STEM-CELL RESEARCH

The Christian Century has an editorial on its website by Amy Laura Hall, who teaches ethics at Duke Divinity School, that does a good job of covering many of the issues surrounding stem-cell research. Her argument comes down in opposition to my own, but she does a very good job of discussing the issue. Her final argument is that embryonic stem-cell research is immoral. My argument would be considerably more nuanced than that, I think; but most of all, my argument would include the fact that God has given this medicine to us. Why would we not use this gift from God?

Too many people think of science and religion as diametrically opposed. I see them instead as complementary paths to the same objective. I believe that we are always seeking that Divine, or ultimate, truth. Both science and religion provide a part of that search. Religion comes more from the mystical, mythical, magical sides of our existence. It is how we explain miracles; how we find a center of peace within ourselves. Science comes from the factual, intellectual, physical sides of our existence. It is what we use to explain how electricity works, why airplanes can fly, and how we maintain a healthy mental and physical existence. Can we live on one path without the other? I think not; I think we MUST have that balance, that equivalence between the two halves of our existence. We are both spiritual creatures and physical creatures. We should nurture both.

As to stem-cell research. I will agree that ethically we are treading a thin line if we begin to harvest ovum from women for the sole purpose of creating embryos for research; however, with the prominence of in vitro fertilization, there are thousands of frozen embryos that are destroyed each year. Why can these embryos not be used in helping to find a cure for those with genetic illness? President Bush does not currently allow the use of these embryos. I would love to hear each of my readers' thoughts on the matter.

You can also find some useful information on the science of stem-cell research in the June issue of Scientific American, or click here for a link to the online edition. Another issue related to stem-cell research is the notion that female mammals are born with all the eggs they will ever have, and that they can not produce eggs. A recent study disputes that notion. An article in March from Scientific American Online discusses this study.