Disciplines
• Biochemistry
• Biological Engineering
• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences
• Microbiology and Immunology
• Stem cell research
Biology studies living
organisms, through data, models and theories
based on observation. Similarly to many
religions, it aims to explain the origin
and order of the world, through understanding
plant, animal and human life. Biology and
religion are both used to argue positions
on issues such as abortion, stem-cell research,
animal research and evolution, coming at
the origins and definitions of life from
different ideologies. Some believe religion
and scientific explanations are complementary,
others believe they are contradictory. Can
or should science and religion work in tandem,
will they always be in conflict, are there
other alternatives? Debate over the issue
of stem-cell research is an example of how
religious beliefs can inform ethical beliefs
about scientific theories and experimentation.
Use of cells from embryos is controversial
for many in the religious community on the
basis that it could amount to human cloning,
an unnatural act of "creation"
taken from the hand of God, with an array
of ethical ramifications; and that embryos
could be -- or develop into -- human beings
with rights to life. (See stem
cell research.)
Supporters of stem-cell
research argue that the potential health
benefits to existing humans outweighs concerns
over destruction of embryos and that manipulating
cells in a laboratory is different from
cloning humans. Opponents argue that the
work disrespects potential human life, and
that even procedures that may not destroy
embryos pose serious ethical issues.
Religious opinions:
A 2005 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion
& Public Life and the Pew Research Center
for the People & the Press found that
by a nearly 2-1 ratio (57 percent to 30
percent) Americans said it was more important
to conduct stem-cell research to find new
cures than to not destroy the potential
life of embryos involved in the research.
Polls show more Americans support embryonic
stem cell research now than a year ago.
Roughly half (52 percent) of opponents say
their religious beliefs are the biggest
influence on their thinking.
The Catholic Church has
led opposition to human embryonic stem-cell
research because of what it calls the "sanctity
of life." Catholic doctrine holds that
life begins at conception, so an embryo,
even in its earliest stage of development,
is regarded as a human life. Destroying
an embryo, even for curing disease, is regarded
as immoral. The National Catholic Bioethics
Center advocates finding ways to harvest
stem cells without the use of embryos. The
Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission opposes embryonic
stem cell research, as does the evangelical
Christian Focus on the Family.
A task force reporting
to the Episcopal Church's 2003 General Convention
concluded that "it is in keeping with
our call to heal the afflicted" to
make use of embryos already held in fertility
clinics, but took a "conservative and
balanced approach" in stressing that
it does not recommend embryos be created
for stem-cell research.
Mainstream Jewish doctrine
holds that life begins at a later stage
of development (than embryonic). It does
not grant legal status to an embryo. Traditionally,
the Jewish faith holds that life begins
at quickening, or the first time a mother
feels the movement of a fetus. The Jewish
Orthodox Union supports therapeutic cloning
from a Jewish theological perspective, arguing
that an embryo outside the womb is not a
viable life form. Hadassah, the Women's
Zionist Organization of America, is lobbying
state legislatures for medical research
on embryonic stem cells. The United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism supports embryonic
stem cell research within ethical guidelines,
citing the Jewish values of "preserving
life and promoting health."
Muslim leaders support
embryonic stem cell research within certain
limits, especially if the research has potential
to cure diseases. Muslim experts say that
an embryo not in its natural environment,
the womb, is not human. If not placed in
the womb it would not survive and become
a human being. However, it is important
to establish strict rules against the misuse
of embryos.
Some opinions on stem-cell
research are based on a notion of human
dignity -- ascribed scripturally through
humans being "fearfully and wonderfully
made" by God (Psalm 139:13-14) and
created by God "in his own image"
(Gen. 1:27) - that being human sets people
apart from animals and makes their lives
sacred because they were created by God.
Others argue that, because disease not only
affects the body but can rob a person of
dignity, stem-cell research has potential
to respect human life by restoring dignity
to the suffering.
Legislation: On
July 19, 2006, President Bush vetoed a bill
that would have relaxed restrictions on
federal funding of stem cell research. Most
states are pursuing their own embryonic
stem cell agendas. Some are pushing research,
others are restricting research. An amendment
to the Missouri state constitution passed
in November 2006 allows stem cell research,
therapies and cures allowed under federal
law to continue to be allowed in Missouri.
