As a social conservative, I oppose researching embryonic stem cells. Since I am also very pro-science, most of my colleagues do not understand my perspective on this. I think science, which is simply testing what you think might be true in such a way that your tests can be easily replicated by others, is one of the best tools human beings have, but like any tool, it can be used for good or evil.

Some of my counterparts tend to link research of any type with being pro-science and opposition to research of any type with being anti-science. At least until you bring up research that would be politically incorrect. The same colleagues who do not understand why I oppose embryonic stem cell research are horrified by the thought of replicating Milgram's experiment or even applying scientific methods to testing the effectiveness of today's social programs. But we all have our inconsistencies.

Today I will explain why I oppose stem cell research and use my readers to see if there are any inconsistencies in my own thinking. I am staunchly pro-life and believe unborn people deserve the same legal protection as born people. Live human embryos must be destroyed in order to obtain human embryonic stem cells. These embryonic stem cells may or may not have the potential to cure many existing health problems, but they certainly cause a health problem for the human embryo.

For the sake of argument, let us make several assumptions. 1) God exists, 2) God is pro-life, and 3) given the opportunity, human scientists will eventually find a way to cure various health problems with the use of human embryonic stem cells. I am certain some folks may have trouble with the first two assumptions. For my part, I have severe doubts about the third assumption (I am not aware of any human medical benefits yet obtained or discovered by the use of human embryonic stem cells). However, let us see where these three assumptions take us.

At the cost of thwarting God's will and killing some human lives, we will be able to cure many other humans. The paralyzed will be able to walk again. Those with other conditions, such as Parkinsons, will be cured. And all at the cost of destroying some unborn humans who are only six days old. Six days! Many days, even weeks, before the unborn human can feel pain or otherwise suffer. And no one knows for certain when a human soul enters the body – even if God does create children in the womb, he may even wait until its brain is developed to insert its soul. We just don't know. Is the destruction of these few so great a sacrifice to ask for such vast benefit?

Yes. Voluntary sacrifice by those with the capacity to understand what they are sacrificing is admired and charished by others. Involuntary sacrifice is evil. The ends do not justify the means, no matter how compelling the ends may be.

Let us now add another assumption: 4) God always has a way for us that does not involve doing wrong. Is there an ethical alternative to using human embryonic stem cells? Again the answer is a resounding yes. While embryonic stem cells require the destruction of a very young unborn human, other human stem cells are readily available. (e.g., from bone marrow and even from easily obtained umbilical cord blood). Medical researchers have known about some of the benefits of adult stem cells for decades, first with bone marrow transplants curing those with "bubble boy syndrome" and other diseases, closely followed by the discovery of stem cells in umbilical cord blood. Stem cells from these sources have cured many blood threatening diseases, such as such as leukemia and immune system disorders, and many people believe that the potential from these adult stem cells is far greater than that of embryonic stem cells. This is where we should be putting our money and resources.

Out of the four assumptions I listed, I am least confident (and quite skeptical) of my third assumption. While I would not be shocked if a medical treatment could be found that used embryonic stem cells, I expect that the ethical researchers using adult stem cells will be far more successful in their endeavors. I was motivated to write this post when I read that South Korean researchers had used adult stem cells from umbilical cord blood to help a paralyzed woman walk.

The patient's lower limbs were paralyzed after an accident in 1985 damaged her lower back and hips. Afterward she spent her life in bed or in a wheelchair.

For the unprecedented clinical test, the scientists isolated stem cells from umbilical cord blood and then injected them into the damaged part of the spinal cord.

The sensory and motor nerves of the patient started to improve 15 days after the operation and she could move her hips. After 25 days, her feet responded to stimulation.

Amazing! By the time my children are adults, paralysis may much, much rarer than it is today. May God continue to bless the ethical researchers in their endeavors to help mankind. May their numbers multiple.

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