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Conflict between Research and Ethics In United States, many governmental initiatives, regarding the development of science, are still affected by the considerations of public morality, which is based on obscure Christian dogma. One of the best examples of it is George W. Bush vetoing the bill, which would allow Federal financing for the stem cell research. The President believes that obtaining the genetic material for the research, from the dead embryos, is unethical. This is despite the fact that, one year earlier, he had a different opinion.
The Republican Bible-thumper's in the Congress greeted this news with the thunderous applause, as it was seen on TV. Just like in time of Galileo Galilei, the religious fanatics try to slow down the scientific progress. And what makes this situation really grotesque, is the fact that this is happening in 21 st century. Yet, as practice shows, the scientific progress can never be effectively stopped, by the mean of law. It is simply the matter of time, before it will find a way to naturally pursue its course. The most important goal of stem cell research is to find an effective treatment for such incurable disease as cancer.
It is based on recently discovered fact that the embryo's stem cells have an unlimited capacity for self-renewal. This gives us a hope to find the way to replace the cells, corrupted by cancer, with their identical replicas. Yet, the research is only at its initial stage and there is still a lot of information needs to be obtained. But the only way to do it is through practical experiments. If the cure for cancer is found, it will mean saving millions of people from the certain death. Also, the stem cell research can benefit us in many other ways.
For example, we might discover the way of how to increase people's life span. And, who knows, maybe it will discover the secret of immortality. It is well known that every single cell of our bodies replaces itself on the continuous basis, but than, something begins to slow down this process, as people reach certain age, which eventually results in death. If we discover the mechanics of aging, we will be able to reverse them.
We will gradually become the masters of our own lives, while acquiring more and more properties of God. Nevertheless, the narrow minded representatives of the Christian right raise a lot of stink, when it comes to dealing with embryo's material. They say that the embryos have a soul, even though that they don't know for sure what soul actually is. We get to hear them moralizing that using material, obtained from the discharged embryos, equals to murder. This ridiculous statement is very easy to refute. Michael Kinsley, in his article If You Believe Embryos Are Humans...
exposes the stupidity of pro life activists when he describes embryos: We " re talking here about newly formed embryos. These are not fetuses with tiny, waving hands and feet. These are microscopic groupings of a few differentiated cells. There is nothing human about them, except potential -- and, if you choose to believe it, a soul (Kinsley). Also, hundred of thousands of embryos a year are being destroyed by the natural causes. According to Kinsley, about 15 % of pregnancies end up in miscarriage, with the valuable genetic material being simply wasted.
Since Christians believe that nothing happens without being endorsed by God, we can say that God kills embryos. Maybe, using embryos for the scientific research will not end up in commiting a sin, after all? Yet, in their denial, the Christians refuse to consider the possibly of them being wrong. They try to argue, but they base their argument on their faith, that is why it is absolutely deprived of any logic. They refer to public morality as the ultimate authority.
In its turn, it is based on Christian doctrine. But there is no secret in fact that Christianity has entered its twilight and it wouldnt be too daring to say that there are not going to be any people left, in the world, that would seriously believe in Christian nonsense by year 2050. We face paradox Christianity has long ago ceased to be credible concept, yet our social morals are still largely based on it. This is the core of the problem. In my opinion, uneducated people simply do not have the right to impose their outdated moral concepts onto society. Because, otherwise, we will regress back into the Dark Ages, when burning of witches was an everyday routine for the proponents of the most tolerant religion on Earth.
Michael Kinsley is absolutely right when he says: It's not just that people who oppose research using embryos feel strongly about it. It's that the entire logic of their case makes it hard to give them anything they would value as half a loaf (Kinsley). These, so called humanists would rather see real people die, than having their religious principles reconsidered. The Catholic Church is also involved with this issue, while unwilling to spare the people of its valuable opinions.
I think that the Pope has more urging matters to address, such as molestation of children by the Catholic priests, which is becoming more of a rule than the exception. In United States, the Church is separated from the State and it should not influence politics and science. But we see that this is happening, anyways. I personally, cannot think of this as anything else, but the disrespect of our Constitution. This cannot be tolerated, we live in secular society, where the men of God are being as much subjected to the law, as everybody else. People are entitled to have their opinions, whatever the ridiculous they might be, but when it comes to making decisions, which affect millions of people, the religious fanatics need to be silenced.
They should simply be forbidden from imposing their views on others. The last elections to the Senate proved that people are tired of right-wings rhetoric's. They are tired of double faced politicians, who scream bloody murder, when it comes to stem cell research, while suggesting that the Americans soldiers should continue to needlessly die in Iraq. Every healthy society, throughout the history, used to place the good of many above people's secular agendas. This should be the case with the American society, as well. If will continue to put obstacles, on the way of stem cell research, the other countries will get a strategic advantage over America.
It is already being announced that UK and France will be investing even more money into the genetic research. Once the cure for cancer is found, the Americans will be forced to pay an astronomical amounts of money, in order to obtain it, since it will be patented abroad. It is the time for political dinosaurs to realize that we don't live in fifties anymore. The socio-political situation in America has changed drastically, since then.
And if they don't, they will be disposed with, which already starting to take place, after the last elections. The issue of stem cell research needs to be reviewed by the Senate and, if the public support for it will prove to be strong enough, the President will not be able to use veto again, because, otherwise, he will be defying the will of American people. While trying to appeal to the proponents of ban on stem cell research, Michael Kinsley says: ... if you get your way, then real, fully formed people will suffer and die for your abstract point of principle. In fact, real people will suffer and die as a result of any compromise that partly accommodates your abstract principle (Kinsley). Still, it appears to be doubtful, whether the word of reason can have any effect, under these circumstances.
The self-appointed experts, in the field of medicinal ethics, will do their utmost to stop the stem cell research, because their own psychological comfort means so much more to them than saving the lives of many millions of people. It is time for us to understand that we live in multicultural society, with people that belong to different religions. But why it is the White Christians, who put themselves into position of dictating everybody else what is wrong and what is right? They are no more special then anybody else, and the sooner they understand it, the better. It is not only that the stem cell research needs to be allowed, it needs to be given a priority, because nothing can be more justified than saving the lives of people.
Abstract This paper focuses on the controversy, which is related to the stem cell research. Its main idea is that the moral considerations, regarding this issue, cannot be thought of as valid, for as long as they are based on Christian doctrine. Outline Pages: 1 - 2. Introduction to the topic. 3 - 4. Analytical part. Bibliography: Kinsley, M.
If You Believe Embryos Are Humans... June 25, 2001. Time Online. Retrieved December 1, 2006 from web Shippers, A.
The Right To Die Vs. The Right To Life. July 23, 2001. Radio Netherlands. Retrieved December 1, 2006 from web Sep, N. Stem Cell Controversy: Scientist is retracting landmark finding.
December 24, 2005. Science News Online. Retrieved December 1, 2006 from web
Free research essays on topics related to: christian doctrine, religious fanatics, scientific progress, stem cell research, millions of people
Research essay sample on Stem Cell Research Millions Of People
