David VanDrunen's purpose in writing Bioethics and the Christian Life appears to be to present issues of life and death without pressuring the reader to accept one position over another. If you are looking for specific guidance about an issue, you will be somewhat disappointed. VanDrunen discusses many of the current issues facing Christians with regard to bioethics, such as in-vitro fertilization, adoption, and euthanasia. The book is broken into three parts, and Part 1 lays a foundation for the sequential sections. This foundation consists of defining terms and trying to create a level playing field where Christians with differing opinions can meet. Part 2 is mostly about the major issues about life, including the purpose of marriage, procreation, assisted reproduction, and the status of human life when it is still very young. Part 3 focuses on death and how Christians should interact with medical technologies that allow them to prolong life.
The book introduces people to these very sensitive and mostly recent issues. The Christian ethics and morals used in this book are solid, but the material is not fully developed. Whereas the issues are well introduced, there are very few real conclusions given. VanDrunen mostly recommends that Christians should carefully consider their motives for whichever difficult challenges they face. He does not have a stance on the majority of the issues. There are a couple of instances where he does have a position, but some of those positions seem controversial, if not extreme. This book could be effectively used as a discussion starter in churches or schools, but it might be disturbing to someone facing a life and death ethical issue all alone. Andrew Broersma, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
