Memo to Religious Fellow Citizens: Please Get Out of My Way

Years ago, an elderly Greek woman, the widow of a Greek priest, asked me why I didn't go to church. Before I could answer, she said, "It's nice to go to church." That's the simplest and best reason I've ever heard for going to church. For some people -- it's nice.

I can't remember exactly what I said to her -- how I talked my way out of the situation without saying what I wanted to say: I think it's nice not to go to church.

I remembered this when I read in the papers today that researchers have, for the first time, made stem cells from an adult primate -- a rhesus monkey. It's the same trick used to clone Dolly the sheep a decade ago. But until now, nobody had been able to do it in primates. If the trick can be carried over to humans, which seems likely, it could open the door to new kinds of research on cancer, degenerative brain diseases, and psychiatric ailments.

Our religions fellow citizens, however, aren't going to like it. And if they had their way, the research would stop right here -- or it would never have come this far.

I'm perfectly happy to live in a country where most people believe in God. It's fine with me if they believe that a certain kind of microscopic cell is morally equivalent to a human being. If Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue wants to hold a prayer vigil to ask God for rain, as he did Tuesday, be my guest.

Hey, I'm easy. Believe what you like. Go to church if you think it's nice. Just don't get in my way if I'm headed somewhere else.

It's been about 15 years since scientists began to isolate human stem cells, opening up transformational opportunities in the treatment of disease, the production of organs for transplant, and other medical wonders. While the early claims clearly promised too much too soon, there is little doubt that one day these things will come to pass.

But thanks to our religions fellow citizens, it's going to take a lot longer than it should.

That's because many scientists who once worked on potential miracle cures are now trying to make stem cells from adult cells. There is a limitless supply of stem cells from embryos. But with minor exceptions, federally funded labs can't legally touch them. So researchers look for adult stem cells to get around the funding ban.

If our religious fellow citizens think it's wrong to study embryonic cells, I don't need to know their reasons. I accept their belief. They're entitled to it. But don't get in the way of me and others like me who think this research should proceed on the basis of its scientific merit -- not on the basis of somebody's beliefs.

They're getting in my way, and I don't like it. And President Bush, our fellow religious citizen-in-chief, gets in my way more than the rest.

Bush's first address to the nation as president came in August, 2001, more than half a year into his presidency. He chose that address to condemn embryonic cell research. (Aren't you nostalgic? A time when something besides the "war on terror" justified an address to the nation.) He said he would not allow federal funding for any but a handful of stem cell lines that were already in existence at the time. To do otherwise would violate his moral values.

Those are not my moral values. But I guess I'm stuck living with the president's moral values. And that's getting in my way. My body parts haven't started failing or falling off yet, but I'd like to have some alternatives when they do. Stem cell research might give me those options.

So get the heck out of my way -- let me follow my own moral values; don't make me follow yours.

Yes, a few states are funding embryonic stem cell research, but it takes years to fund, house, and staff new research institutions. We're losing time.

Memo to my fellow religious citizens: If you like going to church, go to church. Believe as you choose.

But extend the same courtesy to me. If you don't like embryonic stem-cell research, don't do it. But please don't get in my way if I want to do it or see it done. If I favor a water-conservation plan over praying for rain, let me believe as I choose.

Please: just get out of my way.

Comments

[MacKenzie]

Might be becoming a moot point...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml;jsessionid=XFT2IYJUHGB4FQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/earth/2007/11/16/scidolly116.xml

[HeevenSteven]

Isn't it interesting that those who so vociferously claim a right to their own beliefs are so willing to usurp someone else's right to same.

[jackstraw005]

didnt bill borroughs once point out that when you come right down to it, we are all just bags of water?

[SamThornton]

I have no problem with people who do not believe in studying human stem cells to refrain from studying human stem cells. I'm certainly not going to insist they study human stem cells over their objections.

The same with people who object to abortion. Hey, you live in America. If you object to abortion, no one is going to force you to have one. It's strictly your private business.

I'm sure this is an attitude shared by nearly all Americans, particularly those who identify themselves as Christians.

[AsaNisMasa]

here here!

i say its time the religious right and those who are against stem cell research puts their money where their mouths are and sign a petition saying that they will NEVER accept any medical treatment that has been developed from the use of stem cells...

lets see how many of them stand by their position THEN.

[Lt]

right on!

these same christians brought us bush and the war in iraq

[leftofnorth]

This article makes the mistake in equating all people and their beliefs as equal. Religious people, however, do not believe all beliefs and people are equal.
To do so would admit that one religion is as good as another, which gets rid of one of the major points of religion in the first place. Religious people believe they are superior to those without religion because of their religion. Their god is number 1, therefore they're on the number 1 team (sort of like Patriots fans, except the Patriots actually exist). You and I are not.
It's very circular, and it's why you cannot argue rationally with true believers; their paradigm is unassailable. Part of that paradigm, of course, is they have to save as many as possible from secular evils such as science. The fact that large parts of science are completely against their worldview (creationism, anyone?) doesn't help.
Put another way, if you believe you have access to all the answers, why would you listen to anybody who disagreed with you? Father knows best, after all, and they're the only ones who truly listen to father.

[StudentThinker]

While I very much understand where you are coming from, Paul, and appreciate the reasonable (as opposed to virulent) tone you take in your piece, I do have one quibble:

I wish that you would not lump all religiously (or spiritually) -minded people together into one undifferentiated mass. While the more fundamentalist positions you enumerate certainly do have many supporters, other religious people (myself one) do NOT necessarily agree with them. The rational, progressiv­ely-minded religious person does in fact exist. I feel that the narrow characterization of people of a religious/spiritual sensibility actually favors the fundamentalist side by disenfranchising and driving away people who might agree with you on most points despite (or because of) their religious/spiritual feelings. So please, let's recognize a gray area here, alright?

[nancytheragingliberal]

The only problem is that far right nuts expect the rest of us to fall in line with them. Here they are rolling in the aisles, shouting, beating their chests. Great,go for it, but don't drag the rest of us along. I, for one, think these religious freaks are out there. My attitude is fine, but stop telling me how to live my life. I am doing quite well, and don't need your assistance. Thanks, but no thanks. By the way, religion is quiet, serious and personal. No one has to answer to anyone else for they way they worship. Separation of church and state. Have you heard of this all of you "holy rollers?"

[carolotta]

How much closer would we be to an array of cures if Shrub hadn't been chosen by the Supreme Court in 2000??? How many people have suffered and died because of the religious right's aversion to scientists using a clump of cells that would otherwise be discarded like a clump of cells??? Where's outrage???

[musicman42]

Amen. Live and let live.