Let’s look at religion and medicine.?

Question

Religious leaders have consistently come out against medical advances. Hundreds of years ago, they were against autopsies and medical use of cadavers for research. In the 1800’s Christians fought the use of anesthetics on the ground that suffering is God’s will and therefore must be endured. This was particularly true for a woman’s pain during childbirth, because they could quote the Bible to support their position. Currently, some religious groups prohibit life-saving blood transfusions. Children die every year because their parents withhold medical treatment, trusting in God instead. Many religious leaders are preventing access to birth control, disease prevention, and information about sexuality. They act as though they would prefer to see people dying of disease or starvation, rather than allow the population to have forbidden products and information. Recently some have come out against very promising areas of medicine, such as fetal cell research, stem cell research, and therapeutic cloning. They have also convinced our government that these areas of research should be prohibited or severely limited. This has real implications for reducing the possible medical treatments available for each of us and for tens of millions of people in the U.S. who have spinal cord injuries and diseases such as Parkinson's. Not all religions want this research limited; but many do, and they fail the medical test.

Answer 1

Ever noticed how much of the "controversial" use of medicine revolves around women's reproduction (i.e. stem cell research, abortion, use of anesthetics, etc.)?

It's absolutely staggering to see how far the Christian church goes to try and keep women oppressed.

BTW...congratulations and kudos on your use writing/spelling skills and proper use of grammar. It is such a RARE occurrence these days on the internet...

Answer 2

Thank you for the first thought provoking question I've seen tonight.

But just for the sake of argument, the world is kind of overpopulated. Sickness and disease was once mother natures way of controling that. Now that humans have increased their life expetency by 40-50 years, other problems come about, like housing shortages, economic hardships, crime, etc.

I live in Maine. Maine has a hunting season every year. They justify it by saying that it is population control, because if there are too many deer on too little land, they will eat all the food and eventually starve. So think about it. If we save everybody, we croud the earth even more. Sooner or later we're going to outgrow the planet, which will not be able to sustain us all. We're already over 6 billion people on this earth and the environment is shot to hell. Some die young, others die when old. That's just life. I'm not saying that one should not seek medical treatment for their children, by any means, but the fact of the matter is that some are just better off dead.

Answer 3

' Hundreds of years ago' medicine was not as advanced as it is today where everything is possible. But there are also those who exploit god given talents and misuse them. For example using humans or animals for experiments. Now is that right? I think that medicine when used correctly and religion go together or else God would not have given us doctors to heal us. In fact the apostle Luke was a physician himself so he did heal with whatever medicine that was available during those times. And don't forget there is poverty in those days and only the rich could afford to see a physician. But the basic issue behind religion is that God himself is the healer and that people rely on him for both mental and physical healing. Remember, he promised the Isrealites 'You will be my people and I will be your God' and he was the provider for all their needs. Unfortunately man always think that he can do better than God.In todays concept of looking at medicine, things have changed. Healing in medicine is no more the moral behind helping people. Everyone wants to be an inventer, everyone wants to make money from being a doctor. If you ask a kid why he wants to be a doctor, he is not going to say, 'so that I can help heal the world, ' but ' there's money in it'. So, where's the logic? There are some fanatics who are bounded by traditions such as the mormons and the Quakers, Armish and other religions as well who rely on natural medicine. Perhaps they may be right, you don't know that...if they believe that God can heal major illnesses through his intercession and their faith is so strong...perhaps that will happen. There are many episodes that have happened in the life of Jesus's ministry.But if God made doctors...then these are the ones who are the 'labourers ' he talks about that are needed in the field. I think it also depends on how you interpret the biblical issues. Some do it analytically and some through faith and spiritual experiences. You also have to think that if you have a major illness and if you see a doctor for it, then isn't God sending that doctor, who is his 'labourer'...to help you heal? Ultimately it is God who is doing the healing and not the doctor cos the doctor is only an instrument in doing God's work...Sometimes we need to explain things in a different way so that they can see it in a different light..... Hope this helps clarify some issues here....

Answer 4

Not all of course, and next where will it stop, is it ok to kill 10 people, if you can get some "cell" that will cure 10,000.

And of course there has been no real advances in stem cell, and the church has not shut it down, only stoped tax dollars from being spent on it, For those companies that want to get rich when they find that cure for those millions of people, they can invest thier money and do all the research they want.

And no, they would prefer to see people have morals and not have sex like dogs in the street.

And just because science can do it, that does not make it a good thing, for example, your medication for child birth, women groups for the rights of women, preach against being doped up during child birth, and it is not for religion it is for the better birth of the child and the women. so I guess science messed that one up huh?

And not having autopsies has not destroyed the Muslim or the Jewish faiths culture, perhaps man in his hatred of religion is causing more problems with science at times.

Answer 5

sorry I fell asleep after the first sentence, oh well I did skim it and saw the words God, Government and Stem cell. Some how I don't think anything that long can be a question looks more like a lecture. Did you know that it is not illegal to do stem cell research, its only illegal to be government funded, I would think that if there was anything to back up the claims people are making about it stem cell research there would be a lot of corporate funded research going on, but alas no. Why is that? Because it will not work.

Answer 6

the catch with stem cell research and therapeutic cloning is that the researchers don't know when to stop. If it is allowed to go to its final conclusion, there will be clones sitting in cells simply for use as back up organ donors for the rich and famous. People are already having babies simply to be bone marrow donors and organ donors for older, sick siblings. If they could clone them, don't you think they would beconsidered throw away children? And as for fetal cell research, that is just a wrong reason to encourage abortion.

Answer 7

Not meaning to offend, but I don't see a question in here.The only thing I can do is comment on the issue by voicing my opinion that ,as a general rule,people balk against change.Religion has long been used as an excuse for legitimizing bigotry,discrimination,hatred, fear, murder, war, etc.So it stands to reason that people as a general rule would latch on to any excuse that would allow them to continue on as they have been,instead of embracing change.*Just as a historical point of interest, back in the 1500-1700's, many women who were burned as witches were actually healers and midwives.*

Answer 8

what i believe is that one should do as much as possible in order to keep living. im all for stem cells, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, etc. if all those things means saving the lives of God's people, it's what we need. God doesnt want His creations to die. that is why we are put here....besides spreading His message, we are supposed to look out and help eachother as His creations.

Answer 9

I extra advantageous answer this question Seaton Dosher before I come out to artwork :( nOne, All contain indoctrination, coercion. All to regulate the hundreds. properly take care Seaton Dosher.

Answer 10

Science and religion will always be at the opposite ends of the spectrum.