Jewish Ethical Dilemmas

Adherents of the Judaic faith are subject to ethical dilemmas, that which involves an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives. They base their responses on important sacred texts and writings which lay out principal beliefs with explanations on how they are to be interpreted and applied to their everyday life's. These sacred texts and writings include the commandments of the Torah, the most important source of ethical guidance which encompasses the written and oral Torah, The prophetic vision, including social justice and Tikkun Olam- the repair of the world and the book of proverbs )wisdom, righteousness, purity, and generosity of spirit

The principalities explored become criteria to responding to ethical dilemmas, each providing historical context and insights on interpretation and adaption to economic, technological, scientific and sociological changes in modern society. The dilemmas themselves may be broken down and categorised for a more direct approach towards responding. These include environmental ethics, sexual ethics and environmental ethics all of which are addressed to certain extents through the various texts.

Bioethics is essentially the ethical questions regarding life and the issues such as the taking, giving and altering of it. The sources of ethical principles in relation to bioethics may be predominately taken from written and oral Torah. The oral Torah in particular is ever evolving, undertaken to lengths and specifics in interpretation and understands with use of character and knowledge, to which modern Jewish law hinges its acceptance on. Principals of Jewish bioethics may well be formulated to instil major principles one being the importance of human life for it has intrinsic value, the preservation of human life being of utmost moral imperative and the equality of human life being all of the same value. The other 3 include life belonging to God, and it is not in our right to decide the taking giving or altering of it, the sacredness of human life as God is in us which also plays primary to the final principal which states that all actions towards others a 'manifestation of our imitation of God'. All of these principles are central and foremost to the addressing the ever-changing ethical dilemmas involved with Bioethics and the sciences. Just one of the pressing issues faced to Jewish adherents is that of Abortion, which is not specifically forbidden but takes precedence on the predicament of the mother's physical and mental health. But that does not mean it is not objected towards the majority of Jewish adherents believe that it falls under reference of 'spilling seed' which is prohibited by the Talmud. Another widely debated and controversial bioethical issue is euthanasia, but Jewish has solidified its stance in which it condemns Euthanasia, which in reference to the principal's state that our bodies belong to God and may not be violated the ideals are heavily reinforced through much of the Torah in particular 2 Samuel 1:9 where David states, "Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying I have killed the Lord's anointed".

Sexual ethics deals with the ethical dilemmas surrounding sexuality the 'gift from God' and its core components marriage, procreation and sexuality. Much of the foundation may be sourced back down to the written and oral torah, and the book of proverbs which is basically a practical guide to prudent living stated in down to Earth terms expressed to emphasising the virtue of wisdom and lamenting of imprudent behaviour. Like all ethical issues sexual ethics has its own ideals derived from the sacred texts and writings, the first includes the belief that human sexuality was a gift from god and has the primary purpose of reinforcing the marital bond between the male and female. The other states that the desire for sexual activity is

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