Where is the line between whats murder and whats not?

Question

Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

I am specifically talking to those who are against it because it involves 'killing' an embryo.

Where do you draw the line in whats ok and whats not?

-Hormonal birth control... Do you know how it works? Its first measure is to try to prevent you from ovulating. But its second measure is to alter the cervical mucous and thin the endometrial lining making it impossible for an embryo to implant

Why is it ok to kill an embryo in a way that makes sure they never have a chance to survive, but not to do research on it?

-IVF... fertility treatment that almost always results in extra embryos that are other wise thrown in the trash... embryos dieing/being murdered because someone was so desperate to create life, even though their body said no, that they would risk killing embryos (the embryos that didnt implant, and the left over ones)

How is it ok to do this, and not ok to study the embryos that werent implanted that were already being destroyed anyways?

-Embryonic stem cells.... are only possible because of IVF. Im sure that some aborted fetuses have been used, but the mother has the right to donate a fetus to research the same as she has the right to donate the body of her 3 year old to research.

So, wheres the line? And why?

Answer 1

Murder is the illegal killing of another person. As none of these things are illegal and they do not involve the killing of what is generally accepted as a person, they are not murder.

Birth control prevents implantation of the blastocyst.

IVF also involves blastocysts.

Embyonic stem cells also come from a blastocyst. There is no use of aborted fetuses, as they have developed too far.

A blastocyst contains between 70 and 100 cells.

Humans have 100 trillion cells.

I don't see any problem with doing research.

Answer 2

you have a really good point, I've even considered birth control just as questionable as abortion yet I don't hold a firm stance on it, the question just sits in the back of my mind. Those are very gray areas that are hard to answer, why else is there such a division in beliefs? Some pro womens choice, others baby's rights to life. I'm clearly against abortion, but I use birth control. Artificial birth control like the pill have side effects, like severe depression which I experienced because it messes with your hormones. Now I just use the natural method of pulling out which the lowest form, but I'm married and financially stable enough if it were to just happen outside our planning. Anyway, about stem cell research, I don't think the controversy lies within the fact that they are studying embryos, but that it could be used for wrong purposes if put in the wrong hands. First of, they are trying to develop ways to clone organs, not whole individuals, just organs for other people who need transplants to live. I think that is a very noble cause, but I don't agree with cloning people, we aren't God. That seems to cross the line with me. Then to go further, what if some mad scientist decided to create our own little Island of Dr. Morau? That would really dive over the edge into playing God. We already are mixing breeds now that would never mix or breed in nature. The liger for instance, half lion half tiger. You are asking questions that will probably forever be argued about since there's no visible line, just a range, and everybody wants to draw the line in a different place within the range. I know there's a black and white answer, but only the one directly above can give you the definitive answer.  

Answer 3

There is no line except in the imagination of people who want to force their personal beliefs on others.

My definition of murder is taking the life of another, not the "possible" life.  Why is it okay to go to war and kill but not use something that starts a life to save more lives?  Why is it okay to destroy but not save?  We are a tragic animal, aren't we?

It boils down to religion.  By using embryos, we are coming close to "god-like" and that would undo the basic religion structure.  But the fanatics will promote the killing of people "in the name of god".  Go figure.  

Another downside people bring up about embryonic research is "embryo farms".  The imaginations of people picture "babies" being killed instead of cells being used.