THEOLOGY AND MEDICINE
The Bioethical and Therapeutic Dimensions of Faith and Science
Alba Iulia
May, 13-15, 2024

THE PARADIGMS OF CHRISTIAN BIOETHICS IN A „SOMATOCRATIC” SOCIETY

In the context of the ideological influences of today’s society and taking into account the effects of medical biotechnologies, Christian bioethics are faced with various challenges that must be overcome while remaining faithful to the values ​​of the Gospel and the patristic tradition. The principles of Christian bioethics must further emphasize the sacredness of human life and the importance of protecting it from conception up until natural death. These principles apply to public and academic debates about abortion, euthanasia, end-of-life medical treatments, and other health care and life extension issues. New scientific discoveries and the influence of new digital media challenge bioethics to problematize postmodern transhumanism, which reconfigures the landmarks of anthropology through mutations that can destroy the philosophy of corporeality and even the ontology of the person. Christian theology must maintain the emphasis on the dignity and value of each person as being the image of God called to His likeness and preach the uniqueness of each human being from the moment of conception until natural death. In this way, Christian bioethics opposes medical practices that degrade human dignity, such as cloning, genetic exploitation, and unnatural genetic manipulation, abortive methods or transhumanist human enhancement techniques. In terms of pastoral care and care for the sick, Christianity values ​​and involves in a philanthropical manner the community of the faithful in generating love for the neighbor and empathy towards him. According to the principles of Christian bioethics, every patient has the right to be fairly and impartially informed and to express his own will regarding the medical treatment applied to him for the recovery of his physical health and not to affect the integrity of his conscience or of the spiritual creed he professes. Christian bioethics recognizes and affirms the fact that physical, mental, and spiritual health are interconnected and interdependent and that man as a whole, both body and soul, needs, at the same time, both medical care and spiritual therapy.

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