A Brave New World? An Introduction to Christian Biomedical Ethics
6/5, 20/5 – 3/6 (4 Tues, 7.30 pm @ Prayer Hall A-B)
Dr Roland Chia

In the past 50 years there have been a number of remarkable advances in bio-medical science and biotechnology, prompting many to call the twentieth century the ‘Bio-tech Century’. Bio-medical science will no doubt continue to develop in the 21st century both in terms of new research strategies and therapeutic applications. While some of these developments are to be welcomed, others have posed serious ethical concerns, particularly for Christians.

This course aims to survey some of the issues surrounding bio-medical research and practice, especially those directly related to Singapore. In the past few years, the Bioethics Advisory Committee has issued consultation papers on a number of important issues for the purpose of public consultation. This seminar will discuss some of these issues and the official responses of the National Council of Churches.

The seminar will address the following:
• A Christian theological framework for bio-medical ethics
• Issues relating to the beginning of life: prenatal genetic screening, IVF
• Issues relating to the end of life: abortion, euthanasia
• Issues relating to bio-medical research: cloning, stem cell research

About the Speaker

Dr Roland Chia is Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Lecturer in Historical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Theological College. He has published several books including, Beyond Determinism and Reductionism: Genetic Science and the Person (2003) and Bioethics: Opportunity or Obstacle for the Gospel? (2005). Dr Chia, who served as theological consultant to the Bioethics Group of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, is a member of the Bioethics Committee of the National Council of Churches in Singapore.

To register, please email sacce@livingstreams.org.sg with your name, contact number, and email address.