Bioethics 101: Preserving Human Dignity

Author and Professor David Vandrunen writes, “… the harvest of new medical technology in the past generation has brought issues of [bioethics] to a level of difficulty, importance, and promise never before seen in human history.” We all exist within a technological golden age, rivaled by no other generation. Technology advances at a pace unprecedented since its inception by the sons of Cain. Unfortunately, this has precipitated a problematic consequence: our advances have outpaced our theology. This is nowhere more true than in the world of medicine and health. From abortion, to gene editing, to cloning, what seemed at one point unfathomable and borderline fiction has become an ever-increasing reality. The Christian, therefore, must take up the responsibility of installing our theology in the world of bioethics, asking “just because we can, does it mean we should?” This series will tackle this question while presenting a Christian approach to bioethical challenges - challenges every one of us will face. Therefore, the question isn’t if we will be affected by bioethical issues, but how we will respond when said issues do occur.

All of the lessons and the corresponding notes can be found below.

Bioethics 101 is our current Series at Resurrection University. Please consider joining us at the church from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on WedNESDAY nights. We’d love to have you!

Bioethics 101, Part 1 - Introduction to Bioethics

In his book, Bioethics and the Christian, David Vandrunen writes, “Wise action now may prevent a bioethical crisis later.” He then adds, “If Christians wait until a crisis arises to show interest in the character traits necessary to deal with that crisis in a godly way, it is too late.” Therefore, here in lesson 1 - and for the next several weeks - we are going to spend some time thinking about bioethics and how Biblically informed Christians should respond to bioethical situations. The goal of our first lesson is simple: to define bioethics, identify the primary challenges we face, and construct a theological foundation from which we will build our conclusions. Overall, we will learn that for the believer, bioethical decisions must be made as an outpouring of our faith in Christ.

Bioethics 101, Part 2 - Making Life

Our first bioethical issue we will address in this series is the bioethical issues around procreation, specifically in light of infertiliy. What we will learn is that though modern bioethical solutions may solve infertility, perhaps they do so in a way that compromises Scriptural moral truth – truth that must be important for every believer. With that in mind, we will observe what infertility is, the bioethical solutions availaible, the autonomy that fuel them, and the right response of the Christian. In the end, what we must realize is that the one true inalienable right of the Christian isn’t to produce a life but to be raised to new life.

Bioethics 101, Part 3 - Ending Life

Former Franklin Forman Chair of Ethics, Professor of Bioethics and Contemporary Culture, and Director of Bioethics Degree Programs at Trinity International University, Dr. John Kilner joins us as our guest speaker for week three in our Bioethics 101 series. Dr Kilner guides us with wisdom through end-of-life issues, including the problems of overtreatment and undertreatment, how Christians view death, and how we can faithfully respond to treatment options and decisions when at the end of life.