Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/75

Contributor - John Opmeer

Title - From Man To Superman

Topic - Science

THE NEW SCIENCE OF HUMAN ENGINEERING

WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE?

HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR ALREADY?

NEW POWERS ARE PUT INTO MAN'S HANDS. POWERS TO CONTROL HUMAN BEHAVIOUR. TO CHANGE MAN'S CHARACTERISTICS. TO CHOOSE THE SEX OF YOUR NEXT CHILD. TO DESIGN OUR OWN BIOLOGICAL FUTURE. ACCORDING TO SOME SCIENTISTS, WE HAVE GONE TOO FAR ALREADY. WHAT'S GOING ON? IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE LORD?

Scientists the world over are making tremendous progress in what is called genetic engineering. Genetics is the field of biology that deals with the hereditary material of living organisms. Genes are the elements in cells, including our own body cells, that carry all the hereditary characteristics.

They are the ones that determine the colour of our eyes, the shape of our nose, and the intelligence of our brains.

Experiments have been going on for years in this field of science. First on plants, e.g. trying to produce different varieties of roses. Then on animals, e.g. striving to produce faster-laying chickens. And now scientists have reached the point that they can begin to do the same for human beings! For the first time in the history of our planet, a living creature can undertake to design its own biological future. Recent advances have not only increased man's ability to deal with hereditary defects and diseases, but also his potential for producing 'superman'. A tremendous moral conflict is shaping up: where are we going to draw the lines?

The question may be raised at this point: what do we as Christians have to do with this issue? Let the scientists fight it out! But if we say nothing, we sell our birthright. We are facing huge moral problems, going far beyond what we had to face in the past. Scientists have not been trained to deal with moral problems. And they certainly would not want to take their decisions in a moral vacuum. An issue as explosive and far-reaching as the shape of man's future calls for man's best thinking and most enlightened moral choices. In our God-appointed role as salt of the earth and conscience of humanity, the Christian community is well advised to address itself with all its might to this powerful new issue.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Let's first see a little better what the problem is. Experiments are underway which are going to change radically man's ability to improve himself.

Within a few years time, the following will be possible: - electrically controlled moods; - choice of sex of your next child; - storage bank of genetically 'superior' human egg and sperm; - production of a test-tube baby.

Within twenty years: mechanical baby factory, i.e. life without birth, intelligent animals produced to perform man's manual labour; choice of hereditary factors for your offspring.

Some of this sounds like science fiction. But we are talking about trends that have already started. It is really immaterial if it will take twenty or thirty years. It will become possible!

The real problem or challenge will be: once we humans have certain possibilities, what use are we going to make of them? Who will decide? E.g., who is going to decide whether you will have children with larger brains? The most likely answer is: YOU are! We ourselves, in the future, can make decisions and will have powers that we used to reserve only for God. In other words: to some degree we can play God. But it will not always be a personal decision. In some areas, the government is going to decide. As soon as it becomes possible to chemically or electrically control behaviour, the government must decide whether it is going to use it for the protection of society, and how. It may use it on criminals, or perhaps even on political enemies!

Perhaps you say: all this is still way into the future, why bother with it now? I have difficulty enough coping with today! This may be so, but would you want to wait until the problems reach crisis proportion, and let your children deal with them then? We may never get the choice whether our next child will be a boy, with a smaller nose than yours, and with superior intelligence. But our children may very well be given such choices. Choices to make man according to an improved image.

MOOD CONTROL

And this is not all. What about mood control? Experiments have been carried out, first on animals, now also on mental patients. It is possible to produce moods in a human being ranging from happiness to hostility, by simple electric stimulation of certain areas of the brain. Who should decide to turn the switch on and Off? Does anyone have the right to control the mood of another person?

Some of these problems are not only future. During the 1950's we learned how to help mental patients through the use of drugs. For many people this has become a tremendous blessing. But for others it has developed into a monstrous problem: they did not have the discipline to resist the temptation to use these same drugs in order to have fantastic mind trips, and got hooked on drugs.

What do you think? Do we have the right to manipulate our own minds? To use mood-changing drugs? To inject criminals with drugs, so that they can no longer be aggressive? We are dealing here with a vast, new world, exciting, but also frightening.

HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR ALREADY?

All scientists involved in the new biology have a sincere desire to conduct research in order to improve man's lot, and to curb disease. But some are already asking themselves: "Have we gone too far?" Dr. James Watson, Nobel prize winner, has advised the United States government that certain types of genetic experiments should be made illegal. This was several years ago. No action has been taken so far. A few scientists have become so alarmed at the lack of responsible control in this field, that they have stopped doing research altogether. Dr. James Shapiro, a young scientist of the Harvard Medical School, has said, "the work we have done may have ban consequences over which we have no control; the use by government is the thing that frightens us." He has now given up his brilliant career in order to do social work!

IS THERE A WORD FROM THE LORD?

What is the Christian going to do with the new powers put into his hands? What is he going to say to the scientists, to the government? Is there any word from the Lord? Does God allow us to reshape human beings according to our likes and dislikes? Does God give us the right to manipulate human beings, including ourselves, through chemical or biological controls? How far are we allowed to go? Does it matter to God whether our love, joy and peace are fruits of the Spirit or the products of drugs?

Let us go back to the garden of Eden. "Eat of the forbidden fruit," God warns, "and you shall surely die." "Eat," promises the devil, "and you shall be like God". Are we reaching for the forbidden fruit again, in a whole new area? Are we again trying to play God?

As Christians we want to recognize that God's Word gives us the right to study and experiment. We have dominion over nature. But we should also acknowledge that there are limits. We are responsible for all we do to God, who created us in His image. We may not tamper with the image of God; we may not attempt to play God. Hidden in the grass is once again the serpent who says, there are no limits; go on; make use of your powers.

Man has a sinful nature, according to God's revelation. Attempts to improve upon man are a subtle rejection of God's prognosis, and of God's remedy: Jesus Christ. Also, God holds us responsible for our moods, behaviour, our will and the use of our mind. Any attempt to escape this responsibility can only add to our sin.

Extreme caution should be exercised, therefore, and strict government controls in this whole area are called for. However, this whole subject also gives us an opportunity to re-think the meaning of the abundant life in Christ. Alright, we may be able to add years to life, but God offers to add Life to our years. The abundant life ought not to be confused with a longer, shock-proof life. Man's nature needs to be changed, but man is powerless. Any attempt to do it ourselves will backfire. There is only one way, and that is the way God has provided, through Christ. Only He can change our personality, by sharing His nature with us. The more we think about the tremendous advances of science in the area of biological engineering, the more we appreciate the wonder and the glory of the new life offered to us by God in Jesus Christ.

Which way will man go? Will he reject God's offer, and try to improve his own nature? As far as we are concerned, we may use our God given freedom and dominion over nature to fight disease, but not to manipulate man's nature. And we have a new opportunity to point to God's promise of new birth for this life, and a new body for the next.

Please click the "Back" button of your browser to return to previous page.