Book Description

Table of Contents Design and Destiny : Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Human Germline Modification by Cole-Turner, Ronald (Editor) Terms of Use Series Foreword p. vii Acknowledgments p. ix 1 Religion and the Question of Human Germline Modification Ronald Cole-Turner p. 1 2 Judaism and Germline Modification Elliot N. Dorff p. 29 3 The Roman Catholic Magisterium and Genetic Research: An Overview and Evaluation Thomas A. Shannon p. 51 4 A Traditional Christian Reflection on Reengineering Human Nature H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. p. 73 5 Germline Gene Modification and the Human Condition before God Nigel M. de S. Cameron and Amy Michelle DeBaets p. 93 6 Human Germline Therapy: Proper Human Responsibility or Playing God? James J. Walter p. 119 7 Germline Genetics, Human Nature, and Social Ethics Lisa Sowle Cahill p. 145 8 Freedom, Conscience, and Virtue: Theological Perspectives on the Ethics of Inherited Genetic Modification Celia Deane-Drummond p. 167 9 Religion, Genetics, and the Future Ronald Cole-Turner p. 201 Suggestions for Further Reading p. 225 Contributors p. 229 Index p. 231 Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service. Summary Design and Destiny : Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Human Germline Modification by Cole-Turner, Ronald (Editor) Terms of use We are approaching the day when advances in biotechnology will allow parents to "design" a baby with the traits they want. The continuing debate over the possibilities of genetic engineering has been spirited, but so far largely confined to the realms of bioethics and public policy. Design and Destiny approaches the question in religious terms, discussing human germline modification (the genetic modification of the embryonic cells that become the eggs or sperm of a developing organism) from the viewpoints of traditional Christian and Jewish teaching. The contributors, leading religious scholars and writers, call our attention not to technology but to humanity, reflecting upon the meaning and destiny of human life in a technological age. Many of these scholars argue that religious teaching can support human germline modification implemented for therapeutic reasons, although they offer certain moral conditions that must be met. The essays offer a surprising variety of opinions, including a discussion of Judaism's traditional presumption in favor of medicine, an argument that Catholic doctrine could accept germline modification if it is therapeutic for the embryo, an argument implying that "traditional" Christian teaching permits germline modification whether for therapy or enhancement, and a "classical" Protestant view that germline modification should be categorically opposed. ContributorsLisa Sowle Cahill, Nigel M. de S. Cameron, Ronald Cole-Turner, Amy Michelle DeBaets, Celia Deane-Drummond, Elliot Dorff, H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr., Thomas A. Shannon, James J. Walter Ronald Cole-Turner is H. Parker Sharp Professor of Theology and Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He is the author of The New Genesis: Theology and the Genetic Revolution and the coauthor of Pastoral Genetics: Theology and Care at the Beginning of Life. Descriptive content provided by Syndetics"! a Bowker service.