If you had the power to cure all sexually transmitted diseases, who you do it?

Question

Consider this quote:

…the Christian Right is distorting the government’s relationship to science. One example is that we now have a vaccine for the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer, of which 5000 women die every year in the US. The vaccine, which can be given to girls at age 11 or 12, is safe and effective. Yet evangelical Christians at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention – political appointees – have argued that we should not use this vaccine, because it will remove one of the natural deterrents to premarital sex. Reginald Finger, who’s on the immunization advisory committee of the CDC, has said that even if we had a vaccine against HIV, he would have to think long and hard about whether to use it, because it might encourage premarital sex.

If you worked at the CDC, would you promote the vaccines? Suppose we had cures for ALL STDs, as well as safe, reliable birth control. Would this change your views on premarital sex?

The quote is from an interview with philosopher Sam Harris in the September 2006 issue of The Sun. He made this statement while referring to an article by Michael Specter in the New Yorker.

Link to the New Yorker article by Michael Specter:

http://www.michaelspecter.com/ny/2006/2006_03_13_bush.html

Ooopsss...the "who" in my question was supposed to be "would" so it should have read: If you had the power to cure all sexually transmitted diseases, would you do it?

Ebemdpa: Your response reminds me of a joke I once heard. A town was flooding and trucks arrived to help people evacuate. One family refused to leave, saying that God would help them. As the flood waters rose higher and higher, the family climbed up on their roof and prayed for God to save them. A coast guard boat arrived. The family refused their help, saying that they had faith that God would save them. The flood waters kept rising and soon a helicopter arrived and lowered a ladder, but the family refused to climb because they were still convinced that God would save them. Eventually they drowned and went to heaven. They were curious and asked God: Our heavenly Father, why did you forsake us? We prayed and prayed, but you let us drown. God shrugged His shoulders and said: “I sent a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What more do you want?”

Answer 1

I am a strong proponent of giving people the choice to have open, healthy sexual relationships, and therefore I believe that making both the vaccinations and birth control available is an important step towards a more healthy societal attitude towards sex and sexuality. The "economics of scarcity" that surround sex are, imnsho, completely unhealthy and ridiculous.

Answer 2

The Christian Right will still have bastard births to complain about, so curing stds should be something everybody strives to work towards. It is a selfish view to prevent others from making the decision to A) have premarital sex in the first place, and B) cure the disease that they have so they can go back to doing A. There will always be the chance that pregnancy will occur. No birth control method outside of abstinence is 100 percent effective. The Christian Right need to get its priorities in order. What's good for humanity should trump what's good for the religion.

Answer 3

I'm conservative and a Christian (despite the fact that I would not name myself a conservative Christian) however I am no longer a Bush supporter. Hope your nonetheless interested personally.... Even regardless that I feel that no longer carrying out pre-marital or additional-marital intercourse is the fine strategy to avert the unfold of STD's I might no longer be towards this sort of vaccine. What occurs if say a lady has stored herself for marriage however marries a person with a little of a historical past or if one partner is devoted and the opposite isn't? If we will avert men and women from obtaining those illnesses, then we will have to do exactly that.

Answer 4

I am conservative and a Christian (despite the fact that i would not call myself a conservative Christian) however i'm not a Bush supporter. Hope your nonetheless for my part.... Despite the fact that I feel that no longer conducting pre-marital or further-marital sex is the great solution to restrict the spread of STD's i might no longer be in opposition to one of these vaccine. What occurs if say a woman has saved herself for marriage but marries a person with a bit of of a history or if one spouse is trustworthy and the other is not? If we will avoid humans from acquiring these diseases, then we should do exactly that.

Answer 5

Of course I would do it!!! If a life can be saved, if suffering can be diminished or eliminated, why wouldn't you opt for that? It seems totally moronic & small-minded to withhold a vaccine because of a premarital sex issue. Who says it has to be premarital, anyhow? A marriage license does not prevent or insulate you from sexually transmitted diseases. So, once again, the Christian Right has it ALL WRONG.

Answer 6

I believe if I had the cure, I would put it to use. I see it like this; people are having premarital sex and don't really care about the consequences. At least with a cure available, unsuspecting victims won't have to suffer from someone else nastiness.

Answer 7

i'm conservative and a Christian (even if i does no longer call myself a conservative Christian) yet i'm no longer a Bush supporter. wish your nonetheless fascinated for my section.... even although i think that no longer enticing in pre-marital or better-marital intercourse is the ideal thank you to stay away from the unfold of STD's i does no longer be against the style of vaccine. What occurs if say a girl has saved herself for marriage yet marries a guy with a splash a heritage or if one substantial different is truthful and the different isn't? If we are in a position to stay away from human beings from procuring those illnesses, then we would desire to consistently do basically that.

Answer 8

Yes

Answer 9

Certainly. People who wouldn't have their own personal agendas. Who would most benefit from such cures/vaccines? The poorer classes and the huge majority who suffer from them in the Third World.

Answer 10

YES. Diseases do not tend to recognize the morality of the person they infect. As a person, I cannot concieve of a morality that would not allow a disease.to be cured. The morality of specific sexual behavior is a separate question and should be addressed as such.