Notes on Orthodox Christian Ethics

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleЗаписки по православна християнска етика
3. Language term Bulgarian
4. lemma author Nachev, Ivaylo
5. lemma category Scientific theories and disciplines > Medicine - Ecology and the environment
6. Publication date 16-11-2018
7. lemma work Карамихалев, Йоан [Author]. Записки по православна християнска етика
8. lemma manifestations Записки по православна християнска етика - София: Артграф, 2010.
9. Keywords surrogacy - ecological crisis
10. Lemma body

    1. The book's main goal is to serve as an introduction to Christian ethics from an Eastern Orthodox perspective. In addition to making an overview of the main aspects of  Christian ethics, the author deals with a number of subjects relating to the role of the Church in the contemporary world, including bioethics and ecological problems. The “rapid development of new medical technologies” is regarded as one of main challenges for the society. So, advances in biology allow huge possibilities for interventions in human life with huge social and religious consequences. These are matters which concern not only scholars and medical doctors but also the Church and society as a whole, the author underlined. The position of the Orthodox Church is based on the idea that human life is an invaluable gift of God, so it cannot be treated as an object no matter how important for science the aim could be.  As the right for life and dignity includes protection from the moment of inception, the Orthodox Church is against all intervention against these rights, including abortion. Modern medical practices such as fertilization with the use of anonymous donors, surrogacy, and all methods for reproduction outside the marriage are seen as well as unacceptable. Genomic interventions as well are related with dangers. In addition, the modern science develops '''dangerous projects'' such as prospects for human cloning, a totally unacceptable idea from both scientific and religious point of view, according to the author. The cloning is deemed dangerous due to erosion of dignity of the person, psychological consequences and ignoring the spiritual substance of the person. Given the theological understanding for the importance of the period for those who are at the end of life on earth and also the understanding of life as a fundamental value, also euthanasia is unacceptable (the Church is against all legal steps in that direction).    

       The current “global crisis” is to a significant extent caused by ignoring ethical criteria in determining the methods and goals in scientific research. Restoration of the consent between moral and spiritual life and scientific and technical activity is seen by Karamihalev as an important prerequisite for survival of the human civilization in the long term.