We live in a pro-eugenics and pro-euthanasia time

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleΖούμε σε μια ευγονική και ευθανασιακή εποχή
3. Language term Greek, Modern (1453-)
4. lemma author Delli, Eudoxie
5. lemma category Scientific theories and disciplines > Biology - Scientific theories and disciplines > Medicine - Co-existence - Key thinkers - Orthodox view on technology and engineering
6. Publication date 20-1-2017
7. lemma work Hatzinikolaou, (Metropolitan of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki) Nikolaos [Author]. We live in a pro-eugenics and pro-euthanasia time
8. lemma manifestations POPULAR SCIENCE -KAΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ [KATHIMERINI]
9. Keywords biotechnology - embryonic - clones - Heisenberg, Werner Karl - in vitro fertilisation - transplants - euthanasia - Patristic theology - ethics
10. Url Click Here
11. Citations
    1. <p>Hatzinikolaou, (Metropolitan), N. [Χατζηνικολάου, (Μητροπολίτης), Ν.] (2003, July 5). Zoύμε σε μια ευγονική και ευθανασιακή εποχή. <em>POPULAR SCIENCE</em> – <em>ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ</em> [KATHIMERINI]. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.imml.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:popular-science-5-7-2003&catid=21:synenteykseis">http://www.imml.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:popular-science-5-7-2003&catid=21:synenteykseis</a></p>
12. Lemma body

    1. The interviewee covers a number of topics concerning the relation between bioethics (mainly the beginning of human life, i.e embryonic) and Orthodoxy, given his position as President of the Committee of Bioethics of the Orthodox Greek Church.

       Metropolitan Nikolaos Hatzinikolaou argues that the Orthodox Church can deal in a critical and creative way with the contemporary scientific discourse and issues in order to provide a modern (re)formulation of its theological doctrines and spiritual principles, following the model of the Greek Fathers of the Church, who had drawn upon the secular wisdom of their time in order to elaborate the Orthodox worldview and anthropology. According to the interviewee, science can be allied with theology, even though he considers the later wider than the former.

       He criticizes the arrogance of scientists who do not take into account the sensibilities and the hidden resistances of societies that must be respected. He rejects also the ''sacralization'' of  modern science closely related to the idea that science could replace God. On the other side, he disapproves religion when it is closed to outside influences or reduced to ideological and moralistic conceptions.

       Church’s bioethical preoccupations, giving the priority to human liberation and free will, ought to indicate useful directions than to devise a set of rigorous prescriptions or limits. The role of Church consists in supporting people to cultivate their consciousness and responsibility towards the mystery of life, in understanding and forgiving them as well.

       Finally, the interviewee also answers on his personal sacerdotal vocation in relation to his prior scientific career; on the hidden dimension of Nature, as well as on the controversial issue of the existence of human soul, contested by modern neurophysiology.