What is the christian religious view on surrogacy? for or against and why?

Question

What is the christian religious view on surrogacy? for or against and why?

Answer 1

I think firstly, you must understand that there is no "christian "view on any subject. Christian churches are as different as day and night on most if not all subjects.  I think the better question is ....how does surrogacy sit with an individuals own moral compass.   I personally don't have an issue with it as long as it is done in a decent, well thought out way within a viable relationship.  Others might argue that it has an element of playing god and a taint of indencency as it would involve conception outside of a marriage.

Answer 2

the bible was not for it unless the death of a parent, many of the old testament men had many wivws when God clearly intended to only have one, He winked at it sort of, man didn't know better but man can be funny cretures, I for one could not emagine haveing more than one wife but would rasie more than one child that was not mine if it;s parents died and the child had no close famliy.

Answer 3

Your question should really be- What does the Bible have to say about surrogacy. The Bible says that the marriage bed should be undefiled. So I would argue that this would defile the marriage bed. There are examples in the Bible where a similar thing was tried with disasterous results. The main one being Abraham and Sarah. God had promised Abraham a son and when this didn't happen, Abraham found a surrogate mom- Hagar. When Hagar's son Ishmael was around 13, Sarah finally  had a son in her old age. (Nearly 100 yo) His name was Issac and he was the beginning of the nation of Israel. Ishmael was the beginning of the Arab nations. There has been fighting between their descendents in the Middle East ever since.

So from this example, I would have to say that having a surrogate is the same as opening Pandora's Box.

Answer 4

I cant offer you heavy reliigious opinion as Ive never studied this topic intently, but I have to say that I think it is not indecent or defiling a marriage.  You are not having s*x with the man.  You are accepting a complete embryo that is not "made" with your egg.  With a surgocy pregnancy, my friend is about to have one, they will not allow you to use your own egg.  The egg will come from the female of the couple and the sperm from the male.  If either is sterile, a donor (not you) will be used.  I dont see how that is unholy.  No one is engaging in an affair.

For the record, I also dont think it is murder to create several embroys and implant them.  Usually, they will attempt to fertilize 3-5 eggs.  They will then take those that sucessfully became embroys and implant all of them.  This is because not all will sucessfully implant.

If you need true Christian guidance, that best fits your beliefs, why dont you talk to your  pastor?  I think he/she would best be be able to guide you, beyond your own (as another writer wrote) "moral compass."

You should also think about your own needs.  Will you be able to carry a baby to term then give it to its parents?  It would feel, I believe, similar to giving a baby up for adoption.  Even though the DNA is not yours, it is still a baby that grew inside you for 9 months.  That would be very hard I think.  Have you had any other pregnancies?  I think it would be hardest to give up the surgote baby if this was your first full-term pregnancy.

I think this is a decision that goes beyond christian views and is something you really need to think long and hard about.  

Also, if you are married, how does your husband feel about this?  He may have an opinion too.  Remember that he'll have to be there for the mood swings!  And there wont be a reward for all your very very hard work at the end of those 9 months.  You may have to change your lifestyle: you will have to eat right, not drink, smoke, or do drugs.  

Additionally, most surgocy pregnancies are multiple gestations (twins or more.)   You are, therefore, at an increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and other complications.  Pregnancy is not as easy as its ment to look on tv and in the movies.  Labor and delievery is even harder.  It doesnt end there either, you'll have to deal with the pain of your milk drying up.  Your body will not understand that this was not "your" baby and will not know enough to not prduce milk.

I'm not saying you shouldnt be a surrogate, becasue I do believe that is a very very unselfish act, but I am saying to think long and hard and go beyond outside views and look to yourself for the right answer.