Bioethics

Bioethics is a field of study that sits at the intersection of life (“bio”) and clarifying the nature of right and wrong (“ethics”). While some aspects of the field are quite technical, many of the bio-ethical questions we face are commonplace. For example:

  • Is abortion morally permissible? Why or why not?

  • Given that some drugs prevent fertilized eggs from implanting in the womb, which forms of conception control are morally permissible?

  • When should we end life support when someone appears to be dying?*

While it is possible to approach questions like these from a number of perspectives, the authors below seek truth and wisdom from the Bible, God’s gracious revelation to humanity.

*Between Life and Death by Kathryn Butler, MD (2 or 3): A comprehensive guide to end-of-life medical care.

*Why the Church Needs Bioethics by John F. Kilner (ed.) (3 or 4): A collection of essays written by experts in fields such as biblical and theological studies, pastoral studies, and the law. From birth to death and everything in between, they teach us to understand and apply God’s Word to a wide array of bioethical issues.

Christian Bioethics by C. Ben Mitchell, PhD & D. Joy Riley, MD (3 or 4): Two experts in bioethics discuss topics such as abortion, human dignity and dying, assisted reproductive technologies, and life-extension technologies—all from a Christian perspective.

Why People Matter by John F. Kilner (ed.) (4 or 5): “Why People Matter brings together noted ethicists to make a Christian case for human dignity. It offers a robust critique of five influential alternative positions, showing how a Christian view supports the crucial idea that people matter in a way other views cannot.”

* John Kilner, Why the Church Needs Bioethics, p. 11. I am grateful to him for recommending a number of books in this section.