ETHICS AT START OF LIFE
Essay Assignment for BTh/CTh
EITHER
- "Abortion is murder and so never justifiable". Discuss.
OR
- What are the moral questions to be considered in assessing various forms ofreproductive technologies ?
You will cover material for these in the Birth & Baptism ISW and in the third seminar this term.
General orientation to area of medical ethics:
- Gilbert Meilaender, Bioethics, Introduction & Chpt 1, [pp. ix-10].
- IVP Dictionary Chpts 13 & 14 [pp87-99]
- Oliver O'Donovan, Begotten or Made ?, Chpt 1, [pp1-13]. Heavy but worth trying !
- For more detailed study, Stanley Hauerwas, Suffering Presence, Intro & Part One present interesting perspectives on key issues.
Introductory Reading:
- IVP Dictionary
- "Reproductive Technologies" (pp733-4);
- "Embryology" & "Embryo Transfer" (pp338-40).
- SCM Dictionary
- "Reproductive Technologies" (pp535-9);
- "Procreation" (pp499-502)
- Further, more detailed discussion can be found in Brent Waters, Reproductive Technology, Chpt 2 (pp32-56).
Status of the embryo:
- A masterful summary of the Christian tradition is found in The Human Embryo in Christian Tradition reproduced as an appendix in B. Waters & R. Cole-Turner, God & The Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cells and Cloning, probably the best recent volume on the subject.
- Andrew Goddard, A Pocket Guide to Ethical Issues, chpt 2, pp 36-48.
- Neil Messer, SCM Study Guide to Christian Ethics, pp 31-38.
- A heavy but stimulating theological discussion of the subject can be found in Michael Banner, "Christian anthropology at the beginning and end of life", Chpt 2 in Christian Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems [pp47-85, esp pp52-68]
For different contemporary Christian views see
- Gilbert Meilaender, Bioethics, Chpt 3 [esp pp28-33] and new Afterword in new edition.
- D. Gareth Jones, Valuing People, esp Chpt 7 [pp109-27, based on chs 4-6]
- John Wyatt,Matters of Life and Death, [esp chpt 7, pp141-58]
- A detailed discussion of themes covered by these 3 authors is found in Brendan McCarthy, Fertility and Faith [esp chpts 3 & 4, pp60-137]
Reproductive technologies:
An introduction can be found in Andrew Goddard, Pocket Guide to Ethical Issues, chpt 1 (pp 18-35) & chpt 3 (pp 49-59).
A sample of different perspectives can be found in:
- Gilbert Meilaender, Bioethics, Chpt 2 [pp11-25] & Chpt 5 [pp49-56]
- John Wyatt,Matters of Life and Death, Chpts 3-5 [pp74-118]
- Brent Waters, Reproductive Technologies, esp Chpt 1 [pp10-31] and 4 [pp86-101]
- Stanley Hauerwas, Suffering Presence, Chpt 8 on IVF [pp142-55]
- Allen Verhey, 'A.R.T., Ethics and the Bible' in Reading the Bible in the Strange World of Medicine, Chpt 7, pp253-303.
- Brendan McCarthy, Fertility and Faith, Chpts 6-9 [pp162-210]
- D. Gareth Jones, Brave New People, esp Chpts 1,4 & 5.
- Articles from Christian Medical Fellowship
Abortion:
An introduction can be found in Andrew Goddard, Pocket Guide to Ethical Issues, chpt 4 (pp 60-79).
- Gilbert Meilaender, Bioethics, Chpt 3 [pp26-38]
- John Wyatt,Matters of Life and Death, Chpt 6 [pp119-40]
- Oliver O'Donovan, The Christian and the Unborn Child [Grove Booklet]
- Richard Hays, "Abortion" in The Moral Vision of the NT Chpt 18 [pp444-61]
- Allen Verhey, 'Abortion' in Reading the Bible in the Strange World of Medicine, Chpt 6 [pp194-252]
- Pope John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae esp Chpt III, Sections 58-63.
- Articles from Christian Medical Fellowship
- Michael Banner, "The practice of abortion: a critique" in Christian Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems, Chpt 3 [pp86-135]
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