Francis CHITTUPARAMBIL, The Human Body in Bioethics. Christian and Upanishadic Perspectives, Asian Trading Corporation, Bangalore 2011.

This study on the value and significance of the human body in the Christian and Upanishadic perspectives can serve as a foundation for Indian biomedical ethics, sexual ethics and other ethical discourses related to the human body. The Christian theological and magisterial discussions, while trying to eliminate every type of dualistic understanding, whether Platonic or Cartesian and every type of monism, whether materialist or spiritualistic and basing itself on the Sacred Scripture and on the traditions, has arrived at the concept of the unity of the person and strongly exhorts respect of the human body on account of its intrinsic dignity. What is necessary in the context of India is a search either for the same concept of unity or any other concepts that could highlight the value of the human body so as to promote respect and care of the human body. This research proves that the Christian concept of unity of body and soul can find a parallel in the Brahman-atman identity or unity as found in the Sacred Scripture Upanishads and brings to light the arguments from it to promote the dignity and care of the abode of Brahman, the human body.