Human Cloning: Papers from a Church Consultation

 

What would a group of Lutherans say if they got together to discuss the prospect of human cloning? Human Cloning: Papers from a Church Consultation answers that question. The Consultation was held by the ELCA's Division for Church in Society, October 13-15, 2000. It gathered together a representative group of theologians, scientists, ethicists, doctors, pastors, counselors, and others to address from the viewpoint of faith the challenges posed by cloning for procreative, therapeutic, and research purposes. The result is a resource that can educate, facilitate deliberation, and help Christians think through what individuals and the church should be saying in this matter of social debate.

This 96 page book has been divided into seven sections for easy online reading and downloading. To view these files you will need the free program, Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you don't know if your computer has this common program, try clicking on one of the links below; if you receive an error message you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader free of charge. Alternatively, you may order a printed copy. Or, you may order multiple copies by visiting the AugsburgFortress Web site.

Download Chapters

Preface and Introduction 

  • Contributors
  • Preface
  • Introduction

Section One, The Science and the Public Debate 

  • Cloning: Can it be Good for Us?
  • Table Talk and Public Policy Formation in the Clone Age
  • Broadening the Church's Conversation

Section Two, Theological Resources 

  • Cloning: The Destiny and Dangers of Being Human
  • Cloning and Genetic Engineering: Human Mandate and its Context
  • Lutheran Theological Foundations for an Ethics of Cloning
  • Improving the Species: A Sermon

Section Three, Specific Questions
Should We Clone for Procreative Purposes? 

  • In Our Image: Procreative Cloning and Faith
  • Let the Church First be the Church: Thinking Theologically and Speaking Clearly about Reproductive Cloning
  • Reproductive Cloning

Section Three, Specific Questions
Should We Clone for Therapeutic Purposes? 

  • Cloning for Therapeutic Purposes: Ethical and Religious Considerations
  • Ethical Questions about the Uses of Embryos and Women in Therapeutic Cloning
  • Reflections from the Lab on Cloning for Therapeutic Purposes

Section Three, Specific Questions
What are the Legal Implications? 

  • Human Cloning: Law and Ethics

Section Four, Table Talk 

  • Threads from the Conversation
  • Consultation Participants
  • Index
  • Additional Resources
Ordering Print Copies

Single, complimentary printed copies of this resource are available by calling the Division for Church in Society's Resource Line at 800-638-3522 ext. 2996 and requesting it by title.

Multiple copies of this resource may be ordered from Augsburg Fortress Publishers by calling 800-328-4648 and requesting item #69-1550 (ISBN 6-0001-3165-8), $5.00 plus S/H.
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