Well, Mr. Bush has regrettably afforded us an example. Despite the pleas of the American people who see hope in stem cell research, he vetoes for the first time in his presidency. Why?
Soley for religious reasons. The same reasons that are used in protest of abortion.
All arguments against stem cell research originate from the argument that once the egg is fertilized, it has a soul. But many do not agree with this. Some cultures think that infants need to live for a while before it's considered a person, before their version of God assigns a soul to the child. This certainly doesn't fall in line with their beliefs.
Since Atheists don't even believe that the soul exists, they of course are going to be upset by the veto because it's based on a concept of which there is no empirical proof.
Religion has imposed its will upon unwilling participants.
This is evil.
Anyway, here's my question:
Are there any non-religious reasons to deny stem cell research?
2006-07-20 21:36:05 · 8 answers · asked by l00kiehereu 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Remember that religious and atheist are not exact opposites. The list of people who by-and-large see no problem in stem-cell research include: moderate Christians, agnostics, deists, Buddhists, 'non-religious' believers and who knows what else.
In that a non-religious person may still believe in a soul (not by itself a religious concept), some non-religious people may have the same argument as literalist Christians do. But I'd guess that it's a minority. Apart from that, I can think of no non-religious reasons to deny it.
2006-07-20 21:43:15 · answer #1 · answered by XYZ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
About 100 people ask this same question every day. And at least 100 people ask why the religious give the atheists so much grief. Stop asking the question and read the replies from the last 100000000 times this question was asked.
One of the largest controversies related to stem cell research related to the possibility of having women who are planning to abort donate the fetus to science. This opened the debate that people would get pregnant for the sole purpose of having an abortion for money. Which is horribly wrong no matter how you look at it. Stem cell research has the possibility to do a lot of good, but like any other research that takes science to another level, it has the ability to do humanity harm.
2006-07-21 04:42:59 · answer #2 · answered by wldntulike_2know 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stem cell research will ultimately progress to the point where the benefits are plain and this decision will seem like anachronistic nonsense.
Any medical advances are viewed with horror by certain theists, but most people do not remember the original arguments against. Most people happily now accept blood transfusions and would accept a heart transplant or a pig's valve to save their lives. At the point of need, few would trust in their gods. Stem cell research has ultimately the power to revolutionise lots of currently debilitating or fatal areas on medicine.
This Luddite approach can easily be solved by giving people the equivalent of a non-donor card, letting them choose not to have treatment if the treatment involved developments from stem cell research, animal testing or any other area of contentious research which they choose. I won't be carrying one though and I'd suggest if someone becomes quadriplegic as a result of a car accident, they'll happily rip up the card if having their spinal column repaired means they can live a full and happy life.
2006-07-21 06:45:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that if there's a problem with stem cell research because of a very early stage embryo, then these religious people should be freaking out over in vitro fertilization, which results in a whole lot of destroyed embryos.
Other than that, I don't think it takes being religious to be against something like this or like abortion - an atheist will form his or her own moral code, and that will vary. They may have a tendency to agree on such things, but are not required to agree on anything other than "there is no God" because that one thing is all that makes the person an atheist.
2006-07-21 04:43:39 · answer #4 · answered by Snark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The unrest of the people. as a general rule, the nation will continue to fight over this, whether it is passed or not. eventually, it will be passed. how can I say this? Stem cells are not only found in unborn fetuses. they are also mass produced by the front portion of the brain. A stem cell is simply a cell that as of yet has no assignment. it hasn't been assigned, for example, to become a bone cell, or muscle, or skin, bladder, heart... it has no assignment. it's a blank, yet full, page of genetic material. it contains the necessary information to become one of those types of cells, it just isn't yet.
2006-07-21 04:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by bud_rog 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maphesto from South Park comes to mind.Perhaps a seven a**ed monkey will help to decide.
2006-07-21 04:43:39 · answer #6 · answered by Professor Riddle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think if there are ova that no one wants they should be able to do what they want with them. these ova have not been implanted yet so i believe they should be used to save millions of lives.
2006-07-21 07:18:55 · answer #7 · answered by hfroggie2005 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no god no truth
know god Know truth
2006-07-21 11:11:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