Going In-Depth: Hitting the Books

General Religious Ethics and Genetics:

Perterson, J. C. (2001). Genetic Turning Points: The Ethics of Human Genetic Intervention. Grand Rapids MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

--Peterson's comprehensive textbook on the current genetic research, practices, and hot button issues is laid out for classwork study and progression, but it serves just as well as a one-stop source for almost any topic concerning religious ethics and genetics. The text provides a keen understanding of both the scientific and the ethical/theological aspects of the issues, supplemented with Christian (both Catholic and Protestant) resources, taking time to layout the history, traditions, and cultures attitudes that sets up the framework for later analysis of specific subjects. The four main units are Genetic Research, Genetic Testing, Genetic Drugs: Adding Gene Products to the Body, and Genetic Surgery: Changing Genes in the Body.

Peters, T. (2002). Playing God?: Genetic Determinism and Human Freedom. (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.

--This book sets a theological basis before focusing right in on several areas that have been up for research and debate in recent years and the arguments and how they they tie into core religious belies about the nature of man as God's creation and to what extent man many tamper with what has been genetically "predetermined." Chapters include: Playing God with DNA; The Crime Gene, Stigma, and Original Sin, The So-Called Gay Gene and Scientized Morality; Should We Patent God's Creation?; The Question of Germline Intervention; The Cloning Controversy; The Stem Cell Controversy; and The Theology of Freedom.

Jonsen, A. R., Veatch, R. M., & Walter, L. (Eds.). (2007). Source Book in Bioethics: A Documentary History. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.

--Here is the book for primary source documentation on the legal policy battles surrounding the following five areas: Research involving human subjects, Death and dying, Human genetics, Human reproductive technology, and Changes in the healthcare system. The book itself is a compilation of original text documentation, including the Rulings on Baby M and Karen Quinlan, the Baby Doe Regulations, and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. Note: Not a source for general information, explanation, or analysis.

Genetics and Specific Religions:

Childress, J. F. (2001). Christian ethics, medicine and genetics. In Robin Gill (Ed.), The Cambridge companion to Christian ethics (pp. 261-276). New York : Cambridge University Press.

--Childress's article provides an excellent overview article from a leading authority in the field of Christian bioethics. Since a majority of U.S. based literature on religious ethics and genetics, it is helpful to have a good historical and theological basis, such as is given here, to understanding more specific and complicated texts.

Atighetchi, D. (2007). Islamic bioethics : problems and perspectives. New York : Springer.

--Focusing on the effects in Muslim countries of new genetic technologies and practices, such as cloning, organ transplants, and in vitro fertilization, the book compares and contrasts the theological positions of "classic" Muslim law and contemporary religious authorities (based on the the Koran and the Shari’a) on these issues as well as examining reactions through legal statutes and regulations. The cultural reactions, attitudes, and behaviours of Muslims at both the group and individual level is brought into the discussion to give a well rounded view of how Muslim ethics has been applied to emerging genetic and possibly how it will adapt to similar changes in the future.

Mackler, A. L. (2003). Introduction to Jewish and Catholic Bioethics: A Comparative Analysis. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.

--A clear and readable analysis of two of the "major moral players" in most genetics controversies. The delineates the issues through each group and explains how the two theological traditions often reach the same conclusions for varying points of reference or in some cases, how they reach different conclusions.

Keown, D. (2006). Buddhism and Bioethics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

--Includes chapters on Embryo Research; Fertility Control; Humans, Animals, and Persons; Embryo Loss and Twinning; and When Does Life Begin? which outline Buddhist theological perspectives and practices.

Specific Topics:

Waters, B., & Cole-Turner, R. (Eds). (2003). God and the Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cells and Cloning. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.

--This anthology gives voice to Christian and Jewish positions across the denominational spectrum both with original articles by scholars and official statements by the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church in America, the United Methodist Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and the Rabbinical Council of America. These comparisons between positions can help to shed light on the nuances that distinguish the ethical positions of each group. Ronald Cole-Turner has also authored and co-authored several other important work on religion and genetics.