Faith & Life Sciences

Faith and Life Sciences Reference Group (FLSRG)

Contents

What is the relationship between faith and science, between faith and genetics, between faith and ownership, between faith and artificial intelligence? What will be the impact of genetic modifications in many different life forms on future generations? How will the benefits from new biotechnological developments be accessible to all, and shared fairly?

These are but a few of the questions that have been considered by the Faith and Life Sciences Reference Group (FLSRG). To learn more about our work and resources, see below. To learn more about the Rome Call for AI Ethics and our commitments in signing it, click here.

Our Priorities

Gene editing and bio-enhancement is becoming a reality. These technologies intersect with a number of social, ethical, and theological issues, including the human quest for healing and improvement, concerns about transhumanism and radical biomodification, anthropological and spiritual questions about who we are as God-created human beings, effects on the environment and on agriculture, challenges to traditional cultures, and decisions about how we choose to shape our world post COVID pandemic. We believe regulation of these new technologies needs to involve collaboration with faith representatives, ethicists, philosophers, and indigenous representatives as well as bio-technologists, doctors and scientists.

Artificial intelligence and related technologies are being adopted at an increasing rate: every day we hear stories about art generators, automated decision-making, chatbots, companion robots, facial recognition programs, social media algorithms, and text generators. Some AI is clearly helpful: AI-driven experiments have suggested uses in medical imaging, for example. At the same time, more and more ethical questions are being raised about limitations, about human capacity being outstripped by machines, about changes in education, the effects on spirituality as questions of consciousness develop, and so on. In particular, we are concerned about studies that show AI amplifies and entrenches sexism, racism, and other biases in “black-box” algorithms that cannot be easily criticized or corrected.

Recent News

Our Resources

2022
2022
2025
Cover of FLSRG resource on theological and ethical reflections

Theological and Ethical Reflections on Life Sciences and Biotechnologies

The reflections contained in this resource are the fruit of over 20 years of engagement by the Faith and Life Sciences Reference Group (formerly known as the Biotechnology Reference Group) of The Canadian Council of Churches on developments in science, technology, information management, and the life sciences: the patenting of life forms and their offspring, faith and genetics, genetic privacy, genetically modified organisms, synthetic biology, human hereditable genome editing, artificial intelligence, stem cell research, technology and the image of God, gene drives, human moral enhancement and other areas of research and application of genetic engineering in plants, animals and human beings.

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Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence, and Faith: Case Studies in the Life Sciences

The pace of commercial innovation in the life sciences, especially in the fields of biotechnology and artificial intelligence, is breathtaking. Developments occur so quickly that they outpace moral, ethical, and theological reflection, all of which take time. The case studies below invite people of faith—pastors, scientists, teachers, students—to pause, reflect, and dialogue on ways the new technologies are shaping our lives. Intended to accompany the Faith and Life Sciences Guidelines, the case studies seek to spark moral, ethical, and theological insights into the choices we make.

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Front page of the FLSRG anniversary booklet

At the Intersection of Faith, Life Sciences, and Biotechnology

What is the relationship between faith and science, between faith and genetics, between faith and ownership, between faith and artificial intelligence? What will be the impact of genetic modifications in many different life forms on future generations? How will the benefits from new biotechnological developments be accessible to all, and shared fairly?
 
Over the past 25 years the Faith and Life Sciences Reference Group, formerly known as the Biotechnology Reference Group, has considered these and other questions while engaging pressing issues of gene patenting, synthetic biology, seed regulation, genetics education in churches, and more. This booklet collects the reflections of six past and present members as they recount our contributions to the 2002 Supreme Court “Onco-Mouse” decision, the 2007 Global Consultation on Genetics, the 2017 “Redesigning the Tree of Life” conference, and other key events and discussions from our 25 year history. 
 

Our Members

  • Dr Mark Boulos, The Coptic Orthodox Church of Canada, Toronto, ON.
  • Rev Dr. Catherine Chalin, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, Toronto, ON.
  • Lt-Colonel Jim Champ, The Salvation Army, North York, ON.
  • Timothy Eappen Cherian, Mar Thoma Church, Toronto, ON.
  • Rev. Dr. William Crosby, Anglican Church of Canada, Saskatoon, SK.
  • Betsy Ann Easow, Mar Thomas Church, Scarborough, ON.
  • Dr Rachel Krause, Mennonite Church Canada, Winnipeg, MB.
  • Rev. Dr. Peter Kuhnert, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Waterloo, ON.
  • Dr. Cory Andrew Labrecque, Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops, Québec City, QC.
  • Dr. (Helen M) Rosemary Meier, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Toronto, ON.
  • Rev. Dr. Tracy Trothen, The United Church of Canada, Kingston, ON.
  • Dr. Lucas Vivas, Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops, Hamilton, ON.
Last updated: January 2025

Members are appointed by member churches of The Canadian Council of Churches. Additional members may join because of their interest and expertise in the topic. All members seek to develop a close working relationship with their church.

Organizations related to the CCC such as the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, for example, may also be asked to collaborate with the group on different projects of mutual interest through ex officio representation at group meetings. 

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