes and continue to inform many minds -on modern scientific medical developments
Keywords: Christianity and Islam, Comparative Analysis, Ethics, Human embryo, Status
The Status of the Human Embryo: An Analysis from the Christian and Islamic Viewpoints (Published)
The issue of when human life begins and the present state of scientific developments has made the status of an embryo a major controversial issue. Developments such as embryonic research, human cloning, genetic engineering, assisted reproduction techniques, pre-implantation diagnosis and genetic screening, among others have brought forth weighty questions on the status of the human embryo. This question of the status of the human embryo has been debated upon by many in the medical field, secular philosophy and by religious scholars. This article describes the nature of the embryo from religious point of view (Christianity and Islam), and further makes an analysis between the view points of these religions. The objective is to ethically examine the status of the embryo from the perspectives of Christians and Muslims. This involves an analysis of the ethical concerns of the two major religions to ascertain their position on such an existing contemporary ethical issue. While most people in the scientific community describe the embryo as none other than a human tissue, religious scholars view it as human or a potential human being which should be treated with the highest respect and dignity. This in a way has created an impasse which is somehow affecting scientific researches as well as religious thoughts. The paper is made relevant due to its quest to comparatively examine the take of religion -which shapes and continue to inform many minds -on modern scientific medical developments
Keywords: Christianity and Islam, Comparative Analysis, Ethics, Human embryo, Status
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION FROM THE CHRISTIAN AND ISLAMIC POINT OF VIEW (Published)
The act of procreation exists vehemently for all people in their quest to producing and this idea (procreation) is common to all humans whether religious or impious. However, most couples have this dream of bringing forth children of their own shattered. Childlessness is often stigmatized and leads to profound social suffering for couples especially women in the developing nations. So, in the wake of infertility, many individuals may seek assistance elsewhere (scientific means) and very common is by the use of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). The birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978; the world’s first successful In-Vitro Fertilization with the expertise and assistance of Drs. Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edward was the start of a revolution in infertility treatment. What was then an innovative scientific advancement now has become a routine medical treatment. Beside these help that is being brought to humanity by these advances in biomedical technologies, the adverse effects of them should not be overlooked. In line with this, the article has examined the technique involving In-Vitro Fertilization as well as some ethical concerns from the Christian and Islamic points of view.
Keywords: Christianity and Islam, Ethics, In-Vitro Fertilization, Infertility, Procreation
