Embryonic Stem Cell Research - What’s the Beef?

New frontiers are opened with new technologies. Sometimes, these advances create ethical challenges never contemplated previously. But, as an added twist, sometimes the research itself creates the challenge - before any new development has occurred! One example of this - Embryonic Stem Cell Research. As of this writing, the stem cells required for this research requires the life of the embryo. Someday, if cures are developed, then a full scale cultivation, and harvest, of embryos will begin - with no end in sight. So, what do Naturalists think of this? What about Biblical Theists? And where do Humanists stand?

The Naturalistic View. The Naturalist is for the life of an embryo over any present, malady-ridden human. Beneficial mutations arise randomly, and the new life of any species has always been the engine that drives evolution. But even more importantly, in light of our impending doom [our sun is dying], any one of these new lives may possess the needed genius to deliver us from our coming fate. Currently, few embryos have been killed. But even this loss is totally unacceptable to the Naturalist, as our next Einstein may now be strewn in some lab somewhere. And if this work discovers cures, embryos will be grown and harvested. So, here is the question. When a species consumes its own kind, what is this called? You already know the answer. Therapies coming from embryonic stem cell harvesting will be a sophisticated form of cannibalism.

I hear the screeching even now. "Are you insane? Cannibalism? Cannibalism is when one eats the flesh of their own kind! Nobody is eating an embryo! They will enter sick bodies by injection, implant, pills - or some way other than eating. And besides that, eating is for nutrition - and the embryos will be consumed for medicinal purposes!" Well, are you done yet? "*#%@* no, you twisted, *#+%*, ! These embryos will be used to heal people of all kinds of horrific diseases. Do you want these suffering people to perish? And what if it is your Mom or your Dad, or child - or you - that can be cured? You will change your tone real quick. And what if ...." I know you are still screeching, but I am temporarily cutting you off and will now address those not ruled by emotion.

Embryonic stem cell therapies will be the consumption of one genetically complete (and unique) human life form - by another genetically complete (and unique) human life form. Any doctor, biologist, or researcher who disputes this physical reality has abandoned science for some type of metaphysical speculation. An embryo is human flesh. It is nothing else and it cannot become anything else. It's just very young and very small - and unable to defend itself.

As far as the "eating" of an embryo, from an embryo's viewpoint, whether injected or chewed up - this is a distinction without a difference. The embryo's life ends - with a member of its own species consuming its stem cells. This is at least "a sophisticated form of cannibalism." But, the more I think about it, this is just plain old cannibalism with a high tech twist.

Concerning "nutrition versus medicine," our body often uses food to heal and repair itself. And if it is my Mom or Dad, or child (or me) who would be cured by this cannibalism, what does that have to do with anything? Does personal need supplant fact? It might for the Humanist, but never for the Naturalist or Biblical Theist. An Evolutionist (Naturalist) would show little concern if we started consuming the stem cells of chickens or pigs ... but a species wanting to consume its own preborn? Even an impulse like this creates alarms in a Naturalist. Surely the desire, and practice, of the cannibalization of one's preborn population should be a part of self-extinction science. Maybe the dinosaurs started eating their own eggs.

"Ah! But these research embryos are frozen ‘extras' destined for the dump. And if healing therapies are discovered, any cultivated embryos would be brought into existence only for that purpose." An assertion like this does not come from a Naturalist. Read on.

This ability to make embryos in "a test tube" creates exciting possibilities to a thinking, non-cannibalistic Evolutionist! Rather than growing embryos for harvest why not grow them for birth and unique adulthood? With current technologies, the "test tube" would be replaced by a "rubberized womb" - programmed to imitate a mother's daily range of activity. And here's the best part. All the fluids would be completely free of contaminants! No crack babies, alcohol damaged babies, tobacco damaged babies .... These newcomers would be free of all impurities - except for what existed in the original egg and sperm cells! What a boon for our evolutionary progress! So, ... what is scientifically more sound? Cannibalize the coming generation for a current, malady-ridden, older one, or bring all embryos to fruition as they may hold the beneficial mutations we desperately need? For the Naturalist, the answer is evident.

The Biblical Theistic View. Before artificial insemination was developed, fertilization of an egg only occurred in the womb - at the Creator's discretion. But even in the "test tube," man cannot make the egg fertile - much less make an embryo. These "test tube" embryos are simply the result of humans manipulating other human life. Manipulation into life does not translate into creator rights over life. Embryos are not reduced to fodder for cannibalization or the garbage dump. These "throw away" embryos are as human as you and I. The one(s) manipulating these humans into life are responsible for the well being of those lives. The manipulator becomes - a surrogate parent.

Man will always be subject to the decrees, standards and judgements of the Creator of life. The Author of the Bible claims to be that Creator, and there is no indication He ever intends on relinquishing this position of sole dominion. "See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me. It is I who put to death and give life ...." (Deut 32:39). I believe "the spark" that makes something alive (when all the elements are innately inorganic) will always remain in the hands of the Creator. Man will never figure it out, duplicate it, or bottle it.

Once alive, no human has the authority to end the life of another human unless that human has committed a capital offense - and even then, specific procedures must be followed. An embryo is fully - and only - human life. These lethal attacks on embryos are premeditated - and future therapies will add charges of cannibalism. "All unrighteousness is sin" (1 Jn 5:17).

The Bible maintains that human life is the most important object in our observable physical universe. It would be better to face the Creator as a lying, adulterous, murdering drunk - rather than an embryonic stem cell research advocate or participant. The eternal punishment will be less severe.

Some contend these "extra" embryos should be used for the greater good - research now and therapies later. After all, these are not scheduled for implant - and will simply perish. This is an amoral position based upon an assumption that the embryo's perilous plight is now no one's responsibility. This assumption will not prevail before the Creator.

The Humanistic View. This is the only place the embryonic stem cell enterprise has a home. Because the embryo is nothing more than a blob of protoplasm, then anything can be done with it - and to it. The embryo's life can be experimented on, extinguished, or given to another. After all, an embryo is only the size of this period. (Your eye just skipped it.) For the Humanist, an embryo's life is trumped by any contrary consideration. The curiosity of researchers trump the embryo's life. Cries for cures trump the embryo's life. Economic gains for a State (i.e., California) trump the embryo's life. Politicians, who smell the gain of votes, trump the embryo's life. Any grounds which the Humanist envisions as some kind of gain for somebody - other than the embryo - trump the embryo's life. The unscientific declaration - "the preborn is not human life" - fosters all kinds of predictable atrocities. With science jettisoned and Biblical Theism ignored, the sole authority for valuation is one's opinion - grounded in nothing. Humanism's "substance" is thin air....

[When abortion on demand was legalized, many pro-lifers warned of a "slippery slope" with human life being devalued in all kinds of ways. But, it's doubtful anyone saw the cannibalization of the preborn over the horizon.]

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