Matters of Life
Key terms
• Artificial insemination – Sperm medically
inserted into the vagina to assist pregnancy
• Artificial insemination by donor (A.I.D)When a woman is made pregnant by the
sperm of a man other than her partner, but
not through having sexual relations with him.
• Artificial insemination by husband (A.I.H)When a woman is made pregnant by the
sperm of her husband, but not through
having sexual relations with him.
Key terms continued
• Blood transfusion – When a patient is given extra
blood as part of an operation
• Cloning – The scientific method by which animals or
plants can be created which have exactly the
same genetic make up as the original, because the
DNA of the original is used
• Embryology – The study of human embryos
• In vitro fertilisation (I.V.F)- A scientific method of
making a woman pregnant, which does not involve
sex. Conception occurs via sperm and egg being
placed in a test tube or petri dish
Key terms continued
• Surrogacy – Woman’s egg fertilised
artificially by another woman’s partner
• Surrogate mother – A woman who has
a baby for another woman
• Test tube baby – Term used for a baby
created outside of a woman’s body
• Transplant surgery – When someone
else’s organs are put into a patient
What does Christianity say
about ‘Matters of Life’?
• The development of medical
techniques for assisting conception
has led Christians to think carefully
about the moral connections between
marriage and having children. Years
ago, what was ‘natural’ was ‘right. It
seemed to follow that ‘unnatural’ was
judged as wrong. Today, things are a
little different – maybe?
What does Christianity say
about ‘Matters of Life’?
• Artificial insemination by husband – The Methodist
response relies not on how the sperm fertilises the
egg, but on whose egg is fertilised by whose sperm.
Methodists strongly support research into the causes
and remedies of childlessness
• The Catholic Church believes that life is a gift from
God and therefore, we do not have a right to have
children
• So….Is artificial insemination by husband accepted
or not?
What does Christianity say
about ‘Matters of Life’?
• Artificial insemination by donor –
– I n 1959, The Bishop of the Church of England
declared A.I.D. “morally wrong and socially
harmful”. God may have called people to a
childless marriage; that’s just the way it is. The
Orthodox Church, providing people act with a
“properly informed conscience” have no
objection to A.I.D. according to proper laws.
– Question – What do you think “properly informed
conscience” means
Surrogacy
 The Methodist Church does
not regard Surrogacy as
desirable. If the surrogate
mother conceives as a
result of intercourse with
the married father of the
child, an act of adultery
has taken place.
 It is difficult to see how the Church can approve of
this. If the egg is fertilised “in vitro”, the Churches all
say that there can be confusion about who the
biological parent is.
Surrogacy
• There may be less objection where the egg
is fertilised “in vitro” by the social father; but
even here, most Churches say that the
carrying of the child by the surrogate
mother can lead to severe emotional
problems on all sides.
• Question – Are there any situations when
you think surrogacy is an acceptable way of
having a child?
• If so – what ‘type’ of surrogacy?
Genetic Engineering and
Embryology
• Genetic experiments seem to be supported
by the Methodist Church if it could help
disabilities such as cystic fibrosis and
muscular dystrophy be cured
• However, there are potentially more evil
possibilities that could be explored through
embryo research and genetic engineering.
• Question – Should we really be seeking to
‘play God’?
• What are the moral issues here?
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• As you would probably expect, and as
with all religions’ views on different
moral issues, Islam seems to be divided
on ‘Matters of Life’
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• Children are an important part of
marriage, but some Muslims see fertility
treatment as ‘playing God’
• It is Allah who gives life and chooses
who will have children
• Infertility is a test of faith from Allah, to
be accepted as his will.
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• In Islamic countries, polygamy is a way of
dealing with female infertility
• Under Islamic law, called Shariah, a man
may have up to four wives
• Many Muslims are prepared to accept some
forms of fertility treatment and see the
developments of modern science as a
blessing from Allah
• Both A.I.H. and I.V.F. are acceptable,
providing the sperm comes from the
husband
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• Using the frozen sperm of dead or divorced
partners is NOT allowed, since in both cases
the marriage contract has ended
• Donation of embryos and surrogacy are
effectively adultery
• Surrogacy also separates the genetic
aspect of motherhood from the biological
• According to the Qur’an, the mother of the
child is the one who gives birth
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• Muslims have strong beliefs on the sanctity
of life but actually support embryonic
research because:• An embryo is not human until 40 – 120 days
• An embryo conceived outside the uterus
has no sanctity of life as it has not entered
the woman’s body
• It is wasteful to destroy unwanted I.V.F.
embryos
• It is good to use knowledge and skills given
by Allah to help others
What does Islam say about
‘Matters of Life’?
• There are conditions for embryonic research in
Islam. They are:• Research should be solely for therapeutic purposes
• Informed consent must be given by the donors
• Developing alternative methods of research should
be encouraged
• N.B. – Some Muslims are totally opposed to
embryonic research, believing in the absolute
sanctity of life from conception. They are also
concerned that the technology might be abused