Arguments Against Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a hotly debated topic in today’s political, ethical, and social arenas. Since its development, many have either renounced or championed this relatively new technology and for good reason. Genetic engineering is exactly what the name implies – a method of transforming the basic building blocks of life. This new door into the very fabric of life itself opens to reveal many potential benefits and cures to those with genetic diseases or malformations that drastically alter their quality of life, but it also reveals the potential for serious, irreparable damage to man’s very humanity. Among the loudest societal voices in this debate is the Christian Church. A vast number of people hold the Church to be the standard of moral right and wrong and as such, the Church’s opinions on many
While some are frightened and some are thrilled by this new frontier of science, one cannot argue that mankind is both curious enough and capable enough to desire to understand what exactly makes him human. It is this wonder that pushes one to discover and explore the intricate creation placed everywhere from unimaginably vast galaxies to the smallest of subatomic particles. Herbert W. Boyer, one of the most prominent genetic engineers and largely responsible for kick starting the field in the first place, said this regarding humankind’s curiosity: “Wonder is what sets us apart from other life forms. No other species wonders about the meaning of existence or the complexity of the universe of themselves.” God placed man on the earth as the crown jewel of creation and charged him with the exploration and care of the rest of the universe. This charge includes the understanding and exploration of the minutest details that makes one human and genetic engineering has opened the door to make it