SCIENCE vs RELIGON

SCIENCE vs RELIGION

BY SHREYA AND GUNJAN

SUBSIDIARY

KNOWLEDGE QUESTION

When it comes to stem cell research, does faith dictate an individual's reasoning ?

CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS

COUNTER-CLAIM

An individual's faith does not intervene with their reasoning.

• Omar Sultan Haque is a Muslim theologian at Harvard Medical School.
• He states that the view on stem cell research are still evolving in Islam.
• Ensoulment: Development that usually occurs at 40 or 120 days after conception.
• While Haque practices Islam he disagrees with Ensoulment and supports stem cell research.

CLAIM

Religious values interfere with the acceptance of stem cell research.

Faith affects an individual's reasoning.

WOK and AOK

CATHOLICISM

BUDDHISM

• Buddhism believes in rebirth.
• Human embryos should be respected equally.
• Killing them is against their beliefs, hence they oppose it.

• Pope Francis housing Syrian refugees at the Vatican.
• Uses faith as a reason for helping Muslims
• According to Catholicism there is a moral obligation to save others (especially in a Humanitarian crisis like the Syrian Immigration Issue).

Catholicism has been very opposed to embryonic stem cell research. In an article published in 2015, the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church formally opposed to embryonic stem cell research, stating that it was "immoral, illegal and unnecessary", stemming from their belief that "life is sacred from the moment of conception", and therefore using embryonic stem cells for research is equivalent to destroying life.

WAYS OF KNOWING

In the context of relig

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

REASON

In the context of religion, faith can be defined as confidence or trust in a particular system of religious belief, within which faith may equate to confidence based on some percieved degree of warrant.

FAITH

COUNTER-CLAIM

NATURAL SCIENCES

A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

RELIGIOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

Religious faith supports the usage of stem cell research due to the potential of improving quality life.

Various religious beliefs have the ability to shift the morals of the individuals that follow those religions.

JUDAISM

Judaism is one of the few religious group that support both embryonic and adult stem cell research, provided that the research is for medical and therapeutic purposes. According to the Jewish value Pikuach Nefesh, preserving life and promoting healthare some of the most important responsibilities

CENTRAL

KNOWLEDGE QUESTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• https://www.hastingscenter.org/briefingbook/stem-cells/
• http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2007/03/stem-cells-through-a-religious-lens/

CONCLUSION

To what extent can Faith Influence Reason ?

To a certain extent , faith influences an individual's reasoning because many people look towards their religion for answers when they are unsure of the actual answers themselves. Past this point, faith does not influence reason because both are able to coexist and build off of each other. Instead, it is instead dependent on the individual and their perspectives/interpretation of certain values and beliefs; therefore faith influences reason if an individual chooses it to do so.

REAL LIFE SITUATION

What are Stem Cells ?

LINK BACK TO RLS

Individuals who are unsure of their acceptance of stem cell research tend to use their religion's values to help them determine what they actually believe. On the other hand, it can be argued that faith strengthens the acceptance of stem cell research.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

• Stem cells are extracted from a human embryo in order to offer the highest level of gene expression.
• Can be used to cure many diseases (Leukemia, Arthritis, Nerve Restoration, Muscle Deterioration etc.)
• Controversial issue due to the fact that extracting stem cells kills human embryos.

WHY IS THE RLS CONTROVERSIAL ?

REASON FOR

REASON AGAINST

Human life is too valuable to allow for embryonic stem cell research and usage to proceed.

Ability to cure diseases with a very high success rate.