The ethical principles in Christianity guide adherents to follow and do ‘what is good’ and reject the imitation of ‘what is evil’ as the teachings are heavily influenced by Christ’s commandment to love as God loves. The ethical principles which consist of the 10 commandments and the beatitudes provide towards the adherents the opportunity to provide an agape love that reflects that of Christ himself. This agape love demonstrates and paves the path for Christian adherents to model. In relation to the issues of abortion, euthanasia and stem cells, Christian adherents are often challenged to do “what is good” as within each of these important issues, there lies the presence of a direct threat to life given by God. There are however within the
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The fifth commandments explicitly states that “thou shall not kill”. Through this commandment, the ethical teachings become based as for Christians they are also reminded and taught of the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. It was within Christ’s humanity that he offered himself as the lamb of God and sacrificed his life for the world, although the mystery of Christ’s suffering and pain remains beyond normal understanding. Christians are challenged to understand their suffering in relation to the sacrificial love of Christ. This element of Christian ethical teaching is also reference when promoting the pro-life stance of Christian adherents. What pro-choice attempts to promote is a compassion that is overridden by the respect for the life made in God’s image. Christian adherents are challenged to live rather than promote “good” in their care and love for the …show more content…
This lies with regard to stem cell research and again the teachings of the Christian church reference the sanctity of life and as such the Christian church has no objections to research on adult stem cells as there is no destruction of life. Where there is an ethical challenge to the orthodox and catholic denominations occurs when embryonic stem cells are used in the process as acknowledging that life begins at conception and embryonic stem cell research destroys life. As referenced, the Anglican church of Australia differs with their definition of when life begins and therefore as stem cells are removed and the embryo destroyed before the 14th day after conception adherents of the Anglican Church face no moral question, beyond their personal conscience. As Catholics and Orthodox adherents are instructed that a life had begun their attitudes are presented with a clear challenge to refrain from supporting the destruction of life for possible scientific advancements even if the advertised benefits could allow for the crippled to
The fifth commandments explicitly states that “thou shall not kill”. Through this commandment, the ethical teachings become based as for Christians they are also reminded and taught of the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. It was within Christ’s humanity that he offered himself as the lamb of God and sacrificed his life for the world, although the mystery of Christ’s suffering and pain remains beyond normal understanding. Christians are challenged to understand their suffering in relation to the sacrificial love of Christ. This element of Christian ethical teaching is also reference when promoting the pro-life stance of Christian adherents. What pro-choice attempts to promote is a compassion that is overridden by the respect for the life made in God’s image. Christian adherents are challenged to live rather than promote “good” in their care and love for the …show more content…
This lies with regard to stem cell research and again the teachings of the Christian church reference the sanctity of life and as such the Christian church has no objections to research on adult stem cells as there is no destruction of life. Where there is an ethical challenge to the orthodox and catholic denominations occurs when embryonic stem cells are used in the process as acknowledging that life begins at conception and embryonic stem cell research destroys life. As referenced, the Anglican church of Australia differs with their definition of when life begins and therefore as stem cells are removed and the embryo destroyed before the 14th day after conception adherents of the Anglican Church face no moral question, beyond their personal conscience. As Catholics and Orthodox adherents are instructed that a life had begun their attitudes are presented with a clear challenge to refrain from supporting the destruction of life for possible scientific advancements even if the advertised benefits could allow for the crippled to