Are stem cell research and cloning religious issues? Should religions stand in the way of scientific research that could save lives? Do lives have to be taken to do the scientific research?

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I think that if one believes that god waved a godly hand and created everything there is, then yes, i suppose that the obvious implication is that what's good enough for god shouldn't be changed by man.

My own view is that we're messing with something of which we have very little knowledge, especially as far as the long-term implications and possible problems which may be involved are concerned.
We are treading an extremely dangerous path with possible consequences which may not become apparent for several decades or even centuries, and which may well interfere with the natural course of evolution on this planet.

We're like children who have just found a half-hunter pocket watch, and we're trying to make it keep time better - with a hammer and chisel.


Peace, Love, & Light

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"An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object. "
Patanjali - Sutra 4:17

I have a real problem with cloning humans because of the complicated consequences of such an action.

As far as embryonic stem cells are concerned, the cell lines that could be used come from fertility clinics whereas those cells will be destroyed anyway. Here's an opportunity to possibly save lives and make for better lives possibly for many down the road, and we're throwing away that which might lead to who knows what kind of breakthroughs away. It makes so little sense, but that's the neo-cons for ya.

Shalom,
Vern

The point of concern is (or should be) not the research -- it is arguably a good thing to know as much about what life is, and how it functions as possible (unless one wants to take the "religious" position that all disease and physical infrimity is divinely ordained and it is an act of impeity to interfere with the will of the gods (I wouldn't, but then I don't tend to fun****etalism of any stripe)) -- the concern, the theologically sound objection, is that such technologies put a great deal of power into the hands of people who may use it unwisely, and certainly will use it not for the greater good, but for the profit and enjoyment of a few.

Mistakes are very likely to be made, and what is created in the lab may not stay in the lab... as anyone who has followed the Britsh foot-and-mouth outbreak knows.

The combination of humans abusing power, and the fact that huamns, inevitably, make serious mistakes that sometimes cannot be rectified, is both a logical, ethical and faith-based objection that can be swept aside, but which should not be ignored.

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Grassaf, Eolas

It's an area where caution is desirable, but avoidance not desirable. If we decide to avoid entirely such areas as stem cell research, it will create a gap in our knowledge. It could take decades or centuries to fill that gap via other experimental methods.

And I don't think that religion should block scientific research.

In Baha'i Faith we also believe in a balance or harmony between science and religion.. Since stem cell research and such are very new or relatively so, it's a kind of wait and see attitude. So there's nothing against a Baha'i using these advances after consulting with their doctor.

Stem cells can be taken from various places..including one's own body not all involve using say frozen embryos...a few years ago there was a back log of embryos at fertility clinics and so some stem cells were being taken from them..i don't know if the situation has changed but i think some religions object to using embryos for the purpose of harvesting stem cells as they consider these embryos beings or babies as it were..

Still this is a new areea of technology and many are just catching up with it... In Baha'i Faith we ask the believer to pray about it and consult the Writings and their doctors before deciding...and that's about it.

- Art

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