Public Ridicule

I had to do an ethics presentation on an area of scientific research in college. I took on the subject of “Genetic Engineering” and my take was one of optimism on how incredibly wonderful the results of this research could be. I specifically discussed the “Frankenstein” argument that always gets trotted out when critics of this area of research speak out. Put simply, “playing God” isn’t a valid argument against pursuing this line of research. The novel has more to do with taking responsibility for your actions than following some religious decree. I put a lot of work into that project and got a “B” for it.

My roommate, Dave, was taking the same class and his presentation was on present-day parallels to the biblical “Mark of the Beast“. Though Dave and I share opinions about religion in general, his presentation catered to the fear most Bible-thumpers have about the future and technological advancement. He took this approach because our professor was one of the advisors for the Campus Crusade for Christ club at our university and very openly religious. Dave played to the professors biases and got an “A”. Even though Dave readily admitted that I worked harder on my project, he still laughed at me for putting so much work into something the professor wasn’t going to appreciate because the Invisible Sky Dude frowned upon it. Looking back on it now, I deserved the ridicule.

Today we laugh at some of the beliefs the generations before us held. Unfortunately we haven’t learned we are as susceptible to being laughed at by generations to come. In the future we will be considered as stupid as the imbeciles that thought blood-letting cured everything from headaches to syphilis. Take the example I ran across today, for instance.

Some very forward-thinking members of the British House of Commons decided not to ban the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos. The purpose of this research is the treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Immediately, knee-jerk reactionaries started their cacophony of “Frankenstein” and “Dr. Moreau” references. Though no one is proposing creating hybrid organisms from these embryos, that is the conclusion to which the anti-science lunatics jump.

This area of research could lead to incredible breakthroughs in the treatment of debilitating diseases. It could also be a scientific dead-end. We don’t know; we have to try. The anti-science douchebags don’t even want us to try. As science continues barreling down the Superhighway to the Future, it still has to deal with blue-hairs and church buses in the left lane. Not surprisingly, these scientific obstructionists are trying to stay under 30 miles per hour because faster speeds than that will kill a human being.

On the Trinity Broadcasting Network (yes, that bastion of class and sophistication), Ben was speaking to Paul Crouch about the anti-science ‘Expelled’ movie:

From National Review Online:

Stein: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers [i.e. biologist P.Z. Myers], talking about how great scientists were, I was thinking to myself the last time any of my relatives saw scientists telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers to get gassed … that was horrifying beyond words, and that’s where science — in my opinion, this is just an opinion — that’s where science leads you.

Crouch: That’s right.

Stein: …Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people.

Crouch: Good word, good word.

I would say more, but is there any point. I mean, anybody who really feels this way should just become Amish. There’s no point in continuing on in this society benefitting from scientific discoveries you feel are part of a long walk toward moral and physical destruction. I’m starting to see what Nixon liked about him.