Seeds and Genetic Information Analysed from a Religious Realm

Common Good, Justice, Dignity, Creativity, and Constraints

Abstract

According to the Stockholm Resilience Centre, ecological boundaries are already crossed for six out of nine global processes. One of these – that is recently quantified – is “novel entities” resulting from humans who “modify the genetics of living organisms and otherwise intervene in evolutionary processes…” Highlighting novel entities, the article focuses primarily on ecological responsibility relating to plants for food, with references also to medicines & vaccines and marine genetic resources. The article identifies inspiration and guidance from religious social ethics – notably common good, justice and human dignity – and Christian notions on relating to nature, hubris, free will, diversity, and creativity. Theocentrism is introduced, viewed as more capable than ecocentrism of challenging anthropocentrism and power abuse resulting from modern science. This analysis is undertaken while affirming the importance of scientists’ and others’ creativity.