Transcript Session 1
A Strategy for Preaching on Contemporary Bioethical Issues
Philip Thompson Professor of Bible, Harding University Preacher, Rose Bud Church of Christ
A Moral Crisis
“It is a truism today that we are in a crisis of morals. The crisis is not simply that people are doing wrong things; that has been going on since the Fall in Eden. The crisis is the loss of a shared understanding of what is right. moral right or wrong at all.” Worse, it is a crisis of doubt as to whether there even is a Lewis B. Smedes, Mere Morality, 1-2
The “Crisis” is Ongoing…
Mere Morality – written in 1983
What has happened since 1983?
The Church’s Dilemma
Jesus comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
:
“I am the way and truth and life. No one How do we communicate a particularistic ethical framework (Christian ethics) to a pluralistic, relativistic world that does not accept Christian assumptions and foundations?
Homosexuality and Gay Marriage
Bioethics Question: Is there a “gay gene”?
2004
Massachusetts
Gay Marriage
2008
Connecticut
Gay Marriage
2009
Iowa Vermont Note the “new way” of reading Biblical texts
Gay Marriage
2010
New Hampshire
Gay Marriage
2011
New York
Gay Marriage
Note the Christological, theological argument
2012
Washington Maine Note the heremeutical argument
Gay Marriage
2013
California New Jersey New Mexico Delaware Hawaii Minnesota Rhode Island Maryland
Gay Marriage
Illinois
2014
Gay Marriage
Gay Families
Gay Families possible by: IVF with surrogacy Gay adoption
Elton John and David Furnish with son by surrogate mother
Beginning of Life
Abortion
2014 marked the 41 st Anniversary of Roe v Wade Embryo at 8 Weeks
ART
Old-fashioned procreation no longer required!
Artificial insemination Gamete donation IVF Surrogacy Reproductive cloning
The Hope and Hype of Stem Cell Research
Cloning
“Dolly” – 1996 Ian Wilmut Therapeutic versus Reproductive Cloning
Genetics
Human Genome Project (2003) IVF with PGD Genetic Engineering Will genetics be the new eugenics?
End of Life
Physician-Assisted Suicide:
Legal in Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana
Jack Kevorkian
Will VAE be legalized?
Enhancement of Life
Enhancement of Life
Improving Human Performance
Enhancement Technologies: NBIC
N anotechnology B ioengineering I nformation technology C ognitive sciences
Transhumanism: >H H+
Is the church prepared to answer the questions contemporary people are asking?
Are church leaders prepared to provide spiritual and moral guidance to members wrestling with biomedical decisions?
My Experiences in Ministry
Therapeutic, eugenic, and elective abortions ART IVF Surrogacy (commercial gestational) IVF with PGD Cognitive enhancement (off label use of Ritalin) End of Life “Pulling the plug” “Are we obligated to do everything possible? (Translation: must we be vitalists?)
“New and sometimes revolutionary and controversial developments in the biomedical sciences, reproductive technologies, medical genetics and biotechnology in the Life Sciences have occurred rapidly in recent times… …Ministers in the active church ministry are increasingly involved in providing spiritual and moral guidance relating to this new knowledge and technologies… Magdalena C. deLange, “Dealing with Bioethical dilemmas: A Survey and Analysis of Responses from ministers in the Reformed Churches in South Africa.”
Sources of Authority and Guidance for Christian Moral Decision-Making
The Bible Prayer Moral traditions of the church Moral formation in community Spiritually developed moral conscience and life Biblically informed moral vision and understanding Moral leadership: elders, preachers, teachers, mentors, and Christian ethicists Specialists engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue (CBHD as an example)
A Challenge in Addressing Contemporary Bioethical Issues
Most contemporary bioethical issues are not treated directly in Scripture. What do you do when you can’t cite “book, chapter, and verse” on a contemporary ethical issue? “Book, chapter, and verse” = level of rules, norms, action-guides
Use of Scripture when there’s no “book, chapter, and verse”
What does the Bible say about… Embryonic stem cell research?
IVF?
PGD?
Cloning?
Cybernetics?
Physiological and cognitive enhancement?
