CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY

Human Life: Threatened by Secularism

With the rise of secularism, biblical concepts defining the sanctity of life and the personhood of human beings created in the image of God are rapidly eroding. What the world gives in return is a thin, brittle reality, defined by the whims and discretion of the scientific community.

Today, human life is being devalued at an alarming rate. People are being altered and aborted. Genes are being patented; cloning is perilously close to being a reality and physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia are being propagated as viable alternatives to proper health care. The sanctity of life is under attack as never before.

As the battle wages on, the lives and futures of the weakest ones among us hang in the balance. Today, personhood is defined by one's abilities and contribution to society, while those who do not possess these capabilities are rapidly losing all rights as human persons.

As Christians we are called to make a difference in this brave, new-and dangerous-world.

Bioethics and Biotechnology

New Papers Coming Soon

Bioethics and Biotechnology Archive

"If we violate a human embryo today, tomorrow we will become callous about the fetus, then the infant, and then people with physical defects...let's influence society with reasoned judgment, strength of character, and a commitment to improve our culture, not diminish it."
- Joni Eareckson Tada

"We must advance the promise and cause of medical science, including through ethical stem cell research, yet we must do so in ways that respect human dignity and help build a culture of life."
- President George W. Bush Read Joni's article in Christianity Today

Links on Proposition 71

Summary Stem Cell Research -Prop 71 issues (PDF 830k)
Center for Bioethics and Culture
An insightful article titled "California's Bizzare " by Nigel Cameron and Jennifer Lahl
California Family Council

Papers from the Christian Institute on Disability

Research Cloning and People with Disabilities (125kb pdf)
An Ethical Response to Research Cloning (64kb pdf)

Press Releases and Other Statements

Joni in Washington: Supports President's Veto of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bill
The Sanctity of Life in a Brave New World: A Manifesto on Biotechnology and Human Dignity
Remarks by the President on Stem Cell Research
President Bush Calls on Senate to Back Human Cloning Ban
On Human Embryos and Stem Cell Research: An Appeal for Legally and Ethically Responsible Science and Public Policy
Charles Colson Applauds House for Approving Cloning Ban: H.R. 534 Protects Human Dignity, Sanctity of Life

Related Resources

Human Cloning: The Battle of the Ban
Tom Hess

Undaunted: Bioethics Challenges Are Huge, But So Is God
Charles Colson

How One Clone Leads to Another
Leon R. Kass, M.D.

Biotechnology A House Divided
Leon R. Kass, M.D. and Charles Murray

Father, Forgive, for We Know What We Are Doing
John Piper

God At Work In Every Womb
John Piper

Web Links

Americans United for Life
Americans to Ban Cloning
American Values
The Center for Bioethics and Culture
Christian Legal Society
Christian Medical Association
The Council for Biotechnology Policy
Family Research Council
Human Life Matters
The Wilberforce Forum