Stem Cell Research: Your Thoughts

[LifeMaiden]

Let's take this a little bit off the topic of abortion.

What is ( in other words, define) stem cell research and what are your thoughts on it? If it can be used to help and heal others, would you be for stem cell research or still be against it as a Christian, and why?


What are some of the possible positive and negative aspects of stem cell research?

[Elendil]

It's wrong. It's something I KNOW God wouldn't want people doing, and therefore wrong.

[LifeMaiden]

I was hoping for a little more in depth discussion than what Elindil said. ;)

[PrinceOfTheWest]

It's important to distinguish between "adult" stem cell research, which uses stem cells gathered from sources like umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, and even nasal tissue, and embryonic stem cell research, where a little human is torn apart for her stem cells.

There is no moral problem with adult stem cell research because nobody dies to provide the stem cells. It is only embryonic stem cells that are morally objectionable. Furthermore, the only research that has yielded results has been adult stem cell research, which has provided over 70 cures (and counting). Embryonic stem cell research, despite billions of dollars and over a decade of research, has yeilded nothing.

For some interesting reading on the topic, look up http://stemcellresearchcures.com/.

[Son of Adam]

This is a very volitile subject for most people. Many scientists and doctors believe that stem cell research could lead to cures for a multitude of diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, some cancers, and other debilitating diseases as well. Although, admittedly the jury is out on much of it.

The real debate here is where do we get the stem cells from which to do the research? Many believe we must or should take it from fetuses (babies) that are either miscarried, die at birth or through the results of abortions. It is the later one that causes the most problems for Christians including myself. The real danger here is that if the research is allowed to progress to the point where aborted babies are being used, I foresee some major problems.

First of all this will create a high demand for fetal stem cells which then can be legally sold to research centers by the physician or clinic that does abortions. We then have potential women who would be basically willing to sell their unborn infants for their stem cells which would create a greater amount of abortions being performed nationwide as the demand for the stem cells increase. The stem cells of these unborn children become a marketable commodity, and that cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstance. It takes the unborn baby one step further to that point where it is totally dehumanized. It goes from being any form of life to a product like one could buy and sell at a flea market.

[Aravis Kenobi]

Personally, I have no clue as to whether it's right or wrong. But, if it aids in the deaths of unborn children, then yes, I'm against it.

[Lila]

Personally, I have no clue as to whether it's right or wrong. But, if it aids in the deaths of unborn children, then yes, I'm against it.

Yeah, what she said! :D

[EveningStar]

The insidious threat is probably not that women will have an economic incentive to have an abortion. Rather it is that doctors "counseling" a young woman about her decision would have an economic incentive for her to choose to abort. "Now that you bring that up, the baby MIGHT WELL wake you up for a 2:00 feeding. For days...or even WEEKS..."

[broken.]

On Election Day, Missouri (where I go to school) passed Amendment 2, which allows embryonic stem cell research with virtually no restraints. What frightens me is that this is being written into the state Constitution. I think unproven science should not be in such an important document. As far as I know, I don't know of anything definite that has come out of embryonic stem cell research. Yes, they may be able to cure diseases, but at the cost of innocent lives. I would not want that on my conscience.

[*IOWW the Iasc*]

Let's take this a little bit off the topic of abortion.

What is ( in other words, define) stem cell research and what are your thoughts on it? If it can be used to help and heal others, would you be for stem cell research or still be against it as a Christian, and why?


What are some of the possible positive and negative aspects of stem cell research?
Well, the stemcellls abilities are incredible when it comes to re-growing important organs for others to live, but, I'm not willing to kill an unborn child to save somebody who has already lived...That's my view on it.

[LifeMaiden]

Well one argument on the side of using fetal cells from aborted fetuses is that ' at least' those fetuses aren't going to waste. Which seems pretty darn callous to me. It was a waste of life that the fetuses got aborted in the first place!

[Apple_Of_Life29]

I agree completely.
But I can tell, that if we're not careful, too many aspects of life will be taken over by science. Like what NightMystic said, it could become too commonplace to have a child, which may be a wonderful thing, but if you can just create one like that...I just don't think thats right.