Abortion?
Hermeneutical Challenges
Dennis Hollinger, Choosing the Good
Scripture is “silent” on many issues.
Issues addressed in Scripture are not identical to today’s issues.
Moving from the O.T. to the N.T.
Relationship between particularity of the text and universality Handling complex issues involving multiple biblical principles
Proposals for the Use of Scripture in (Bio)ethics
Richard Hays, The Moral Vision of the N.T.
Charles Cosgrove, Appealing to Scripture in Moral Debate Glenn Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics
Moral Decision-Making at Four Levels
Particular Judgments Rules Principles Basic convictions (Worldview) [Glen Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics]
Definitions
Rule: a concrete action-guide; a law for living; a commandment or guideline given by some recognized authority Principle: Broad moral guidelines more foundational and universal than rules Rules and principles express values that arise from basic convictions and worldview.
Particular or Immediate Judgments Particular Judgments
Two Characteristics at this level •No immediate reasons are given for the moral judgment •The moral judgment applies to one particular case
Rules, Norms, Action-Guides
Particular Judgments
Rules
Two characteristics at this level •A rule applies not just to one immediate case, but to all similar cases •A rule tells us directly what to do or not to do – an action guide
Principles
Particular Judgments Rules
Principles
Two characteristics at this level •A principle is more general than a rule; it does not tell us directly and concretely what to do or not to do •A principle supports rules – or criticizes them
Basic Convictions (Worldview)
Particular Judgments Rules Principles
Basic Convictions (Worldview)
Two characteristics at this level •Basic convictions form the ultimate basis for principles, rules, and overall ethical reasoning •Basic convictions arise out of one’s worldview
Worldview
“A worldview is that cohesive set of beliefs through which people view the world and thus, consciously or not, set their life-course.” (Glen H. Stassen and David P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics, pg. 62) “A worldview is the way we put our world together. It embodies our sense of God or transcendence, our understandings of human nature, our beliefs about what is wrong within the world and how to fix that wrong, and our perceptions about where history is headed.” (Dennis P. Hollinger, Choosing the Good, pg. 61)
Comparison Test Cases: Adultery and Abortion
Adultery is first addressed at the rule level Abortion is first addressed at the principle level
Ethical Decision-Making at Four Levels
Particular Judgments Rules – Adultery first addressed Principles – Abortion first addressed [See: Glen Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics] Basic convictions (Worldview)
Making Ethical Decisions
Scott Rae
Step #1: Gather the facts.
Step #2: Determine the ethical issues inherent in the case.
Step #3: Determine the principles that have a bearing on the case. (Where most sermons on bioethical issues will derive.)
Making Ethical Decisions (cont’d)
Step #4: List the alternatives.
Step #5: Compare the alternatives with the principles.
Step #6: Consider the consequences.
Step #7: Make a decision.
The Sermon as “Bridge”
From ancient text to contemporary audience Sermons ought to be biblical and relevant.
A Sermon on Adultery
A Sermon on Most Bioethical Issues
A Sermon on Abortion, ESCR, or IVF
Millau Viaduct – Tarn Valley, France
A Sermon on Cognitive and Physical Enhancement
Sermons on Bioethical Issues
Technical Complex Controversial Viewed as “political” Potentially divisive
Sermons on Bioethical Issues
No “book, chapter, and verse” guidance Need to preach at levels of principles and basic convictions Need to do theology (and some philosophy and biomedical science too) Content: Most likely topical (rather than textual) Movement: inductive or deductive
You will thoroughly cover these technical, complex, controversial and potentially divisive topics in 24 minutes!
Perhaps Consider…
Sermons in combination with Bible classes Focus on a single principle relevant to the issue On euthanasia: “life and death are in God’s hands” Address the bioethical issue as illustrative of a text or principle Elective abortion illustrating a text on autonomy ART and surrogacy illustrating the Abraham/Sarah narrative Special events and resource speakers
(Bio)Ethics Seminar for Churches
Ethics in a Brave New World Moral Decisions when the Bible is Silent Human Dignity and Personhood Beginning of Life End of Life Enhancement of Life Same-Sex Marriage