Cowardly New World

Cowardly New World June 26, 2007

While we have been led to think that science can solve every human ill, it is quite clear, this is a dream without a foundation: science cannot answer ever question, such as those in the field of ethics. As scientific research goes forward, we will find many, new questions confronting us as a race. While we should never forget about such horrors as abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, cloning, and euthanasia, the future will bring new horrors before us, raising their own questions and ethical dilemmas which will be difficult to answer. Wiithout any preparation for them, Christians will be responding to them long after scientists have convinced the majority of the earth of their own favored positions (which will, most likely, be those which either give them the most fame or money).

While some might think that this means we will be entering into a glorious era for humanity, where those things which once led us to fear will be forgotten, and we will live in a happy, brave new world, the reality will, sadly, be far different from this.

People want to live, and extend their life as long as possible. While it is true that life is a good, and so there is a good reason for this, we must realize there is also value in death and it is something we must face. We must not prolong our life solely upon the backs of millions of others. The way many scientists want to extend our lives, however, shows cowardice and not bravery. It follows the Darwinian insistence that we must fight in order to survive. In the future, this battle will go further than ever before. We will cannibalize the human race to extend life; in fear of death, it seems we will destroy what it means to be human, and merge ourselves with our most base, animalistic urges if it will give us a few more days of life.

Just look at what scientists want to do: they want to merge human genes with those of animals to produce weird human-animal hybrids (think Doctor Moreau). Scientists wants to use them for the sake of “health” and “welfare” of humanity. In other words, they will be created to die. Many scientists think, because they are no longer fully human, this will solve all conundrums over cloning and stem-cell research.

Thankfully, some far-thinking bishops are saying “not so fast,” as can be seen in the report here. It’s a tricky situation. Would they qualify as “human” despite the genetic tampering? Even if they are not human, would they be an independent, intelligent species which should be shown respect because of their capabilities? These questions are ones I face quite often, and I have my own answers to them; to understand my own position, however, there are far too many theological and philosophical positions which need to be explained to make any sense of them(and I think some people will have to have their own positions changed as a result of our scientific progress).

Before humanity goes cowardly into the future, we must look to what it means to be human, what it means to be sentient, and look for the rights of all sentient creatures. We need to do this before it is too late.


Browse Our Archives