Also with new technology developed to change the genes of babies, we can actually pick and choose a baby's genes. It may be expensive and not fully developed, but very soon our babies could all end up with the night vision of cats, the sense of smell like a wolf's, etc. Everyone will want their children perfect. A story i read last year, Flowers for Algernon demonstated changing a person's IQ. Although it worked for awhile, it exposed the dangers of messing with genes and such.

[LifeMaiden]

Hey try reading Brave New World or seeing the movie Gattaca. I also read Flowers for Algernon and thought it was really sad...what happened at the end.

[oxford girl]

I think it wrong

[Apple_Of_Life29]

Hey try reading Brave New World or seeing the movie Gattaca. I also read Flowers for Algernon and thought it was really sad...what happened at the end.

I almost cried. I wasn't too fond of the movies, though.

[The First Joke]

Let's take this a little bit off the topic of abortion.

What is ( in other words, define) stem cell research and what are your thoughts on it? If it can be used to help and heal others, would you be for stem cell research or still be against it as a Christian, and why?


What are some of the possible positive and negative aspects of stem cell research?

do you mean embryonic stem cell research specifically or do you mean stem cell research in general?

[Aslan'sFriend410]

I really don't have a problem right now with stem cell research as long as the cells are not harvested from aborted fetuses, as long as the intent is to help others. There are a lot of diseases that might be able to be cured in the future with that technology. However, it is the way of this world for people to misuse things like this So I am very wary and my opinion is subject to change.

[The First Joke]

i don't care as long as babies aren't hurt... or anyone else for that matter

[umbrellaxscenexcore]

we're doing clonning in school..and i have no idea whats going on..can someone tell me what GMO is? i know what it stands for...but what's it mean?

[The First Joke]

i have no idea, but i don't like cloning either

[~Lava~]

Adult stem cell research and research on stem cells from Cord Blood are very promising fields of study were some good result have already come out of these fields, this type of Stem Cell research is ok. Fetal Stem Cells are not OK to use for research at all. They should not use any for Cloning.

[unleavened]

That's my stance too. Embryotic stem cell research doesn't look scientifically promising anyway. Adult stem cell research on the other hand, does seem promising and as far as I'm concerned should be pursued. Why not put our money in the more promising, and less controverisial field?

Not to mention I'm adimently against taking the life of an unborn child.

[Copperfox]

Supporters of baby-killing _embryonic_ stem-cell research have taken their lessons from Screwtape: confusing rather than clarifying the issue. They downplay the fact that using adult stem cells is profoundly different from killing babies to get cells; then, if we object to baby-killing, they pretend to believe that we are equally opposing ALL stem-cell research, the harmless forms included.


Joseph Ravitts, author of "Southward the Tigers"

[inkspot]

If the embryonic stem cell research is not worthwhile anyway, why are people so determined to have it federally funded? Why not just pursue federal funds for adult stem cell research, which would seem to work best anyway.

[~Lava~]

Because Abortionists have alot of People in their back pockets if you know what I mean. They encourage the people they are bankrolling to promote Embryonic Stem Cell Research to make Abortions seem necessary for cures for Cancer or other disorders and disceases. It is a well worked out system, "you guarantee that my way of life is still protected under law, and I will guarantee you money.
The worst part of it all is that people have died because the Embryonic Stem Cells injected into their brain for Parkinsons grew into hair and teeth and other body parts in their brain.
It is a sad state of affairs in this aspect, but on the other hand I heard recently that people were able to grow a new organ (I think it was a liver)from the stem cells in Umbillicle(sp) Cord Blood that was saved after the baby was born.

[inkspot]

I have seen commercials for a bank which stores your umbilical cord blood for you. I did not know why you would want to keep it! I guess you can then use it later in case your baby needs an organ. That is pretty amazing.

I do not like to think that people are perpetuating a terrible system of killing babies for no reason at all except to line their pockets; I mean, what real scientist would say he desperately needed government funding for embryonic stem cell research if it were obvious that adult stem cells work better? That is very cold.

