Why, after all the science and research, are some religious folk still against the medical use of stem cells?

Question

AP a few minutes ago: "Scientists hope stem cells will cure common form of blindness."

Answer 1

We are ALL FOR adult stem cell use which HAS produced many treatmentss and possible cures

We are against embryonic stem cell use because it kills babies and it has NOT produced even one single treatment or cure for any disease

Adult stems are a far better possibility

Answer 2

Because there are other ways of obtaining stem cells without killing embryos. These have been largely ignored. Core blood, adult stem cells and more.

For example, a breakthrough in a cure for diabetes was obtained via the patient's OWN adult stem cells.

"Doctors removed the patients' own stem cells from their blood and froze them. The 15 patients received four days of chemotherapy to weaken their immune systems so their bodies would be more receptive to the stem cells when doctors put them back in.
The procedure reportedly was safe in all 15 patients and effective in all but one. 'This is the first time in the history of diabetes that all patients have gone an interval up to three years -- and perhaps longer, only time will tell -- requiring no treatment, no insulin, no immune suppression, no medication at all,' Burt said." (see source below)

Answer 3

Adult stem cell research is perfectly reasonable to religious folk. Not only that, it is more likely to provide cures than embryonic stem cell research according to a growing number of scientists. Check out the following:

http://www.21stcenturysciencetech.com/articles/winter01/stem_cell.html

http://www.stemcellresearch.org/

Answer 4

Many are not concerned with the use of stem cells themselves, but rather the methods from which they are obtained. Just an example, but imagine it from the perspective of someone who believes abortion/destruction of embryos/etc. is murder. Such a person would think of it as the use of murdered children in medical practices. For the rest of us, it seems reasonable because we do not consider embryos to be children at that point. But it should be apparent how much of a difference that distinction can make.

Answer 5

After reading all the answers, and knowing that there is the potential for other ways to get stem cells then "harvesting" embryos, then I think THAT should be the first thing tried.
If you can get stem cells from adults, then why get if from Embryos?

Addition: discowu: that was a really well said answer, thank you

Answer 6

The premise of your "question" is wrong. I've never heard any "religious folk" speak against stem cell research. I have heard them, as I myself do, speak out against FETAL stem cell research. It makes no sense to take an innocent life for the sake of a process that has not been found to have any advantage over existing techniques, i.e. the use of adult stem cells.

Answer 7

Listen to the liberally biased media & liberal propaganda much? Don't believe everything that you hear or that is implied by the media. Get the facts first.

A great majority of 'religious folk' are *not* at all against the medical use of *adult* stem cells or even stem cells from placenta & umbilical cords! And those areas (*not* embryonic stem cell research) is where all of the advancements are actually being made. This is happening with the use of private funds by the way.

The only reason that the media wants you to believe that 'religious folk' are against stem cells (by not ever bothering to make a distinction between adult & embryonic stem cells) is to push through tax payer supported embryonic stem cell reasearch because they are making no progress on their own with private funds.

What 'religious folk' *are* against is the state & federal government forcing them as tax payers to pay for *embryonic* stem cell research which necessitates the destruction of human life. One of God's Commandments is "Thou shalt not murder" (Exodus 20). So if tax payers are to fund embryonic stem cell research, they are indirectly forced to pay for the destruction of human life. (How would you feel if you had lived in Nazi Germany & Hitler forced you by way of taxes to pay for the mass murdering of Jews? Same thing for people like me.) While much of society is still fighting for their right to kill defenseless human life for their right to 'privacy' or 'quality of life', we are fighting for our right to *not have to kill* other humans! What is so wrong with that?

By the way, I suffer from a chronic invisible illness that is disabling. I long to have an effective treatment, but I absolutely don't want unethical medical treatments just so I feel better. This is a temporal life--what is important is my eternal life. This is another reason I can confidently & 100% be against embryonic stem cell research.

Answer 8

I do not believe that embryos should be formed for the purpose of harvesting pluri-potent stem cells.

However, there are thousands (possibly millions) of embryos that are discarded from fertilization clinics every year. This may sound harsh, but those embryos are never going to have a chance for life anyway. I think it would be a beautiful contribution to society if those embryos could be used to save the lives of others.

Most people are against the idea that I first brought up, and it helps them sleep more easily not to think about the second.

Answer 9

They are Ignorant about Human & Soul Life. There is NO Life in the Womb!!! There is Biological Life much as a Tumor only much more specialized. God has NEVER put Man in charge of Creating ANYTHING from ANYTHING!!! These people who supposedly proclaim Belief in the Scriptures don't want to Accept Genesis 2:7 that clearly states that God Imputes the "Breath of Life" and the "Old Sin Nature" at Birth Only!!! They are only willing to function out of the "Emotional Revolt of the Soul" which has them feeling good about Blowing Up Planned Parenthood Buildings!!! I do Not Advocate Abortion as a form of Birth Control, nor would I support it for Harvesting Stem Cells. Abortion is NOT MURDER unless we are talking Partial Birth Abortion and it is only between a woman & her Dr.!!! John

Answer 10

its because they dont think its right. i mean do u think that killing embryos is wrong? it technally should not be since they are not really "alive" but religious folk think that its wrong anyway. but if u really think about it, stem cells can cure lots of things and if u have heard the phrase "a life for a life" then u know what im talking about.