(If you don't agree with the first part of this question, then you might just want to pass over this one entirely, but I have gotten this answer several times and I'd like some clarification from those answerers. Thanks.)
If god doesn't heal children with, say, leukemia because their intense pain and untimely death is part of a larger plan that God has for the world, then it seems like the important thing is the greater good, right?
In that case, do you as a Christian support stem cell research? A lot of Christians oppose stem cell research because a fetus is destroyed, but couldn't that fetus' untimely destruction also be a part of a larger plan for greater good? Isn't it possible that the scientists proposing stem cell research are doing so at the prompting of God?
2007-05-28 05:12:44 · 27 answers · asked by Aeryn Whitley 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wow, that was a really profound question. I don't see how anyone could watch a child suffer and then claim it's for the greater good. I guarantee you most parents would want to scream if they had a sick child and somebody came up and said, "This is God's will for your child to be in such pain". I have no answers on the stem cell research part. It's too much in the gray areas of morality for me, an Agnostic.
2007-05-28 05:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by Graciela, RIRS 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not having read your previous question and only going on this one, no I do not support stem cell research. But then I don't support it regardless. Why? I will explain...
Who am I to try and figure out the reasons God does what He does. I am a firm believer in God's word and know that every thing works to the good for them that love the Lord. We go through these terrible ordeals and trials as tests of faith.
I am not opposed to furthering medical knowledge but think about this for a moment. Some people a long long time ago wanted to build a tower tall enough to reach into the heavens. It was a good thought and probably well intentioned. But it also would have meant the end of reliance on God. The Creator of everything would no longer be considered of any consequence and pointless. Man would have taken pride in his own accomplishments and forgotten the One ultimately responsibile for the knowledge given to men to do these things.
I pray that we find a cure for these horrid diseases one day. Until then I will continue to trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding.
2007-05-28 05:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
- First, God has authority over life and death. We, as humans, do not have this authority. In the Bible, God only gives humans the authority to take life as judgement for VERY SPECIFIC CRIMES. Not because we judge that "it's more beneficial for this person to die." That falls under the category of "let us do evil so that good might result." That is not altruism, it's playing God.
- Second, the popular method of stem cell research does not really destroy a fetus. A fetus is a later stage of development of a growing child, it's after the cells have differentiated (ie, a fetus has a nervous system and muscles, etc. Not still all the same cells.) Stem cells come from an early embryo, or a blastocyst. And a person's own DNA is used, copies of their own cells. Not the conception of joining egg and sperm.... so I'm not sure I would say it's an "unborn child." I don't know...
2007-05-28 05:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by peacetimewarror 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
awesome question .........
but it's the view of Christians that stem cells are taken from aborted children and therefor wrong . In there eyes it's murder . God cannot take something that we feel he is against and use it for the greater good , ( almost sound like 2 wrongs make a right ) there must be a different way . Perhaps adult stem cells or umbilical cord blood has shown some interesting results . still though I like the way you think .
Your reasoning skills are fantastic
2007-05-28 05:30:44 · answer #4 · answered by Suicide642 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I support adult stem cell research, but I do not condone fetal stem cell research. One reason is that as with any item, these fetal stem cells could become a commodity, with (potential) human beings essentially being bought and sold. That would make it an even bigger mistake.
As for the 1st part of your question: We don't see the overall plan. As an example, Adam Walsh(America's Most Wanted) lost his son to a predatory individual. He went on to start America's Most Wanted, thereby assisting in the capture of many violent criminals, arguably saving hundreds or even thousands of lives. Maybe God's plan was for Mr. Walsh's son to die for the greater good, maybe not. We cannot know God's plan for our lives. We can only seek to accept what we are given by God.
2007-05-28 05:27:59 · answer #5 · answered by scrapiron.geo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I do not support stem cell research. People need to know when to stop trying to do God's job.If God decides no about somthing, then it's no.
Who is mortal man to think they can over ride God's choices in life. I am a Christian. I do not believe in articificial incemination to have a baby. Not everyone is to have a baby or become a parent. God knows what He is doing.
All of this increased knowledge that we keep reading abouat is prophesized in the Bible.
Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
2007-05-28 05:23:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are under a false assumption. Many christians do support stem cell research. What they are opposed to is embrionic stem cell research.
Embrionic stem cell research has not found one cure, not one, the evidence is out there all you have to do is stop believing hook line and sinker the media hype.
Adult stem cell research or umbilical cord stem cell research however are curing people. I really don't know any christians who are opposed to that.
Research your question better next time before coming here and making accusations that are not true. Taking your talking points from anti christian, anti Bush, web sites only makes you look foolish.
2007-05-28 05:22:22 · answer #7 · answered by Tzadiq 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
So you're saying its okay to kill one baby to save another? Science has found ways to get stem cells without using aborted fetus's. I'm all for stem cell research that doesn't require killing babies. I'm not God so I can't say that childhood diseases are a part of God's plan. I think it has more to do with the gift of free will. God gave us free will, which means He has to sit back and watch us without interfering with our daily lives. If He interfered everytime something bad happened, it wouldn't really be free will, would it? Personally, I think free will is wasted on humanity, I don't think we're capable of handling it wisely, but He didn't ask my opinion.
2007-05-28 05:21:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The end NEVER justifies the means.
Stem cell research is fine as log as they are not harming a living being to do their research.
2007-05-28 08:14:13 · answer #9 · answered by Makemeaspark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with your first part, but if we assume that God is willing to sacrifice human beings (and fetuses) for the greater good, than indeed God might accept that human beings are sacrificed for the benefit of others.
But again, I don't think God doesn't want people to sacrifice others. I believe He want us to sacrifice ourselves in the sense of giving up parts or our own live for the benefit of others
2007-05-28 05:28:58 · answer #10 · answered by leatherbiker040 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