The biblical account of human beings “made in the image of God” implies that all human beings possess an inherent and inalienable dignity and worthiness. The book of Genesis also accords a special position to humans who are to be stewards – as they are the only created beings capable of comprehending and being concerned with the good of not only themselves but of the whole creation. There is humility in this responsibility: although humans are made in God’s image, we are not divine ourselves; we are creatures, not creators. The concept of dignity provides ethical guidance in answering the question of what we owe to those at the very beginning of life, to those at the end, to those with severe disability or dementia, and even to tiny embryos. Seeing human beings as created in the image of God means valuing other human beings in the way a loving God would value them.

Moral, ethical, and even religious discourse has not kept up with the accelerated and astonishing development of biotechnology. Questions of bioethics relate to the ethics of life itself–with the use of science, technology, and medicine to create, protect, prolong, or end life. The discussions in this session are expected to fall into the theological discourse on the sanctity of human life, the dignity of a person, and the classic understanding of body and soul. What are the ethical concerns or dilemmas of such technologies; are they harmful or helpful to human existence? Can the use of animals or human embryos for such research be justified? How do we respond to the extreme suffering of people near death? If biotechnologies can bring life to those who are suffering and vulnerable, could this be Divine Will to help people?

The Churcha session on ‘God’s Design for Life and Human Dignity: Practical Application of Bioethics’ will deliberate on the biological, ethical, and theological perspectives of God’s design for human life.