First off, I do believe in God, and I'm Christian. I was wondering: How do the Christians on Mingle2 feel about stem cell research?

For those who don't know what it is, here is a summary. Stem cell research is the replacing of old cells with new ones. As we get older, our cells produce less and less until we eventually either have a degenerative medical condition or sometimes pass away. A 20 year old will have more cells than an 80 year old. In this case, someone who has been unable to walk, may be able to again. The goal would be for the younger cells to replace the old cells and hopefully walk again. This can cure many things. Today, it is not 100% successful but may be someday. Research is legal in USA, but not treatment.

I'm not talking about cloning humans...that's pretty weird. The stem cell research I'm speaking of is referred to as "theraputic." The simple process of reparing cells that are non-curable to this day. We actually do a form of stem cell research commonly known as "bone marrow transplant."
---
My Opinion:

I'm all for it. A man I talked to while on vacation was in a wheelchair, he can still feel his legs, but lost the ability to walk only 3 years ago. He went to Mexico and paid $30,000 to have some stem cells injected to hopefully let him walk again. He was advised there was no guarantee. The injections were unsuccessful. It really hit me hard. Its amazing that anyone would pay all the money they had just to walk again.

I am attending college currently and may look into a genetics field after obtaining a PHD. There have been Christians protesting about it. They claim the scientists are playing "God." Its not since we currently do it with bone marrow. I would love to see the look on their face when a loved one is impacted with an incurable condition. They would put that protest sign down so fast, I guarantee it. I hope it gets FDA approved. It could change the world. If I did actually become a geneticist later on in life, I would want to change the world. Why? Because I wouldn't mind speaking on a podium upon a large audience and say, "I'm playing God, now what?" That's how strongly I stand behind this subject.

What do you think? What is your opinion?

Yahshua healed people and the scribes got upset and said thier are 6 days to heal but not on the sabbath.

Yahshua replied is Yahweh not good and anything that is good comes from Yahweh?

So this child has come to me on the sabbath to be healed and I can do this then it is good to heal him on the Sabbath.

This how I look at it. If modern medicine can heal a person then we should get out of the way and not say this is not a day for healing......Blessings...Miles

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

"Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." Psalm 37:5 (NLT)

I find stem cell research unneccessary. I believe in the power of prayer and the charismatic giftings of the Holy Spirit through the power and for the namesake of Jesus Christ.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV)

One quid pro quo, before I get lumped into the category of Christian 'protesters' waving signs, allow me qualify. I do not see the research itself as 'playing God.' Cloning would be. But stem cell research itself is not 'wrong.' I DO, however, still find the practical application of it unnecessary because I feel that nothing is outside of God's power. And I have been faced with loved ones who had reportedly "incurable conditions," and have myself witnessed miracles in them through the power of prayer and healing--complete restoration, actually. So, I do not believe in the possibility of an "incurable condition." All things are possible with God.

I see science as a tool. I see nothing in science as inherently evil or bad.
If stem cells can cure someone then I say let them. I have a relative with a serious disease and If Stem Cells can cure him then so be it. Same goes for cloning. If cloning a new body for someone who was a quadrapalegic or parapalegic would work, im all for it.

Its what we do with it that matters. God gave us humans awesome minds and powers to do all sorts of things. If we do these things to glorify him, who are we to say God doesnt want to work through stem cells or cloning.
I know its a straw-man argument to use, but its how I see it. Nowhere in the bible is it forbidden for Science to do anything. We could argue that our advances didnt exist then and that would be true. But I figure we are in a quandry over science alot of times due to the biblical silence on issues such as Stem Cells. Because such things did not exist.

I guess we all have to pray about it and go in th direction God leads. After all he's the only one that would know for sure.

This is an issue I am torn on actually. To put my opinion in perspective, I must explain that I was raised in a combination family of southern baptists and jehovahs witnesses. I took some things from both which spoke to my heart. The JW side of the family believes that we are not to have the blood of another in our own bodies...so transfusions and things of that sort are a no no. I tend to concur but it is a sensitive issue when you or someone you love is dying. I would be comfortable if the cells were from my own body,,but not someone elses.

I do admire greatly and hope I would have the strength to have the complete faith of prayer to help heal me in such a situation but I certainly understand and dont hold it against those without such strength. I could be one of them one day,,,,,it would have to be a tough decision to make

Most Xians I know, focus on the issue of , for example, see John XXIII missive on the of Jesus and many refuse transfusions

Most christians are objecting specifically to embrionic stem cells being used claiming life starts at the embrionic stage if not earlier.Its a pro life position.Most of these christians will encourage cord blood research from the ambilical cord after delivery as these cells will be discarded anyway.The more conspiracy minded christians believe there is an agenda to cheapen life being perpetrated by the scientific and pro choice community.The agressive lobbying for tax payers money to fund the research empassions and emboldens the pro life community and it brings together fiscal and social conservatives.In reality ,That is in my opinion,the funding is a red herring being used by the pro lifers to try and strengthen their argument in a society that couldn't care less what the bible says.The end does not justify the means (bering false witness) and more importantly it doesn't fool anyone.It ruins their credability.

