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. Worse, it is a crisis of doubt as to whether there even is a moral right or wrong at all.” “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. Worse, it is a crisis of doubt as to whether there even is a moral right or wrong at all.” 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: “I am the way and truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus: “I am the way and truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) How do we communicate a particularistic ethical framework (Christian ethics) to a pluralistic, relativistic world that does not accept Christian assumptions and foundations? 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”?

Gay Marriage 2004 Massachusetts Massachusetts

Gay Marriage 2008 Connecticut Connecticut

Gay Marriage 2009 Iowa Iowa Vermont Vermont Note the “new way” of reading Biblical texts

Gay Marriage 2010 New Hampshire New Hampshire

Gay Marriage 2011 New York New York Note the Christological, theological argument

Gay Marriage 2012 Washington Washington Maine Maine Note the heremeutical argument

Gay Marriage 2013 California California New Jersey New Jersey New Mexico New Mexico Delaware Delaware Hawaii Hawaii Minnesota Minnesota Rhode Island Rhode Island Maryland Maryland

Gay Marriage 2014 Illinois Illinois

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 Embryo at 8 Weeks 2014 marked the 41 st Anniversary of Roe v Wade

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

Improving Human Performance

Enhancement Technologies: NBIC Nanotechnology Nanotechnology Bioengineering Bioengineering Information technology Information technology Cognitive sciences Cognitive 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 Therapeutic, eugenic, and elective abortions ART ART IVF IVF Surrogacy (commercial gestational) Surrogacy (commercial gestational) IVF with PGD IVF with PGD Cognitive enhancement (off label use of Ritalin) Cognitive enhancement (off label use of Ritalin) End of Life End of Life “Pulling the plug” “Pulling the plug” “Are we obligated to do everything possible? (Translation: must we be vitalists?) “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 The Bible Prayer Prayer Moral traditions of the church Moral traditions of the church Moral formation in community Moral formation in community Spiritually developed moral conscience and life Spiritually developed moral conscience and life Biblically informed moral vision and understanding Biblically informed moral vision and understanding Moral leadership: elders, preachers, teachers, mentors, and Christian ethicists Moral leadership: elders, preachers, teachers, mentors, and Christian ethicists Specialists engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue (CBHD as an example) 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. 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? 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 “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… What does the Bible say about… Embryonic stem cell research? Embryonic stem cell research? IVF? IVF? PGD? PGD? Cloning? Cloning? Cybernetics? Cybernetics? Physiological and cognitive enhancement? Physiological and cognitive enhancement? Abortion? Abortion?

Hermeneutical Challenges Dennis Hollinger, Choosing the Good Scripture is “silent” on many issues. Scripture is “silent” on many issues. Issues addressed in Scripture are not identical to today’s issues. Issues addressed in Scripture are not identical to today’s issues. Moving from the O.T. to the N.T. Moving from the O.T. to the N.T. Relationship between particularity of the text and universality Relationship between particularity of the text and universality Handling complex issues involving multiple biblical principles 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. Richard Hays, The Moral Vision of the N.T. Charles Cosgrove, Appealing to Scripture in Moral Debate Charles Cosgrove, Appealing to Scripture in Moral Debate Glenn Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics 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 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 Principle: Broad moral guidelines more foundational and universal than rules Rules and principles express values that arise from basic convictions and worldview. Rules and principles express values that arise from basic convictions and worldview.

Particular or Immediate Judgments Two Characteristics at this level No immediate reasons are given for the moral judgment The moral judgment applies to one particular case Particular Judgments

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 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) “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 Basic convictions (Worldview) [See: Glen Stassen and David Gushee, Kingdom Ethics]

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 From ancient text to contemporary audience Sermons ought to be biblical and relevant. 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 Technical Complex Complex Controversial Controversial Viewed as “political” Viewed as “political” Potentially divisive Potentially divisive

Sermons on Bioethical Issues No “book, chapter, and verse” guidance No “book, chapter, and verse” guidance Need to preach at levels of principles and basic convictions Need to preach at levels of principles and basic convictions Need to do theology (and some philosophy and biomedical science too) Need to do theology (and some philosophy and biomedical science too) Content: Most likely topical (rather than textual) Content: Most likely topical (rather than textual) Movement: inductive or deductive 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 Sermons in combination with Bible classes Focus on a single principle relevant to the issue Focus on a single principle relevant to the issue On euthanasia: “life and death are in God’s hands” On euthanasia: “life and death are in God’s hands” Address the bioethical issue as illustrative of a text or principle Address the bioethical issue as illustrative of a text or principle Elective abortion illustrating a text on autonomy Elective abortion illustrating a text on autonomy ART and surrogacy illustrating the Abraham/Sarah narrative ART and surrogacy illustrating the Abraham/Sarah narrative Special events and resource speakers Special events and resource speakers

(Bio)Ethics Seminar for Churches Ethics in a Brave New World Ethics in a Brave New World Moral Decisions when the Bible is Silent Moral Decisions when the Bible is Silent Human Dignity and Personhood Human Dignity and Personhood Beginning of Life Beginning of Life End of Life End of Life Enhancement of Life Enhancement of Life Same-Sex Marriage Same-Sex Marriage