The Soul of the Embryo: An Enquiry into the Status of the Human Embryo in the Christian Tradition [Paperback]

David Albert Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0826462960 | ISBN-13: 978-0826462961

We are delighted to announce that this book has been short listed for the prestigious Michael Ramsey prize for the best in theological writing. For more information please visit: www.michaelramseyprize.org.uk

A radical examination of the Christian tradition relating to the human embryo and how this relates to the debate today.In recent years, the moral status of the human embryo has come to the fore as a vital issue for a range of contemporary ethical debates: concerning the over-production, freezing and discarding of embryos in IVF; concerning the use of 'spare' embryos for scientific experimentation; and finally, concerning the prospect of producing clone embryos. These debates have involved not only general philosophical arguments, but also specifically religious arguments. Many participants have attempted to find precedent from the Christian tradition for the positions they wish to defend.It is therefore extraordinary that until The Soul of the Embryo there has been no significant work on the history of Christian reflection on the human embryo. Here, David Albert Jones seeks to tell the story of this unfolding tradition - a story that encompasses many different medical, moral, philosophical and theological themes. He starts by examining the understanding of the embryo in the Hebrew Scritpures, then moves through early Christianity and the Middle Ages to the Reformation and beyond. Finally, Albert Jones considers the application of this developed tradition to contemporary situation and questions which contemporary Christian view or views are best regarded as authentic developments of the tradition and which should be regarded as alien to the tradition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a fascinating historical study of what people have thought, from the earliest biblical times, about the human soul before birth". — The Daily Telegraph

“The book presents a scholarly yet accessible interdisciplinary analysis of the tradition of the Christian thinking on the status of the embryo, and a careful, powerful and fair theological and philosophical case against the destruction of the human embryo from conception. It is to be highly recommended.” –Tablet, John Keown, 5th February 2005

'A scholarly contribution to the history, background and detail of the human embryo in medical, theological and moral terms. It deserves to be studied both in itself and in the important reminder of our essential human being, where we come from, what we are and what significance we have and share in this world and in eternity'

(E David Cook Theology )

'Archbishop Rowan Williams describes the book as 'a valuable contribution to a mist important debate'. Quite so. It is to be highly recommended.' - Adapted from a Tablet review by John Keown, Rose Kennedy Professor of Christian Ethics at Georgetown University, in Triple Helix

'In providing a systematic historical account of Christian and other approaches to the embryo, David Jones offers some fascinating material for reflection.'

'...this book provides valuable material for a principled rather than merely pragmatic reflection on our attitude to this most vulnerable phase of life.' (Andrew Fox, Epworth Review, April 2006 )

'The scope of his work is impressive and the topic extraordinarily significant, He deals carefully with a wide variety of primary sources, and he reflects insightfully on these sources and their theological and ethical implications...[an] important book.'

~ Michael J. Gorman, Studies in Christian Ethics, Vol 19, No. 1

"David Jones (Professor of Bioethics, St Mary's College, Twickenham) has provided a scholarly and insightful contribution to this field, with its complex intersection of theology, philosophy, ethics, jurisprudence and science." - Reformed Theological Review

'A scholarly contribution to the history, background and detail of the human embryo in medical, theological and moral terms. It deserves to be studied both in itself and in the important reminder of our essential human being, where we come from, what we are and what significance we have and share in this world and in eternity'

(, Theology )

'In providing a systematic historical account of Christian and other approaches to the embryo, David Jones offers some fascinating material for reflection.'

'...this book provides valuable material for a principled rather than merely pragmatic reflection on our attitude to this most vulnerable phase of life.' (, )

From the Publisher

Few topics evoke such strong reactions among Christians and non-Christians alike as the current state of scientific experimentation on human embryos. The subject bristles with theological, philosophical and medical difficulties.

Recent media coverage, showing 12-week old foetuses which it is claimed are able to feel pain and similar sensations, tends to be sensational and emotive in approach.

However, The Soul of the Embryo by David Jones, is a thoughtful and dispassionate view of the way in which, from the Old Testament onwards, the status of the embryo has been viewed by religious thinkers in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Jones applies such insights to the contemporary situation, outlining the ways in which our current understanding and practice is either rooted in this tradition, or deviates from it.

The Soul of the Embryo is an important work, which covers ground never previously explored in such depth and thoroughness.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (December 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826462960
• ISBN-13: 978-0826462961
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,473,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important work, April 8, 2005

By 

Truth seeker "kroton" (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soul of the Embryo: An Enquiry into the Status of the Human Embryo in the Christian Tradition (Paperback)

This valuable book is a much needed corrective to the seemingly endless and fruitless misconceptions about traditional Church teaching on the status of the embryo. By adopting a historical approach to the question of the moral status of early human life, Jones outlines, with cogent argumentation, the consistency and care with which the the Church has approached ethical problems at the beginning of life. As well as demolishing some misconceptions about past thought on the status of the embryo, Jones deepens our understanding of what questions are at stake when considering the nature of personhood. The book, by looking at these questions historically, philosophically and theologically, gives an object lesson in how to use different resources in a mutually enlightening way.

This well-written and engaging work should be required reading for all who are interested in seriously debating bioethical problems at the beginning of life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An accomplished analysis of a troublesome question, April 7, 2005

By 

W. Hiscox (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soul of the Embryo: An Enquiry into the Status of the Human Embryo in the Christian Tradition (Paperback)

Dr David Jones has provided a thoughtful and scholarly contribution to the debate on the status of the human embryo, an issue which has renewed significance in contemporary bioethics. The Soul of the Embryo is a meticulous and exhaustive investigation of Christian reflection on the embryo, drawing upon a rich collection of theological, legal, scientific and philosophical sources over the centuries. The book clarifies Christian teaching on the subject, and unquestionably succeeds in its aim of illuminating the origin and deeper meaning of human existence. It is a significant and highly recommended work which should have universal appeal to all with an interest in ethics at the beginning of life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only book out there on a difficult topic, April 14, 2010

By 

Lars Ericson (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Soul of the Embryo: An Enquiry into the Status of the Human Embryo in the Christian Tradition (Paperback)

This is the only book out there on the difficult topic of where in the progress of an embryo from conception to birth does the embryo acquire a soul.

I was led to this topic when thinking about in vitro fertilization, in which a number of embryos are fertiziled, and then some are implanted, discarded, or frozen. Does a frozen embryo have a soul?

This is a difficult topic and one which can become very emotional. I edit Wikipedia articles, and I found that ot is very difficult to try to even raise or discuss the topic in related Wikipedia articles

There are many interesting beliefs in this area. For example, that the soul is acquired 40 days from conception. Or that the soul comes and goes for a while in a baby after it is born, because it's body is too small a vessel.

So for those of you who believe in souls, this book is one of the few scholarly resources that review the concept thoroughly as it has developed in pre-Christian and Christian thought.