The Sacred Gift of Life: Orthodox Christianity and Bioethics

John Breck

Published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press in 1998-01-01

This work provides an evaluation of bioethical issues from the perspective of Scripture and Orthodox tradition. Beginning with a discussion of present-day bioethical dilemmas, it provides an overview of major theological themes that condition any Orthodox response to issues involving creation and termination of human life. The following chapters then take up questions concerning the meaning of sexuality and the morality of various forms of sexual behaviour; the question when does human life being?; a moral assessment, from an Orthodox perspective, of procedures such as abortion, in vitro fertilization and genetic engineering (including human cloning); and end of life issues, including the meaning of suffering, euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and care for the terminally ill.

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