In a debate which might be characterised by polarised viewpoints, claims and counterclaims of truth and of vested interest it seems to be important to acknowledge right at the beginning my starting point and the baseline views which inform my ethical take on this issue.
Firstly I am not a scientist. O-levels twenty something years ago have given me the barest inkling of the scientific terms and jargon, a far larger awareness of my own ignorance, but on the positive side a lively interest in what motivates a debate which is giving rise to such strong views. As a result this blog will not be about the science of GM farming. Where I venture into this area I will rely on the sources which I will quote and acknowledge. (Where I have misquoted or misunderstood them please let me know – as only that way do we learn.)
Having said what I am not let me now say what I am and where I am coming from. If you have read the ‘About me’ section on the right of this page you will have probably guessed that I am a Christian and a member of the Church of England (hopefully in the future I will be a ‘paid’ as well as a ‘paid up’ member!). I am also, although it frequently seems presumptuous to say it, a theologian. In thinking about what my theology could offer to this subject I am grateful to Celia Deane-Drummond who in her book Theology and Biotechnology, (p. 80, 1997) sets out her three theological premises, ‘belief in the goodness of God, the love of God for all creation and the idea of humankind made in God’s image.’ These three seem to offer a strong personal base line for my own thinking about this issue and I would like to presume to share them. On to this baseline however I would like to add the belief that the natural world is a past and continuing project of God’s creation. This project is now more than at any point being radically affected by our abilities to permanently and fundamentally alter the genetic make up of species. The speed, permanence and far reaching nature of these changes make it inevitable and essential that strong views should be raised and aired by all who will be touched their effects.
Why think about GM farming?
Why is it so important to talk about the ethics of GM farming?
OK, lets keep this simple (to start with at least!).
· We need to eat to survive.
· Methods of producing food are changing – fast?
· Large areas of the world are struggling to produce enough nutritional food to feed their people.
· GM farming offers a way to develop and produce crops that can survive in conditions that traditional crops cannot.
· GM farming also offers crops which will grow containing more of the essential vitamins specifically lacking from the diet of the most nutritionally deprived in the world.
· Even in our relatively easy climate in the UK crops are produced using vast amounts of herbicide and pesticides.
· GM farming promises to develop and produce crops that are resistant to pests and diseases – thus reducing the need to chemical eradication of these problems.
OK – so what is the problem?
· Almost all of the above statements can be questioned (at least in part).
· There are huge, much disputed questions about the effects of genetic modification on the environment and on those who eat the crops produced as a result.
· Views expressed by ‘experts’ in this field often rely on evidence which is discounted by those with opposing views.
· Much of the ‘evidence’ needed to make judgements about the safety or otherwise of this technology will not be fully know until well into the future.
So we are faced with choices:-
· Do we trust those who say that GM farming offers greater benefits than risks and allow progress with appropriate safeguards (do we know what these are?)?
· Do we refuse to trust the reassurances and reject the potential of GM farming and the benefits it might bring to all those whose circumstances give them much fewer choices in life and death?
· Do we seek to find out what we can, think about the information we are given, listen to the ideas and opinions of others who are thinking it through and come to ethically informed decision based on that process?
This final point is why I am thinking about GM farming. This is a subject which directly effects us now and increasingly in the future. I can read around and come to my own opinions, but those will be limited by my individual perspective. I invite you to contribute your perspective. It will be uniquely valuable because it is uniquely yours. Maybe together we can come to an understanding which will feed the opinions and choices both of ourselves and others. Now that really could be Bread of Life!
Thank you for your time and interest. I look forward to reading and responding to your thoughts. Helen.
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2 comments:
Well Done Helen for getting started.
If we are to believe that God gave us free will, then doesn’t that mean that God wants us to be part of the creative process and that part of the fun for God is to have relinquished total control and to wait and see what happens. Therefore should Genetic Modification simply be a part of the creative process alongside the selective breeding that has already given us our favourite food products and pets. (But if I find out who selectively bred sprouts…!) So should we be talking about responsible stewardship or is GM yet another way humans destroy God’s created order?
Like all these things, I think this blog will create more questions than answers – have fun and enjoy the ride everyone :-)
Hi Helen - well as usual time is limited and as I am off work with a bad back (hence logging on during the day) I have limited time before my already stiff neck, sticks in one position!!
Just a few thoughts that I have had after rapidly scanning your blog site:
1. I personally see GM as 'meddling' which is often seen as a bad thing. However, God and Jesus were often happy to meddle if the outcome of their meddling was positive. Therefore, is it ok for us to meddle to achieve positive results? If so, who dictates what is a positive result?
2. What are we trying to achieve through 'meddling'? If this is about man's ego then this motive is wrong. We may be made in God's image but that is not to say that we should try to be God and change what God has created.
However, if it is about securing the future of God's Kingdom on Earth and about feeding His sheep (us) then perhaps this is ok??
However, I do not believe that God would have made any mistakes in his Grand Design so maybe we need to delve deeper rather than just acting upon 'proved' solutions to this debate.
What else can be done?
Whatare the other options?
Is it that our current living practices are wrong and wasteful and that actually we shoudln't need to produce MORE but just re-distribute more fairly what we have?
As you can see, I have no answers and just lots of Questions! I also have very limited knowledge about GM issues and equally limited theological knowledge but hey - I've tried!!
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