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Stem Cells and Morality: A Pagan's View
Wiccans, Pagans and practitioners of Goddess religion have no organized authority to pronounce on moral issues. We are forced to rely on our own spiritual authority, our own interpretation of nature's lessons, and our common sense. With that disclaimer, I would guess that the vast majority of us would support stem cell research with its potential to alleviate disease and human suffering.
In nature, every potential is not realized. Tens of millions of sperm race so that one can fertilize an egg. That fertilized egg, that blastula of cells holding the potential to become all sorts of specialized cells, holds the potential to become a human being. But what makes a human is the union of that potential with a soul, that mysterious consciousness that comes in and out of embodiment.
When do soul and embryo unite? We say, nobody knows. Or rather, there's no set cosmic timetable when it happens. Some women feel the soul of their child hovering even before conception. Others report a moment when they feel the soul commit--maybe at quickening, maybe before. Others simply have no idea. The timing might be different for every pregnancy. How a soul comes into being is one of the great Mysteries.
But if I were going to be arrogant enough to speculate upon a Mystery, I would say this: A clump of cells in a petri dish might be a potential vehicle for a soul, but it is not yet human. It does not yet have the potential to come to life, and any stray soul that might happen to be attracted would, in our view, be very lightly attached. If that attachment is broken, it would simply look for a new vehicle. And if those cells can be used to alleviate suffering or improve the quality of life for another person, that may be their higher purpose.
So yes, let us pursue the research that might someday still the tremor, help the blind to see and the lame to walk. I would call that sacred work.
By
Starhawk
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March 18, 2009; 9:20 AM ET
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Posted by: Paganplace | March 18, 2009 4:37 PM
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"When do soul and embryo unite? We say, nobody knows. Or rather, there's no set cosmic timetable when it happens. Some women feel the soul of their child hovering even before conception. Others report a moment when they feel the soul commit--maybe at quickening, maybe before."
It's funny how the whole debate is cast in terms of those who believe that the 'holiest' view of where they choose to have an 'issue' ...is in fact, as mechanistic about the workings of Spirit as I can imagine one could *get.*
If IVF is used to make people more able to breed, even the byproducts are 'Human Life.' ...If they are used for queer people to have babies, they're called 'abominations' even if the exact same thing 'happens.'
I find it very arrogant of them to think we can actually control it like that.
I'd even say there's enough people walking around with no idea why, as it is. Certainly, in Wiccan traditions, there's little more sacred than joyfulliy inviting a soul into a new personhood, so to speak.
I think it takes fears inherent to a rather punitive world view to even want to try and 'force' it in the first place.
I notice that sometimes, it seems 'cowans' don't like the kids they *have* because they see them only as 'clay to be molded' ...and not souls in their own right, invited into their lives. As family.
Frankly, when I think of my stepdaughter, I feel more that I was invited into *hers.* :)
Posted by: Paganplace | March 18, 2009 2:13 PM
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And, just for another fun fact, this is a modern myth, of sorts:
"In nature, every potential is not realized. Tens of millions of sperm race so that one can fertilize an egg."
It's a very compelling metaphor to these people, but the reality is actually, not unlike football. (You know, from the smell, that's not inappropriate) In fact, not all sperm cells compete with each other, ....in fact, it's more like the most of them 'block' and others do other things.
The Western myth about it is raw competition, long after it's observed that that just ain't the case.