En gudomlig skapelse?

by Lars Bern

En Gudomlig skapelse? (A Divine Creation?) is a scientific thriller about how new technology affects society. With this story Lars Bern tries to show how advancements in gene technology can affect individual human life as well as the ethics and values of society as a whole.

En Gudomlig skapelse? is about a discovery in clinical gene modification made by a big Swedish pharmaceutical company, Antares. The discovery makes it possible to eliminate hereditary diseases and deformations as well as “programming” human embryos, so that appearance and characteristics can be pre-ordered.

According to the Bible, humans were created in God’s image and according to the Catholic Church even embryos in the mother's womb have souls. Antares’ technological breakthrough thus challenges dark forces in the religious world. Fundamentalist circles in several communities become allies and will not hesitate to commit gruesome murders to prevent the application of the new technique. Humans struggle with double loyalties – to God on one side, and big economic interests on the other. The classic conflict between faith and reason is a prominent theme in the novel.

Lars Bern has been working as leader in the business world for 20 years as CEO of Ångpanneföreningen and Incentive and vice CEO of Fläkt, among other companies. He currently works as business consultant, popular lecturer and also serves as member in many boards of directors.

September 2008