Explain the reasons why there is a moral debate about the use of embryos.
10 marks
There are many reasons why there are moral debates about the use of embryos. In this essay, I
aim to look at the concern over when life begins, the concern that reproductive use of embryos is
unnatural and the concern that PGD devalues the lives of those already living with disabilities.
The first reason why there is a moral debate about the use of embryos is the concern over when
life begins. Many Christians, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, believes strongly that
life begins from the point of conception and is a precious gift from God – this highlights that the
destruction of life at any point is fundamentally wrong.
‘’So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and
female he created them, And God blessed them’’ Genesis 1:26-30
This quotation comes from the Genesis. Since, Christians belief in the Sanctity of life they believe
that the embryos life has been willed by God and created in the image of God (‘imago dei’). As a
resilt of this, God created all humans and we must treat all humans with he same respect and
rights as any other human being. Furthermore, as IVF inevitably results in the destruction of
embryos, it cannot be permitted as this is equal to murder. However, many other Christians are
more permissive about the use of embryos. These Christians would argue that while an embryo
is ‘alive’ from the moment of conception, it is until the 14-day primitive streak develops: Still
only potential life
(While) “the embryo already has the same human dignity as a person who has been
born…the moral status of the human embryo is not established until sometime into its
biological development after conception.’’
2006 General Assembly of Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland tend to view the destruction on embryos as permissible as many would
argue that nature provides surplus eggs and sperm and that to use these to help infertile couple
is a good thing.
This is a reason why there is a moral debate about the use of embryos because many Christians
view an embryo as a human from the point of conception and that embryos for IVF is as morally
concerning as other uses as this can lead to the destruction of embryos.
10 marks
There are many reasons why there are moral debates about the use of embryos. In this essay, I
aim to look at the concern over when life begins, the concern that reproductive use of embryos is
unnatural and the concern that PGD devalues the lives of those already living with disabilities.
The first reason why there is a moral debate about the use of embryos is the concern over when
life begins. Many Christians, especially from the Roman Catholic Church, believes strongly that
life begins from the point of conception and is a precious gift from God – this highlights that the
destruction of life at any point is fundamentally wrong.
‘’So God created man in his own image, in the image of God, he created him; male and
female he created them, And God blessed them’’ Genesis 1:26-30
This quotation comes from the Genesis. Since, Christians belief in the Sanctity of life they believe
that the embryos life has been willed by God and created in the image of God (‘imago dei’). As a
resilt of this, God created all humans and we must treat all humans with he same respect and
rights as any other human being. Furthermore, as IVF inevitably results in the destruction of
embryos, it cannot be permitted as this is equal to murder. However, many other Christians are
more permissive about the use of embryos. These Christians would argue that while an embryo
is ‘alive’ from the moment of conception, it is until the 14-day primitive streak develops: Still
only potential life
(While) “the embryo already has the same human dignity as a person who has been
born…the moral status of the human embryo is not established until sometime into its
biological development after conception.’’
2006 General Assembly of Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland tend to view the destruction on embryos as permissible as many would
argue that nature provides surplus eggs and sperm and that to use these to help infertile couple
is a good thing.
This is a reason why there is a moral debate about the use of embryos because many Christians
view an embryo as a human from the point of conception and that embryos for IVF is as morally
concerning as other uses as this can lead to the destruction of embryos.
