Free Playing God Essay Sample

“Playing God" and invoking a perspective is an argument made by Allen Verhey. It is an ethical perspective that discusses the issue, as to whether people should play God or not. It focuses on the issue of bioethics and genetics question. His question on the issue of playing God is asked rhetorically, making is difficult for one to provide the answer. Sometimes, this question is treated in a manner, as if individuals have no choice, but rather play God. Verhey makes arguments regarding the genetic engineering, and if people should play God.  He provides varied reasons of making this claim in the first place. Moreover, Verhey has a questing attitude, and an ability of reorganizing the restraints that could have been desirable. He concludes that lack of willingness to employ the attitude to practical ends is troublesome.

 
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Verhey tries to explain the phrase of playing God in varied ways. Certain ethical perspectives are interpreted as arguments against playing God. There are various arguments on the issue of playing God. One of the arguments is whether humans are not in a position of playing God.  Another one is whether the natural processes belong to God alone. The natural process concept belongs to God; thus, humans should not use extraordinary biotechnologies in altering the natural processes. On the one hand, the argument of playing God is being discussed on different ways. This decision of life and death belongs to God. Moreover, the issue of using biotechnologies for saving people’s lives is questioned because of the need to alter the natural processes. 

Verhey compared the argument of Doing Everything Technologically Possible Argument (DETPA) to the idea of God of the gaps (GOTG). This is a dejected Christian notion that places the presence of God, and power where the knowledge of human and his power have reached a temporary limit. For instance, some scientists such as Newton saw some irregularities in the movement of planets, which he explained using the gravity theory. The GOTG is only invoked, especially when the doctors becomes powerless to Save lives of people. Thus, Verhey reveals out the attitude of doctors for their lack of faith in God, when technology fails. Verhey tells this through a story, whereby he revealed the way human beings take God for granted. Therefore, he questions the validity of DETPA to inquire, in case the attitude of psychological GOTG dimension affects them. However, there is no empirical evidence revealing that doctors and patients use God in filing the gaps of their ignorance. Therefore, they only pray, after their biotechnologies have failed to work well.

Additionally, GOTG attitude is considered as a positive attitude, and it is true that when some people fall sick, they seek medication first, instead of praying. They only pray when their conditions get worse. Verhey describes GOTG attitude in another way. He argues that most individuals suffering from terminal illness put more effort in seeking medication than praying. However, this is not just being disrespectful towards GOTG, but to the nature of human beings. Besides the logical and psychological aspect of GOTG dimension, invoking God is considered as being ignorant. Even, though, doctors may use biotechnologies, patients may survive or not, due to the will of God. The GOTG charge in the field of bioethics is borrowed by Christian apologetics. However, this is not simple, because the GOTG apologetics are not easy to achieve. Hence, Verhey’s arguments do not lie in the GOTG or Christian apologetics, but rather in bioethics.

Verhey argues that human beings were created in order to take control over the earth.  Therefore, their control should not extend far beyond genetics. The human creativity should be exercised well, taking into considerations God’s response. Christians believe that God is the one who heals, and he is the one who gives human beings knowledge of using biotechnologies. Moreover, they argue that parents should not make decisions of terminating the pregnancy. This is because God wants people to save life, but not cause death. Therefore, Verhey argues on the genetic conditions that justifies the abortion. He comments that terminating life on the fetus is the condition of torture. Verhey argues that genetic therapy is considered as the play to God. Thus, the use of biotechnology may be used responsibly with an aim of achieving a healthy life, but not genetic enhancement. There is a difference between the genetic enhancement and health intervention; hence, physicians should use knowledge well in saving people’s lives.

Technology is considered as a gift from God. Thus, despite application and exhaustion of knowledge in medical technology, people are still dying. Therefore, there is a need to pray God because he is the one who provides human beings with knowledge of using biotechnologies in treating patients. Verhey argues that if God’s will is for patients to live, then evidence can be found. This can be through observation, and analyzing the outcomes of the use of medical technologies in providing the health care. Moreover, if the chance for the survival of a patient is considered as the will of God for the patient to live, then people ought to play God.  Therefore, the argument of playing God can be expanded in a broader view to include the will of God in granting life to patients.  Many patients who are still under medication continue to survive for many years.  Therefore, Verhey argues that there is no evidence that the biotechnologies are disapproved by God by taking people’s souls. Thus, God approves the use of biotechnology, in order to support and prolong life.

Response

The reading can be related to our life in varied ways. For instance, when one falls sick, the first thing is rushing to hospital or seeking medication first rather than praying God. This is because many people believe that it is through getting proper medications that they can recover well. This is true, but people tend to forget that it is through God’s will that through the use of biotechnology one may recover. God is the one who grants physicians knowledge to use biotechnology. Moreover, it is through God’s will that a patient may survive or not, despite all the efforts of the doctors to use biotechnology in supporting life.  God does not allow people to die, and his will is to ensure that people live a healthy life. Therefore, people should learn to pray every day. Thus, when they are seek, it is vital to remember God first, before thinking of medications.

Another way through which the argument of Verhey can be related to our life is the issue of genetics. Many states support the induced abortion for one reason or another. This is against God’s will, but individuals support it, especially in cases, such as rape, lack of financial support or in case it threatens the health of the mother. However, God does not allow this despite the use of biotechnologies in carrying out the abortion effectively. This is because God demands people to live according to his will. Moreover, he encourages the use of biotechnology in supporting, and prolonging life of people on earth. Additionally, through biotechnology has created a big gap between God and his people. This is because many scientists have evolved, and many of them have tried to emulate God through trying to create life. God is the one who created the earth during the creation, as evidenced in the book of Genesis. When man sinned, he was thrown away from paradise. However, this does not necessarily means, that there is a gap between God and his people. Hence, there is a need for individuals to pray God, but not play with him. This is because God is powerful, and he has powers of controlling the universe. Therefore, human beings should not exercise powers they were given of controlling the earth in a manner that does not please the God.

Verhey’s argument of playing God is insincere in its use, as well as, in a selective system of belief. It invents ignorance on a broader social meaning of the phrase, playing God. One may wonder on the way Verhey questions his knowledge of reasoning. During the creation of the earth, God s created Adam and Eve. After their failure from the Garden of Eden, God’s motives towards them were not selfish, but for the good of them and the whole universe. Therefore, Verhey’s interpretations of bible are not clear, because of the way he ignored a great deal of information from bible.  His arguments can mislead people because of the way he interprets bible. This is because the issue of playing God is more dangerous, and it is useless in the sense that it may mislead people. Therefore, if one may read bible clearly he or she may be able to understand clearly. This will make one to get knowledge, and make a step away from the idea of humanity moving away from paradise, thus, thinking more about the toil for the need of getting bread. Hence, playing God perhaps may not sound as fun as the way Verhey puts it.

Additionally, the problem with Verhey’s argument of playing God is the vague idea. This is because people grant the realm of natural processes and make decisions that both life and death belong to God. Then, the role of God towards our lives would be questioned. People may raise various questions. This is because the phrase of playing God has different meanings. Therefore, individuals supporting the side of removal of life through the use of biotechnologies argue that God is on their side. Hence, the meaning of playing God can be revealed in our lies in various ways. One of the ways is through the use of biotechnologies in altering the natural processes, thus seen as a way of playing God. This is because religious people’s beliefs that it is God who provides and takes life. Therefore, no one should terminate life through the use of any other technology means.

 

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