BvMG / Advies & Begeleiding

the human embryo in Jewish and Christian moral tradition. (dissertation)

This study deals with the status of the human embryo in Jewish and Christian tradition from a moral point of view. In Jewish and Christian ethics the question of the human embryo is connected with the biblical law in Exodus 21:22-25. This study investigates the influence of this law upon the different views of this law upon the  embryo in the Jewish and Christian tradition.  The aim of this inquiry is twofold: (a) to gain insight in the motives and backgrounds of contemporary ideas about the issue in Jewish and Christian ethics and (b) to examine the possibility if any lessons can be drawn from Jewish and Christian tradition  to develop a contemporary moral concept for  birth control and procreation. 

Additional thoughts to the development of the law in Exodus xxi, 22-23 in (pre-) biblical times, the orginal law or das Urgesetz

introduction There is an interesting volume of comments on Ex.21:22-25 , caused by the disagreement among scholars about many parts of the text. Still there is an ongoing debate on the law of Exod. xxi 22-25,  about the original law (das Urgesetz), the meaning of this law in early biblical culture (der Sitz in Leben), the development of the law from early biblical times onward  (the influence of ancient redactors) and the role of the law in the dialogue about abortion. Some use this law to support a point of view in favor of abortion and others deny this claim and use the text in a view against abortion. 

Additional studies to the law in Exodus xxi, 22-23 in biblical and post biblical times. Among biblical scholars, there is an ongoing debate about the meaning of the law in Exod. Xxi 22-25. Whether one agrees with R. Westbrook’s conviction that the formulation of this law is “remarkably clumsy”[1] or not, it is beyond doubt that the Hebrew text as it stands contains several inconsistencies and problems