Why are Christains against stem cell research???

Question

I really don't understand how people can be against this when it cures so many dieases??????

Answer 1

I'm a Christian and I'm all for stem cell research. What makes you think all Christians are against it. Do us all a favor and stop being so narrowminded.

Answer 2

We are opposed to EMBRYONIC stem cell research because it involves the destruction of a human life. The basis that the media gives us in support of embryonic stem cell research, which is accepted without question by the American public, is seriously flawed.

First: It is a complete myth that the embryos (not fetuses) frozen right now are disposable because they will "not grow up to live" (as some have argued). Repeatedly, the medical community has confirmed that only 1-2% of these embryos are unwanted by their parents. Of that 1-2%, a significant number are sought to be adopted by couples who cannot conceive, lacking viable sperm and eggs. Many children have been conceived this way (I think about 200 in America, with many more in utero) and this will increase as time goes by. The remaining 98-99% of frozen embryos are awaiting future implantation attempts by their parents.

Second: The position that fetal/embryonic stem cells are somehow better than adult or cord blood stem cells is also a complete myth. Repeated studies show that embryonic stem cells grow uncontrollably and most times result in the growth of tumors. Adult and cord blood stem cells, on the other hand, do not react this way, either in vivo or in vitro.

Third: Medical science has not even touched the surface of everything adult stem cells can do. They can be harvested from virtually anywhere, but the nose, baby teeth (not from a fetus) and skin seem to be the most popular. Before we destroy human life, shouldn't we first completely exhaust the possibilities adult stem cells have to offer? To do otherwise is imprudent and premature.

Many folks, including myself, believe some liberal scientists are pushing embryonic stem cells as "the best way to go" on a scientifically ignorant American public for an awful reason: they want to start human cloning. Because the problem of tissue rejection is negated by cloning, the patient doesn't need to take costly medications, experience the side effects, and possibly face rejection of the organ or part. Once we slide down that slippery slope, it will be an indication our society has become morally bankrupt.

Each American would do well to look into this issue much, much deeper than the media will allow.

Answer 3

This is because you don't understand what EMBRYONIC stem cell research involves. Embryonic stem cell research involves creating a living human embryo and then killing it. This sounds like a biased or religious answer, but it's not. That's a scientific fact. The embryo fits under the definition of life and it's killed.

But, this stage of life is simply another stage of human devlopment, just like infancy, puberty, or adulthood. It's a stage of development that every person on the earth has gone through. You're simply making the distinction that embryos do not have human rights, simply because of their stage of devlopment.

Christians believe that human life begins at conception. If this is the case, stem cell research is tantamount to murder. To a Christian, it's something like killing an innocent person for scientific research. Though there are benefits to the practice, the activity is not moral or ethical.

A good way to understand the Christian perspective on it would be like looking at the "medical research" that the Nazis did on Jews in concentration camps . Though there may have been legitimate scientific findings from these activities, they were wrong - plain and simple.

Also, look into the use of adult stem cells. Christians don't mind this because they come from adults and don't end up in any loss of life. There are also a wide variety of uses for them. Good luck and I hope this opens your eyes a little bit.

Answer 4

First make sure your question is clear, are you refering to stem cell research or embreonic stem cell resurch. As far as stem cell resurch I don't know of too many christians that are aginst it. It is a possible cure for alot of dieases but embreonic stem cell resurch is another mater. The first point is that for embreonic stem cells to be gathered you need a embrio, or an dead baby. these generally come from abortions that most christians are strongly aginst and to promote embreonic stem cell resurch would be to promote abortions, which is the destruction of God creations and should not be allowed.

Answer 5

Not all Christians are against stem cell research. However, those that are against it are generally against using humanity as an experiment, and the human body as a commodity. The "body" is the temple of God due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Although the issue is complex, consider the words of Paul.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Human life is quite different from animal life, therefore it is set apart. Perhaps curing the relationship between mankind and God is more important than killing one human to save another.

Answer 6

Many Christians think that, because stem cells come from human embryos, it's immoral to experiment on them, since they are in the end rendered incapable of developing into human beings.
Catholics in particular are against it because of Humanae Vitae, an encyclical that talks about sexuality. This document says that procreation should only take place between two people (husband and wife) and in a natural way - any interference through fertility treatments is deterimental, because children are then created not through the loving union between spouses, but the interference of doctors. It takes procreation out of the unity between two people and puts creation into the realm of medicine. Therefore, it's wrong to create zygotes in petrie dishes - period. And Catholics also believe that it destroys human life.
Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Not all stem cell research, not all Christians. It's EMBRYONIC stem cell research that bothers me. Absolutely no proof that the stem cells in babies have an advantage over other types of stem cells.

Answer 8

Well, not all of them are...some become pro stem cell research when someone close to them gets a disease that can be cured by it.

Answer 9

Fear of evil scientists. "It will lead to human cloning!", "It will lead to women selling their unborn babies!". Give me a break.
I've always wondered why the Christians can be against stem cell research because it may "kill"(abort) an "person" (embryo), but they have no problem using cadavers for medical research.

Answer 10

Because they think they only way to harvest stem cells is from dead babies.