This Mortal Flesh: Incarnation and Bioethics

by Brent Waters

Although a proper concern for health is compatible with Christian faith, recent and anticipated advances in extending human longevity are often based on philosophical presuppositions and religious values that are adverse to core Christian beliefs and convictions. In this solid text, theologian and ethicist Brent Waters reflects on the formation, practice, and meaning of the Christian moral life in light of selected bioethical issues. Theologically grounding his reflections on the doctrine of the incarnation, Waters considers issues such as biotechnology and physical/cognitive enhancement, reproductive technology, human genetics, embryonic stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. He also examines the "posthuman project," exploring what it means to be human in light of the denial of mortality.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Matthew Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent investigation into the challenges, limits, and joys of embodiment. Can get slightly repetitive as it is a collection of essays, but overall very much worth the read.

[Ci · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes no apology for taking on the bioethics from a Christian theological perspective. The question confronting bioethics in this book focuses on moral boundary in 'nature' and 'human nature'. Is aging and death a human tragedy, an unfair and unfulfilled destiny imposed by the corruptibility of organic matter, or it is an intrinsic part of life reconcilable through faith? Various philosophic ideas are explored, of which Simone Weil's 'Necessary vs. Good', Jurgen Habermas's questioning of 'artifact' in child-rearing, modern medicine's roles in prevention, cure and care, society's concern of natality versus mortality, individual human's ordering of desire and love in different perspectives, George Grant's examination of package-deal of technology shaping human nature itself, Arendt, Nietzsche and post modern key-thinkers on history and human society. Several key topics are explored in great detail: regenerative medicine, stem cell research, human gnome project, trans-humanism, art and language.
This book is a scholarly work directly responding to the questions of today's science and technology in the area of human life extension.

[Tyler Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as bioethics primers go, Waters gives a solid one. However, when you realize that his targeted focus is the body and formation rather than comprehensive survey, you see it’s real strength.