Christianity Perspective of Cloning

Cloning is the way scientist intends to produce the identical individual that can take place in nature when the organism reproduces sexually. This production of the identical individual is produced genetically. Also, we can say cloning is the process of creating copies of DNA fragments in an organism. Cloning is controversial due to the following reasons; to human beings cloning is not safe because there is a complication in the treatment. Also, there will be resistance, and the body functions are altered that may result from the soft fur on the body. In one of its applications, trans-genetics has been used to save the endangered tree species known as the American chestnut tree in a project that involved engineering them with Chinese-American hybrids that are genetically resistant to the deadly chestnut disease fungus.

Other useful instances of trans-genetics include the development of edible vaccines which are created by the incorporation of human protein into foods such as bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes. Genetic manipulation of stem cells has led to the growth of tissue engineering, while xenotransplantation has made it possible to do a species to species transplant of living organs or tissues (Higgs 23). It is not, according to Society, Religion and Technology Project (2010), all roses for genetic engineering. Arguments against playing God have long been brought forth when the matter of altering aspects of the plant, animal, and especially when the issue of human genetic makeup comes up. The very same Being who very much prefers being worshiped alone and not in conjunction with other idols created man with body, mind, and spirit.

The attempt by man to create alternative life, particularly human life, therefore, smacks of idolatry, which is an effort to substitute the relationship between man and God with one that bears non-relational things and hubris (Society, Religion and Technology Project, 2010). The application of genetic enhancement on children, for instance, would take away their ability to shape their destinies. Choosing a child’s height, the color of eyes or even their level of passivity or aggressiveness would be imposing on their preferences. In essence, one of God’s gift to man, that of free choice, would be snatched away from the genetically enhanced individual to serve the interests of another. They could also raise an issue with the matter of taking on enhancements that affect not only the individual but also their offspring.

Given that there is a choice between targeting the body’s reproductive cells and the nonproductive ones, a moral distinction between making decisions for oneself and all generations stemming from the person undergoing genetic treatment is crucial (Society, Religion and Technology Project, 2010). Putting themselves up against the whole genetic engineering movement, however, would not work well for Christians as there are, after all, quite some useful applications of genetic enhancements. The medical and social benefits alone are tremendous. As it is, the potential for genetic engineering to alleviate human suffering is growing by the day, and Christians are not obligated to ensure that people suffer even when advancements in science can help relieve them of pain and give them a better experience at living (Higgs 23).

They think that man has no mandate to create a human being and creating by cloning is like competing with God. They also believe that cloned fellow is the creation that has no soul (Tavani 12). When cloning is being done on body organs, they can do it to prolong the life of the individual. They can decide to it by cloning the human being to a desired or to have certain character traits. There will be a possibility that the human being can have the unwanted character traits hence causing malpractice. Cloning, however, seeks to sever the link between procreation and sexual differentiation which in turn destroys the link between marriage and parenthood. The relationship between man and woman is however not merely desired by will and desire but serves a higher purpose that is based on creation.

Cloning breaks this and reduces the relation between man and woman to a play or form of a personal project also making the begetting and rearing of a child a project that should meet our desired expectations. The link is therefore essential and useful for the child. Human cloning can be permitted only in restricted circumstances like in the cloning of pre-implantation embryos for research which only lasts for a couple of weeks and is strictly for research (Glenn 23). Although the Christian perspective appears to present legitimate claims, it is high time that they begin to terms with the available technological changes. By doing so, future generations are likely to enjoy a healthy lifestyle as compared to those in the past and contemporary world.