[~Lava~]

Yes I know it is terrible but I know of situations where it occurred, Al Gore was Pro Life before he got to Washington but then He suddenly became Pro Abortion and everything else when he got there. Also, alot of the people who support Embryonic Stem Cell research have either been lied to, or just do not care, or they are not the "real" scientists that we think they are and just ignore the best way to go about things and choose to keep going down the road they want to. Just like the scientists who choose to ignore the evidence piling up against Macro-Evolution.

[unleavened]

I think, Inkspot, that the core of the groups who support embryonic stem cell research are the ones who have a bone to pick about abortion. Perhaps it gives some sort of justification that they seek?

But I could be wrong.

[LifeMaiden]

Supporters of baby-killing _embryonic_ stem-cell research have taken their lessons from Screwtape: confusing rather than clarifying the issue. They downplay the fact that using adult stem cells is profoundly different from killing babies to get cells; then, if we object to baby-killing, they pretend to believe that we are equally opposing ALL stem-cell research, the harmless forms included.


Joseph Ravitts, author of "Southward the Tigers"



I agree with that...I used to think, what is wrong with Christians not supporting the use of stem cell research that doesn't come from embryos? Because we're strangely led to believe that Christians are against ALL forms of stem cell research.

[DaydreamBeliever]

I believe embroyotic stem cell research is as wrong as abortion. Its murder. I have no poblems with adult stem cells however,because no one is dying.I have some health problems,but even if they could help me with embroyotic stem cell research,I wouldn't agree to it. As a Christian,I believe its Biblically and ethically wrong.

[inkspot]

Welcome, Snowflower. I didn't see you post before. (But I don't get out much.)

I think if they found something which could help with your ailments through the use of adult stem cells or umbilical cord stem cells, that it would be ethical to use it. I think just the embryonic stem cell research is wrong.

[Jack of Blades]

I've studied a lot on this stuff....but not about the fetel stuff.
I see a lot of people saying that its ok to do it on adults but not on fetueses. What if the baby had a desiese and it was going to die anyway? Would you do it then? If the parents gave you the ok?
Because the fact that that baby would die because of that deisease and you getting its stem cells, thousands of other babys with desieses like that would live?
But if the deisease affects the stem cells or something. Then that was worthless.

[inkspot]

The main objection to embryonic stem cell research is the baby has to die to give his stem cells, or else whole embryos are lab created just to harvest their stem cells. Both are wrong. I don't know how it would work if your baby was dying, and you donated the body to science, like some people do with their own organs ... but you certainly would not be in the right to kill a dying baby just to harvest her cells.

[Gryphon]

You can be against it and not be a Christian. I am a Christian, but even on a scientific side, embryonic stem cell research, as I have been told, is not as successful as adult stem cell research. Does anyone know anything about this?

What blew me over was when Micheal J Fox did that commercial asking people to vote for "stem cell research" and didn't even mention the fact that it was embryonic.

Things in the spiritual realm reflect in the physical. Something is coming in the next few years. Possibly even the end, which is why satan wants to obliterate the next generation of God's people. That is why I believe that embryonic stem cell research is being considered and accepted as well as abortion.

[Green Knight]

The whole embryonic stem cell arguement might be moot in a few years, because someone has found away to turn adult stem cells into embryonic ones. It was in a recent issue of Popular Science.

I think they save the placenta and blood on the off chance that if the child develops leukemia(sp?), it can be used in palce of marrow, I think.

[PrinceOfTheWest]

Actually, that's been an ongoing thing. Adult cells are the only ones that have proven useful. Embryonic stem cells prove unruly because humans can't control their differentiation (i.e. turning into different types of tissue).

[~Lava~]

I applaud your choice Snowflower, welcome to the forum.
I just read a horrible story today about "embryonic stem cells" that come out the Ukraine where it is suspected that they came from stolen living babies that were killed by doctors right after they were born and their stem cells harvested without the parents even consenting rather than being taken from aborted babies, I do not know which is worse, Embryonic stem cells or ones that masquerade as them. By the way the article was written by Matthew Hill in the London Daily Mail on Dec. 18th. i do not know where my brother got the article though so I cannot give you the website.