Fundamentalism Kills
And chases away scientists. David Ewing Duncan writes about Doug Melton, a scientist working with stem cells in hopes of saving the lives of his two children:
Twelve-year-old Sam and 16-year-old Emma have been diagnosed with insulin- dependent diabetes. If Melton's research is successful, they could be spared the organ failure, blindness and heart disease that eventually afflict diabetics -- but only if Melton is allowed to continue his work by lawmakers in Washington, D.C. They worry that his methods might be immoral or dangerous and are threatening to shut down his work.
If Congress bans stem cell research, Melton's choices are continue his research and risk prison, or leave the country. Duncan, who wrote the article, notes the parallel to Gallileo, "broken and banished" in his final years, and living in house arrest, "his output of discoveries silenced." Everything old is new again? Well, not quite. Probably like a lot of other scientists, if fundamentalism triumphs in The Senate (in the form of legislation lumping stem cell cloning with reproductive cloning), Melton plans to leave the country for another country -- Britain, perhaps -- where the benefits of stem cell research now take precedence over the ravings of religious fantatics.
Yes fundamentalism kills as does all religious insanity. Even religion-lite kills, but that's another lecture. In any event, speaking of science vs. superstition, here is a letter I sent to actor Chris Reeve a while back, urging him to become more vocal in this area.
Dear Chris:
Iíve been meaning to write you for some time now. Perhaps,
because, we have a few things in common. Both of our names
are Christopher, I too am tall(6í5î) and we both share an
atheistic world view. And we both, in my opinion, have been
directly impacted(as all people alive are) by a world in
which superstition and mysticism holds sway over science and
reason.
I have followed your efforts in the area of medical
research(embryonic cloning etc.) On the day I am writing
this, Iím reading the news that 2 so-called ìbubble boys,î
have been completely cured by having altered genes injected
into their bloodstreams. I wish you godspeed Chris in your
efforts to move this process along to benefit not only
yourself, but literally dozens of different maladies which
all may benefit from this type of therapy.
At this point I simply want to proffer some thoughts and
tuition that you may or may not agree with regarding
medicine, religion, politics.
I have come to believe that religion, superstitious
thinking, mysticism and on and on, are really the great
ìsatansî of our world. I can trace them, as any good atheist
can I suppose, to just about any of the worldís problems, at
least to some degree. I see religion not as benign nonsense,
as some apparently do, but as a really really bad idea, that
is to our planet, what kryptonite was to Superman.
To wit, the battle you are currently engaged in regarding
therapeutic cloning. What I never hear reported is the role
religion is playing in all of this. No matter how people
distort the reporting, no matter how they parse the words,
isnít the current battle you are engaged in just another
battle in the centuries old armed conflict(and I do mean
ARMED) of science vs. superstition? Because at the heart of
this debate is the notion, belief, canard that god created
life, and thus it canít be tampered with. ìWho are we to
play god?î Perhaps not in all cases, but I believe that when
you peel away the onion of opposition, this is really at the
heart and core of the people on the other side.
I believe this battle of science v. superstition is the most
important battle on our planet today. And in the wake of
9/11 and the ongoing insanity in the middle east, to name
only two, it becomes clearer than ever that this battle is
of the utmost importance.
If we were living in an age where science, sanity, reason
prevailed, we might already have cures for many of the
medical problems we are facing. For what is the one
steadfast impediment that has been standing in the way of
science since Aristotle first began theorizing? Who made the
dark ages dark? Who put Galileo under house arrest? And why
did Darwin fear for his life(and rightly so) on the
publishing of ìOrigin of the Species?î And who is behind the
scenes today, stoking the flames of resistance in the
ongoing battle of science vs. superstition?
Now weíre coming to my summary(thankfully.) So, why am I
writing you? Because I feel that you are at the nexus of
this ongoing duel. Who else do you or I know that is wheel
chair bound, an atheist and god love ya, a celebrity to
boot. You alone my friend, you alone. And whether rightly or
wrongly, people in this country, are simply punch-drunk with
the crapulence of celebrity. If a celebrity says something,
no matter how dunderheadedly dopey it may or may not be, he
can reach a hundred times more people than any article in
any magazine can. According to what Iíve read, Jodie Foster,
Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando are also atheists. However
it seems to me that they donít have the compelling stake in
these matters that you do. It seems to me that you have a
unique and rare opportunity to speak to the matters not only
of medical research but also about your atheism, about how
religion is hampering medicine and scientific research, and
the age old battle of science v. superstition in general.
Of course, this could be a liability to you. In the
political world of favors, goodwill and perception, perhaps
speaking forcefully on these issues would be detrimental to
you and your efforts. I canít say. As somewhat of an
activist in this field, I think the big picture needs to be
addressed more directly, but thatís my view. With the
Senateís shameful, pandering vote of 99-0 denouncing the
court ruling removing the words ìunder godî from the pledge
of allegiance, it becomes obvious what we are up against.
So, is this vote an example of the reasons to say nothing,
or all the more reason for people such as yourself to speak
out?
In the end, inevitably, science and reason will win out over
superstition and mysticism. But the question becomes, how
long are we willing to wait? How many more imbeciles will
fly planes into buildings? How many more people will seize
other peopleís countries because their god told them so? And
how long will we let fundamentalism, superstition and
mysticism continue to impede scientific research and
medicine?
Sincerely,
Chris Volkay
chris at March 5, 2004 8:02 AM
godspeed: Etymology: Middle English god speid, from the phrase God spede you God prosper you
Funny how intrinsically it's woven into everything--in the midst of your complete disdain for all religious influence you use a phrase directly derived from religious belief, even if its common current usage is not religious.
Peggy C at March 5, 2004 11:26 AM
I was very much aware of it's origin and chose the word as I thought it both ironic and interesting. Something like saying "break a leg" to an actor.
chris at March 5, 2004 3:43 PM
Peggy, just wanted to throw a little praise your way. You decribed yourself as a religious conservative, and yet you read my writing. Most religious people don't, and they tell me so. you're obviously not afraid to read things that you don't agree with. That's actually pretty rare. Good for you.
chris at March 5, 2004 8:19 PM
Well, I wouldn't want you to think that ALL religious people are idiots! I'm not afraid to read opposing viewpoints. Some people seem to be, like their beliefs can't stand to be challenged. I think that understanding your 'opponents' viewpoint helps you either learn where you are wrong and start the process of 'unbelieving', or it clarifies why you don't agree and reaffirms your own position.
At the very least, the dialogue is proof that there is still some freedom in this country, since we can disagree publicly without being silenced.
Although I'm pretty firmly grounded in what I believe, I'm willing to examine it and see if I need to change my thinking. For example, my position on gay marriage has been altered this way, though my belief in god remains. So bring it on, my friend!
Peggy C at March 6, 2004 12:00 PM