Stem Cell / Cloning
The Holy Grail of Medicine – A Look at Ethical Stem Cell Research
By Dr. Robert Balza Jr., Associate Professor of Biology, Wisconsin Lutheran College No one believed him. No one thought Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had managed to do the impossible. The 44-year-old physician/scientist from Japan had been encouraged to enter medicine by his...
The Holy Grail of Medicine – A Look at Ethical Stem Cell Research
By Dr. Robert Balza Jr., Associate Professor of Biology, Wisconsin Lutheran College No one believed him. No one thought Dr. Shinya Yamanaka had managed to do the impossible. The 44-year-old physician/scientist from Japan had been encouraged to enter medicine by his...
Basic Terminology on Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources As with most professions, medicine uses many unfamiliar or complicated terms. The following is designed to help you understand some of the terminology used in discussions about stem cell research....
For It or Against It? – A Look at Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Stem cell research has been called the holy grail of modern medical research. With its “potential” applications in the cure of cancer, healing of spinal cord injuries, and reversal of neurological...
A Primer on Human Cloning
Cloning moved from the arena of movie-scripting to reality in 1997. It was in that year that Nature journal (Nature 385, 810-13, 1997) announced Scottish scientists had cloned a sheep named Dolly. The worldwide scientific, religious, political, ethical, and moral...
A Primer on Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are considered foundational building blocks for human beings. There are essentially four kinds of stem cells that scientists consider to hold the potential to ease human suffering: embryonic, induced pluripotent, umbilical cord, and adult stem cells....
Q&A on Non-Controversial Stem Cell Research That Does Not Harm Embryos
QUESTION: I’ve heard a lot of news stories about embryonic stem cells and how we don’t need them anymore. Is that really true? How should Christians respond to this news? ANSWER: You are right that many stories have been published on this topic. Very simply, the...
Q&A on Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) Cloning
QUESTION: I’ve heard people say they are opposed to human cloning, but they support somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). What is the difference? ANSWER: In simple terms, there is no difference. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is the process used to produce a...
Q&A on Potential Success of Research Involving Adult Stem Cells and Embryonic Stem Cells
QUESTION: I know there have been recent successes with adult stem cell research but why do you say we should eliminate all embryonic stem cell research just because it hasn’t been as effective? I’m reading articles that say embryonic stem cells hold more potential...
Stem Cell Research – Boundaries, Blessings, and Peace
It is one thing to say embryonic stem cell research is morally unacceptable when we look at it from a purely academic point of view. The head knowledge is all there. We know the Bible passages that declare the sanctity of life. We can recite the passages that reveal...
At What Cost? – A Look at Medical Progress and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources I live today because of medical progress. I was born prematurely in 1956 with a condition called "atrial septal defect." That means I had a hole in the heart. Not just any hole, mind you. By...
Q&A on Human Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell Research
QUESTION: I’m opposed to human cloning, but I feel that embryonic stem cell research has great potential. Why are so many states trying to legalize both? ANSWER: There is a great deal of confusion on these points. Here are some facts that might clarify this issue:...
Q&A on Frozen Embryo Storage
QUESTION: I’ve heard people say there are hundreds of thousands of embryos currently being kept in frozen storage in the United States. I can’t imagine such a large number. What will be done with all those little ones? ANSWER: Most experts agree that approximately...
Stem Cell Types
Stem cell research focuses on embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic Stem Cells Embryonic stem cells, which come from the inner cell mass of a human embryo, have the potential to develop into all or nearly all of the tissues in the body. The scientific...
Embryonic Stem Cells Present Ethical Limits
David A. Kaufmann, Ph.D. What is stem cell research, and what is the Biblical Christian view of it? What is Stem Cell Research? Stem cells are living units that can grow and differentiate into multiple, different types of advanced, mature cells. There are four classes...
Mary Ann’s Story: A Journey of Faith (An Adult Stem Cell Success Story)
Mrs. Amy Schultz Editor’s Note: Much debate today about stem cell research should really be divided between (1) embryonic stem cell research and (2) adult or cord blood stem cell research. CLR has condemned embryonic stem cell research because in the process a human...
The Vaccination Quandary
Almost immediately after birth, the subject of vaccinations arises. Today, a multitude of vaccinations are available for a variety of illnesses. Along with those vaccinations come questions of safety, side effects, necessity, and the origins of the vaccine. Christian...
A Christian Look at the Fetal Tissue Issue
PERTINENT ISSUES: The morality of organ transplantation. The morality of abortion. Our obligation to care for our bodies. Effectiveness of Fetal Tissue Transplant Work I. The Morality of Organ Transplantation Principle: Truly right deeds and decisions can only be made...
The Moral Status of the Human Embryo
By Paul R. Boehlke, Ph.D., Wisconsin Lutheran College This paper will examine the moral status of the human embryo especially focusing on the current issue of dismembering them to obtain embryonic stem (ES) cells. ES cells are pluripotent, apparently able to make any...
Embryonic Stem Cell Research: People’s Arguments and A Christian’s Response
When People Say: "Embryonic stem cell research is necessary to further the work toward a cure for deadly diseases or injuries." All of us likely fear that one of those "deadly diseases" may strike someone we love or ourselves. We understand that medical research and...
What the Bible Says About Organ Transplants
Bobby A. Howard, RN, BSN, MDiv In this era of rapidly advancing health care technology, on a daily basis Christian nurses are confronted with critical issues that result in questions and doubt concerning the relationship between Christian ethics and modern medicine....
Cloning: Where Will It All End?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources On February 24, 1997, it rocked the scientific community and stimulated the exaggerated imaginations of sci-fi enthusiasts. Scottish scientists cloned a sheep and named it "Dolly." Fantasies fostered...
Stem Cell Research: Is There a Benefit?
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Upon fertilization, life begins an amazing journey of cell division, differentiation, and finally maturation. Between fertilization and differentiation, life is in its embryonic stage. The cells that...
The Value of Human Life
Rev. Robert R. Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources It is becoming more difficult to know what to do in life and death situations. Advancements in medicine, challenges in the court, and changing opinions have raised questions about when life...
Statement on the American Heart Association
Rev. Robert Fleischmann, National Director, Christian Life Resources Obsolete Statement: When a loved one or friend struggles with a life-threatening ailment it is not uncommon to become desperate for a cure. In that desperation, however, a Christian will always take...
When Working with Human DNA, It’s Best to Be As Accurate As Possible
By Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources This headline was actually a sentence buried in a July 28, 2017 article on gene editing of human embryos in the United States. For those of you who are new to this topic, the prospect of editing out...
CLR’s Official Positions and Thoughts to Ponder on Life and Family Issues
Abortion Human life exists already at conception. It is a gift from God. He also reserves for himself the authority to take human life. Aborting an unborn child for any reason, other than to preserve a human life, is a practice condemned by the Word of God and...