There has been progress in cord blood research while embrionic research is still largely theoretical due to unavailability of cells.
For thet reason its only a matter of time before cells are cloned and research begins.Then and only then comparative research can be done.

Its my opinion that as a christian myself christians would be wise to practice some humility and refrain from claiming self righteousness on this issue even if they can quote chapter and verse.This approach is obnoxious and proving unaffective.With thoughtfullness one can consider the value of having life more abundantly through healing as well as appreciating the miracle of life in its simplest form.

Thanks for letting me vent and when you get a chance be less like Ned Flanders and more like Jesus God Bless!!

The whole stem cell debate is clouded up with lies and misinformation.

Here is what you need to know:

There are two types of stem cell research: Adult and Embryonic.

Research with Adult stem cells is very promising and has resulted in quite a few cures, including allowing the paralyzed to walk again.

Embryonic research has never produced a cure. There are many problems with embryonic stem cells including rejection and fast growth. They have found that embryonic stem cells that are injected into a patient will grow rapidly and produce tumors instead of the desired tissue.

Both forms of research are legal in the US.

The US Government had a ban on government funds being used for embryonic research aside from a small number of embryonic cell lines.

Hey bud, I think for most Christian's are opposed to the harvesting of stem cell's from embryo's, I am pro-life thus the idea of embryo's being farmed is horrific, if stem cell's are taken from waste material (such as umbilical cord's) I think very few would be against it.

its asin.








No soup for U!
No soup for the heathens!

I agree, using my body to heal my body is fine,, using others bodies is more controversial for me(man is far too corrupt to start down that road, in my opinion, it would be like eating from the tree of knowledge all over again,, some things are not our domain).

I too dont want embryo's being used because i believe life begins at conception. Any other way they can get them i have no problem with.
blessings.

You should check out this website:
http://www.abigon.com/miraclestemcellheartrep.html
Author of this book is Christian Wilde, do a search on his name.

Also, Im in a Network Marketing Company called StemTech.
www.stemtechbiz.com
Their NATURAL product increases the bodies own production by up to 30%. A lot cheaper than 30,000. It just takes a few months for production to start.

The revolution is already going on. We don't have to wait for science and the embryonic issue can be avoided. God put everything we need into nature.

This IS the future of medicine.

Matthew 5 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I take it as the soul is the most important thing and as far as I know there are no soul stem cells.

Given our misinformed bloody history, I'd say we've come along way to be able to be talking about this.

I'm not a fan of any type of young human or pre-human research. We have learned more from an adult 31 year old mother of 5's cells (HeLa cells) in leaps and bounds over any contemporary stem cell research.

To not help someone who is sick is cruel.

I think this one gets turned around sometimes due to a fear that the research will be used for less than altruistic means. Any person who is looking at this from a biblical point of view would find many reasons to support the idea that, used in medicine, stem cells would be a good thing.
However, there are two arguments made that I know of. I included an argument against both of these quibbles.
1: That we will take the research and use it to make diseases for warfare, or to assist in troop cloning.
Response: It is not the tool that does evil, but the one who
wields it. The research is not to blame for this one!
2: That god has the sole provision over life, and that we should not create it.
Response: God did create the life, he created the original
cells, and he created the ability for us to research this.

As to using embryos... that's just not cool. Unless someone is seriously collecting them upon a woman's cycle... and again... not cool!

The Lord said wait for his return. "Let he who is holy be holy, let he who is filthy be filthy." The Revelation to John.

Why should a Christian concern himself with the science of this world if this world is passing away and all things in it? Nanotechnology might help repair the Beast's mortal wound! People what is the point?

Do you want to get caught without any oil in your lamp such as in the parable where the women are waiting for the door to be opened? Being concerned with things other than the bridegroom? Those left outside once the door is locked, the Lord will say to, "I never knew you."

Save the whales? Revelation prophecies all sea animals will die. Saving the whales is a waste of time. There is nothing we can do to stop it, no matter how much one cares about this earth.

We will be hated by all nations ... all nations. If this does not come true, Jesus is not a prophet. And you best believe he is! A true prophet is never wrong, because he does not speak from his own heart, he is repeating what he heard. And Jesus said this on several occassions, "I speak only what I have heard from the Father." Jesus was repeating what he heard from the all-knowing and all-seeing Ancient of Days.

Stem cells, nuclear bombs, computers, what difference does it make? We know have the knowledge to actually create a moving and talking image of the Beast. Don't concern yourself with any of this nonsense. Because that is exactly what it all is, worthless nonsense.

Why? Because only God is important, and nothing is more important than the One who created all things and can destroy all things, and anyone who tells you different, is just leading you away from Him.

Watch, Pray, Wait. The trumpet will sound and the Lord shall descend. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn.

Its our future ability to move forward into renewing nerves that have been damaged,,IF the stems come from a body that is dead, YES.
Use these just like we would for organs to help a living life live longer, or better...PEOPE WANT TO TRY and conect this to the abortion
anti-abortion issues...THAT would be the same as to say we should not donate our organs,,as we will be building hospitals to KILL people for their organs,,,,,we HAVEN'T YET!!!!