RESISTANCE AND LIBERATION IN BIOETHICS
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AS A NEW CHANCE FOR AN ECUMENICAL APPROACH
Keywords:
Anthropocentrism, Artificial Life, Biotechnology, Intercultural TheologyAbstract
The Reformation argued for a God humiliating himself and for the intercommunication of divine and human nature in Christ as the true God and the true Man. Today Synthetic biology opens up a new discussion about the interconnectedness of natural and artificial life. It questions whether the human desire to break our limits makes us playing God. The article argues for an understanding of a link between the given life of created humans and the reconstructed life of co-created artefacts for two reasons. Firstly the Christian image of God is far away from a person competing with scientists. Secondly we can understand the communicatio idiomatum as a figure picturing the inseparability of human and divine nature. The history of this figure shows that the bioethical question is an ecumenical one. Churches need to address the issues of synthetic biology mentioning that it is neither a redemptive nor a demonic practice as such.
References
M.M. Thomas, “Message of the World Conference on Church and Society (1966),” in Madathilparampil M. Thomas , Paul Abrecht , ed., Christians in the Technical and Social Revolutions of our Time. Official report, with a description of the conference by M. M. Thomas and Paul Abrecht. World Conference on Church and Society, Geneva, July 12-26, 1966.
Paulos Mar Gregorius, “M.M. Thomas. A Tribute on His 70th Birthday,” http://jtmmt.blogspot.de/2008/08/m-m-thomas-tribute-by-paulose-mar.html.
Helmut Thielicke, “Ist die Technik teuflisch?” in Helmut Thielicke, ed., Der Einzelne und der Apparat. Die Freiheit des Menschen im technischen Zeitalter, Hamburg, 1964.
Paul Tillich, “The Logos and Mythos of Technology (1927).
J. Mark Thomas, ed., The Spiritual Situation in Our Technical Society, Macon, Ga: Mercer Univ. Press 1988.
East Asia Christian Conference (EACC), “In Christ all Things Hold Together”: Statements and findings from the Fourth Assembly of the East Asia Chritian (sic) Conference, EACC, Bangkok, 1968.
Joseph R. Fiksel and Vincent T. Covello, “The Suitability and Applicability of Risk Assessment Methods for Environmental Applications of Biotechnology,” in Joseph R. Fiksel and Vincent T. Covello, ed., Biotechnology Risk Assessment: Issues and Methods for Environmental Introductions, Oxford: Elsevier, 2013.
Martin W. Bauer, John Durant and George Gaskell, ed., Biotechnology in the Public Sphere: A European Sourcebook, London: NMSI Trading Ltd, 1998.
Philipp Aerni, “Stakeholder Attitudes toward the Risks and Benefits of Agricultural Biotechnology in Developing Countries: A Comparison between Mexico and the Philippines,” Risk Analysis 22, 6 (2002).
Philipp Aerni, Potential Impact on Rice Markets in Southeast Asian Countries. Zurich, PhD dissertation, Zurich: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/34922269_Public_Acceptance_of_Transg enic_Rice_and_its_Potential_Impact_on_Future_Rice_Markets_in_Southeast_Asian_ Countries?el=1_x_8&enrichId=rgreq-89eb5d009208ba6a86a06627ce7caf82XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzEwOTQ3NzMxO0FTOjIwODY5MzMwNTA 1NzI5MEAxNDI2NzY3NzY5OTk4.
Joel Rocamora, Breaking through: The Struggle within the Communist Party of the Philippines, Manila: Anvil Pub., 1994.
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/_data/assets/pdf_file/0004/3793/ synthetic_ zbiology_report.pdf.
Ronald S. Cole-Turner, “Synthetic Biology: Theological Questions about Biological Engineering,” in David Albertson and Cabell King, ed., Without Nature?: A New Condition for Theology, New York: Fordham University Press, 2010.
Ronald S. Cole-Turner, “Is Genetic Engineering Co-creation?” Theology Today 44, 3 (1987).
Waclaw Szybalski, “In Vivo and in Vitro Initiation of Transcription,” in A. Kohn and A. Shatkay, ed., Control of Gene Expression and Discussion, New York: Plenum Press 1974.
Virgil Rerimassie et al., “Discourses on Synthetic Biology in Europe, India and China,” Science and Technology Governance and Ethics, Cham / Heidelberg et al.: Springer International Publishing, 2015.
Vijai Singh, “Recent Advancements in Synthetic Biology: Current Status and Challenges,” Gene 535, 1 (2014).
http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/ Synthetic_biology.pdf
Ryan McDaniel and Ron Weiss, “Advances in Synthetic Biology: On the Path from Prototypes to Applications,” Current Opinion in Biotechnology 16 (2005).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2005.07.002; W. Wayt Gibbs, “Synthetic Life,” Scientific American 290
Vandana Shiva, “Biopiracy: The Theft of Knowledge and Resources,” Redesigning Life: The Worldwide Challenge to Genetic Engineering, New York: Zed Books 2001.
Joachim Boldt and Oliver Müller, “Newton of the Leaves of Grass,” Nature Biotechnology, 26 (2008).
Sheila Jasanoff, J. Benjamin Hurlbut and Krishanu Saha, “CRISPR Democracy: Gene Editing and the Need for Inclusive Deliberation,” Issues in Science and Technology 32, 1 (2015).
Christiane Burmeister and Robert Ranisch, “Jahrestagung des Deutschen Ethikrats 2016: Zugriff auf das menschliche Erbgut. Neue Möglichkeiten und ihre ethische Beurteilung,” Ethik in der Medizin, 29, 2 (2017).
Peter M. Scott, Anti-Human Theology: Nature, Technology and the Post-Natural, London: SCM, 2010.
Ronald S. Cole-Turner, “Is Genetic Engineering Co-Creation?” Theology Today 44, 3 (1987).
Thomas Menamparampil, “Becoming Bridge-Builders in Periods of Transition: Towards a Communion of Civilizations in our Times,” Prajna Vihara 13, 1-2 (2012).
Wati Longchar, “Traditions and Cultures of Indigenous People: Continuity of Indigenous People in Asia,” working paper on the Indigenous People-Spirituality and Peace Forum 2007.
http://www.asiapacificymca.org/joomla/index.php? option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=67&format=raw
Wati Longchar, Returning to Mother Earth: Theology, Christian Witness and Theological Education. An Indigenous Perspective, Kolkata: PTCA/SCEPTRE, 2013.
Anselm Kyongsuk Min, The Solidarity of Others in a Divided World: A Postmodern Theology after Postmodernism, London: A&C Black, 2004.
Mathew Illathuparampil, “A Theology of Technology: Prospective Sketches,” Asian Horizons 10, 1 (2016).
Peter Dabrock, “Playing God? Synthetic Biology as a Theological and Ethical Challenge,” Systems and Synthetic Biology 3 (2009).
J. Craig Venter Institute Seeks Monopoly Patents on the World’s First-Ever Human-Made Life Form, ETC Press Release, 2007.
Philip Hefner, Technology and Human Becoming, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
Thomas Menamparampill, “Technology Opens out an Exciting Path to the Humans to Become Co-creators in the Universe,” Asian Horizons 10, 1 (2016).