It also establishes ethical boundaries and
oversight guidelines for stem cell research
conducted in the state, including a ban
on any attempt to clone a human being. Advancement
of techniques in this research could resolve
conflicts, alter the discussion or open
the way to federal funding of research on
new embryonic stem cell lines, currently
banned by federal law.
Both biology and religion
seek to understand and define the origin
and definition of human life, which informs
opinions on issues such as stem-cell research
and abortion. Many religious and social
conservatives believe human personhood is
attained at conception, or shortly thereafter
when cellular division occurs. Many religious
liberals, social liberals and secularists
believe personhood happens later, during
the embryonic or fetal stage of pregnancy,
or even at birth when the fetus becomes
independent of its mother. Scientifically,
human life could begin when the human egg
and sperm nuclei fuse at fertilization.
Or when the embryo becomes an individual,
14 days after fertilization, when each embryo
can produce only one individual and after
cells have developed into specific types.
But there is no consensus about when human
life becomes a person with fundamental human
rights, including the right to life itself.
Other topics that question
the origin and value of life include the
study of evolution, first presented by Charles
Darwin in his 1859 "Origin of the Species,"
describing a scientific explanation for
the origin of the array of species on the
planet. The theories of evolution and natural
selection, deemed blasphemous as the time,
contradicted the story of the world's origin
and order described in the biblical account,
Genesis. Evolution is the theory is that
all living things share a common ancestor,
and that the complex life forms we know
today evolved from single-celled organisms
over millions of years. Today, some religious
believers promote the idea of intelligent
design, that some aspects of life forms
are so complex that they must reflect the
design of a conscious, rational intelligence.
There is also "theistic evolution,"
the belief that God guided evolution, causing
both the first life forms to appear as well
as the eventual development of higher forms
of life. Creationists believe in the literal
truth of the Bible's account of creation
in Gen. 1:1-2:4a, where God creates the
Earth and all its life forms in six consecutive
24-hour days less than 10,000 years ago.
Some believers also take biblical descriptions
of humans being "fearfully and wonderfully
made" and created by God "in his
own image" to dispute theories that
humans and animals could share a common
ancestor. Scientists, religious believers,
educators and others continue to debate
the value of teaching scientific and religious
beliefs about the origin of life, and how
it will be taught to future generations.
The appropriateness of
using animals for scientific and medical
research is also rooted in belief systems
often determined by religion. Using animals
in medical research is required by law for
pharmaceuticals and many say it is crucial
to finding treatments and cures. Researchers
also say they have a moral and ethical obligation
to consumers to provide safe products, and
that sometimes the only way to do that is
to test them on animals. A key facet of
many religions is living in harmony with
other natural life and showing care and
respect for animal life.
Those
who practice in the field of life sciences
face moral and ethical issues in scientific
research and medical treatment, as many
discoveries in this field require political,
public, social and personal responsibility.
Practical applications that involve religion
include: teaching of biology, evolution,
intelligent design in public/private schools;
developing curriculum and textbooks; the
personal beliefs of scientists and religious
believers, and how their interest or belief
in a faith informs or inspires their work;
whether religious beliefs do or should inform
government regulations, and whether such
laws are necessary. Knowledge of religion
can help researchers understand the beliefs
of those who support and oppose research
from a religious perspective, possibly inform
their own ethical beliefs, aid in creation
and challenging of laws and identify sources
of funding for public or private research.
Science
and Christian Belief
Zygon:
Journal of Religion & Science
American
Academy of Religion Syllabi Search
Seminar
in Biology and Religion
Dr. Nicola Hoggard Creegan
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Religion
and Science
Dr. James F. McGrath
Butler University
Religion
and Ecology
Mary Evelyn Tucker
Bucknell University
Affiliation of Christian Biologists
American Scientific Affiliation: A Fellowship of Christians in Science
Association of Muslim Scientists & Engineers
Association of Professional Jewish Genealogists
Canadian Science and Christian Affiliation
Christian Academics
Christian Neuroscience Society
Fellowship of Scientists
International Muslim Association of Scientists & Engineers
NeuroScience Christian Fellowship: (405) 271-2334
• See a full list of professional associations and resources here.
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