Resistance to Stem Cell Research About Fear, Not Faith

The vast majority of arguments, both religion-based and otherwise, against embryonic stem cell research are rooted in fear about the future abuse of capacities we already possess or soon will, e.g. cloning, people "playing God", etc. So, like many arguments which invoke the name of God, this is really about our faith in each other more than our faith in God. And all the posturing and gathering of footnotes from various holy books notwithstanding, that is the central issue in this debate.

Since I tend to believe that we humans do more good than bad with the new technologies we develop, and I believe that the stakes on this one are simply too high to give in to our fears that it will be otherwise this time around, I am delighted by the President's taking federal policy in the current direction. And, like many of my fellow panelists, I have plenty of texts to "prove" why I am in the right from a Jewish and/or religious standpoint. But so do those who deem sinful precisely the scientific work that I see as the fulfillment of a religious obligation.

Ultimately, the "let me show you on which side of the issue God stands" game is a draw. The way it is usually played, it simply makes each side feel better about its own position and rather sanctimonious toward those who do not share their views. If anything this simply demonstrates that faith really is better left on the sidelines of serious discussions of public policy. And for those who believe that our faith is more than a way to get blissed-out, or gain favors from some "big man in the sky", that is especially disheartening.

So rather than proof-texting each other to death over one more issue in American public life, I wonder if we could begin to admit the fears which animate our resistances and learn from them. It's not like telling those who oppose this kind of research to calm down is going to work - ever try telling a frantic or fearful person to "just calm down"?

Ultimately, the debate over stem cell research is a genuine opportunity to move past the dangerous practice of either ignoring our fears or of allowing ourselves to become paralyzed by them. Instead, we must pay serious attention to those who fear our new embrace of embryonic stem cell research, taking their objections more seriously than we usually do. We must admit the real excesses and hubris of some past uses of science and figure out how we will keep them from reoccurring. In so doing, we would all move down the road of genetic and cellular research more gently, and with greater sensitivity from which we could all benefit.

By Brad Hirschfield  |  March 10, 2009; 6:44 AM ET Save & Share:                 
Previous: Words Have Meaning | Next: A "Slippery Slope" Only If We're Stupid

The comments to this entry are closed.