Stem Cell Research: Good, Bad, Indifferent?

The ethics of embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic right now. The main issue is whether or not federal funds (your taxes) should be used to pay for the research using embryonic stem cells. To my understanding, stem cell research was never banned - it simply was not federally funded. If stem cell research was as promising as the media makes it sound in curing all kinds of diseases, I would bet that "evil" profit-seeking pharmaceutical companies would have been investing billions into research already. Do we really want the government paying for research that so many people find immoral?

For me, the morality of stem cell research comes down to the question: "Is a fertilized cell a living soul?" It is my opinion that it is not yet a soul. It is a cluster of cells with no organs, no heartbeat, and is probably less alive than a few living skin cells I could scratch off my arm right now. Once that group of cells have multiplied and differentiated to the point of a heartbeat then I would say it is a life that God has ordained and is off limits to being intentionally terminated.

I would object if cells are obtained by abortions, but I don't believe that is the case. To my current understanding, many of the embryos come from eggs fertilized for parents seeking in vitro fertilization and they typically fertilize more eggs than would actually be implanted.

What about using these cells for cloning? As a science-fiction fan, cloning sounds kind of cool. I agree it does feel somewhat like we are messing with God's historically established methods, but he revealed the technology for some reason, right? It really depends on the intent of the cloning.

Is it to grow replacement organs in lab? I'm good with that.

Is it to make a Star Wars army to defeat the evil empire? Not really practical.

Is it for designer babies created to the parents specifications? That bugs me, but I don't really know why. If a clone baby develops and God determines to place a spirit into that body, I'm okay with it. Every spirit is unique and therefore would not be the same person it was cloned from.

In vitro fertilization strikes me as unnatural, but I would never begrudge parents from wanting to have their own seed. Again, from an eternal perspective, adoption is just as good, if not a better option that I would encourage people to seek first. Now octo-mom and her doctor are simply irresponsible.

In conclusion, I am okay with embryonic stem cell research as long as the cells are obtained morally and funded privately.

Reply to the Quiet Donkey on Universal Health Care

One of the best families I know of has struggled because of the greed of insurance companies and now advocates Universal Health Care.  http://quietdonkey.blogspot.com/

With all the love for them in my heart I had to reply with this message.  I will not sit idly by as so many Americans ignorantly seek our self-destruction:

Caring for the sick and afflicted is a moral obligation that you and I both agree on. How we live that principle is where you and I have the debate. You and I agree that our collective ability to take care of one another is falling tragically short of what God would have us do.  You blame it on the greed of insurance companies.  I blame it on the American people for letting government get involved in health care in the first place and I blame the greed common to human nature.   This greed cannot be overcome by the force of law, but rather by the changing of our hearts to love God and our fellow man.

Universal health care is immoral and in fact satanic inasmuch as it violates the eternal principles of agency. To take from one person by force and give to another is a violation of the eternal principle of agency, no matter how mingled with scripture that philosophy of Universal Health Care is.   Every sick and afflicted person being cared for by everyone else of their own free will and choice would be Zion.

Some may argue that UHC is not really by force since we the people elected our government and gave them the power to impose taxes. My argument is that we have allowed the government to have more power than was ours to give. (see Ezra Taft Benson's essay on the Proper Role of Government, not doctrine, but pretty sound logic. http://robertkmortensen.blogspot.com/2008/10/proper-role-of-government-ezra-taft.html )  The government should never have the power to do something that I personally cannot do without violating the rights of others.

True statesmen would not invent government administered programs to help the sick. True statesmen would inspire and motivate their constituents thru word and action to be truly charitable and to care for those around them. Church leaders don't hold a gun to your head and tell you to pay fast offerings, but they sure can motivate spiritually. Occasionally hell-fire-damnation sermons are necessary to remind us to stop being so darn selfish.

When you force people to care for the sick and poor you rob them of true charity and you rob them of their agency to do good from their own hearts. That is why I say UHC is satanic.  Satan has sought from the beginning to rob us of our freedom to choose good or evil.  The sacred and eternal principle of agency is infinitely more important than short-term mortal suffering.  The risk of people using their agency to choose to be selfish and greedy is a tolerable risk from an eternal perspective.

That being said, if we as motivated private individuals could pull our resources and skills together, coupled with faith, fasting, and prayer we could be really effective at relieving the burdens of sickness and poverty without legally plundering anybody.