Updated 12:47 pm.EST, Sun November 22, 2009

Opinion|Sun, Feb. 03 2008 12:48 PM EST

The State of Human Life

By Ken Connor|Christian Post Guest Columnist

There is much to be excited about in this development. So much, in fact, that two prominent scientists have already declared that the future lies with iPSCs. Professor Ian Wilmut, whose work in cloning originally produced Dolly the sheep, said in November that he was turning away from cloning in order to focus on the better prospects of iPSCs. Dr. James Thompson, who developed the first human embryonic stem cell lines, declared that the development of iPSCs was a huge step forward that would probably make the stem cell wars a distant memory: "Isn't it great to start a field and then to end it?"

The development of adult stem cells is a great technical boon that may allow the culture to move beyond the ethical questions of the stem cell debate, but as wonderful as this technology is, there are deeper questions which remain unresolved. Americans have been unwilling to impose strict moral limits on the progress of science. In fact, such efforts have been labeled foolhardy and fundamentalist instead of what they really are: careful and wise. But much evil has been done in the name of progress or science—one need only recount the terrors inflicted on Jews prior to World War II. The progress of science should be undergirded by sound moral and ethical principles.

Americans have abandoned a full understanding of human life. The destruction of human life for convenience through abortion has run rampant for over three decades. Advancing science is encountering new questions which may further undermine the definition and value of human life. Americans must rediscover the importance of human life before that life is completely trampled through their own selfish hunger for cures at any cost.

President Bush recognized this connection between human life and stem cell research in his State of the Union address. Regarding the adult stem cell development, he said, "This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life…. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves."

The President's remarks prompted all present to stand and applaud. His words were an important reminder that human life should be respected and protected at every stage of existence. A just society must never loose sight of that foundational principle.

___________________________________________________

Ken Connor is Chairman of the Center for a Just Society in Washington, DC and a nationally recognized trial lawyer who represented Governor Jeb Bush in the Terri Schiavo case. Connor was formally President of the Family Research Council, Chairman of the Board of CareNet, and Vice Chairman of Americans United for Life. For more articles and resources from Mr. Connor and the Center for a Just Society, go to www.ajustsociety.org. Your feedback is welcome; please email info@ajustsociety.org

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  • Tue Feb 05, 2008 7:12 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    they were saying the same things 100 years ago in the USA, wil be saying the same things 100 years from now...

    citsonga, I guess when God sent the prophets to bring the people back it was just for fun. When God said, in asmuch at these people draw near with their mouths, and praise me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me. He was only joking.
    I guess all the senseless murders aren't enough. I guess all unwed mothers and fatherless children aren't enough. I guess rampant drug use is not enough. I guess our kids illiteracy rate is not enough. So then tell me, when is it ok to declare a state of emergency? When the enemy is climbing over the wall or far off in the distance?

  • Tue Feb 05, 2008 6:07 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    they were saying the same things 100 years ago in the USA, wil be saying the same things 100 years from now...

    citsonga, I guess when God sent the prophets to bring the people back it was just for fun. When God said, in asmuch at these people draw near with their mouths, and praise me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me. He was only joking.
    I guess all the sense murders aren't enough. I guess all unwed mother and fatherless children aren't enough. I guess rampant drug use is not enough. I guess our kids illiteracy rate is not enough. So then tell me, when is it ok to declare a state of emergency? When the enemy is climbing over the wall or far off in the distance?

  • Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:42 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    holito8: "Our society is on the verge of a moral collapse."

    they were saying the same things 100 years ago in the USA, wil be saying the same things 100 years from now...

  • Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:38 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    bush said: "we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves."

    what a hypocrite. He doesn't have problems dropping bombs on people in Iraq and Afghanistan or being the governor of a state with the most executions, or approving the torture of prisoners or locking up for years, so-called enemy combatants, many of who are believed to be innocent without the opportunity for due process.....but, but we have to save the embryos...............LOL.......bush gives America a bad name.

  • Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:43 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Yesterday's news from Reuters:

    'Finnish patient gets new jaw from own stem cells'
    http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL012172320080201?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

    Yeah, the link is long, so Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V it.

  • Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:46 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    You've stated the truth.
    "Isn't it great to start a field and then to end it?"
    The devil needs only to start an ideal.

    President Bush recognized this connection between human life and stem cell research in his State of the Union address. Regarding the adult stem cell development, he said, "This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life…. And as we explore promising avenues of research, we must also ensure that all life is treated with the dignity it deserves."

    Scientist have proceeded forward as though there is no God. We have for far too long become depended on the wrong source. God is our source and our ever present help. Because we have lost focus, we have recieve or reward. Our society is on the verge of a moral collapse. People have been living as though there is no God or have no regard for Him.
    But the Bible states what will happen clearly.

    For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
    And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
    Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
    Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

    We can see this already happening. Removing God out of the equation is a fatal flaw.
    Scientist have promised an answer for all our woes. But they have failed because man cannot replace God.


    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

    Advancing science is encountering new questions which may further undermine the definition and value of human life. Americans must rediscover the importance of human life before that life is completely trampled through their own selfish hunger for cures at any cost.

    God said the desires of man are evil all the time. Man is selfish and thinking otherwise is foolish.
    If we continue to ignore God, we will become distestable in his sight.

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