Words That Contradict Religious Teachings

Countless words have been scorched out of existence, due to the burning of ideologies that conflicted directly with religious teachings. While no longer in the Dark Ages, it is apparent that religion still has an asphyxiating grip on the scientific community and its potential to expand. Ultimately, religion suppresses science from reaching its full potential in embryotic stem cell research and space exploration, as well as impeding individuals from receiving medical help. With proponents like Pope John Paul stating that life beings at conception and that embryos are subject to having human rights, dignity, and respect it is obvious to say that many religions and their spokesmen disapprove of abortion.

This disapproval trickles over into the exploration of embryotic stem cell research. During his presidency, President George W. Bush vetoed federal funding to embryonic stem cell research, admittedly basing this on his religious faith.

More recently, a smear campaign against stem cell research has caused Planned Parenthood to face scrutiny and a potential loss of funding for providing leftover fetal tissue from abortions to clinics investigating and researching for cures of disease.

This blatantly ignores the promise stem cell research has shown in improving the effects of diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and blindness. The lack of support for stem cell research on a religious ground is largely unfounded, as studies demonstrate that a fetus likely has no understanding of pain as the nerve pathways aren’t likely complete until around 20th week of pregnancy.  Combined with the fact that 98.

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7% of abortions occur at 20th week of pregnancy or before, the large divide between religion and science and abortion is one that is not based on fact, but rather outdated and interpretable scripture, largely based on the unprovable concept of having a soul. Even with the eradication of President Bush’s policy, the stigma for embryotic stem cell usage is still one that is prominent.

For 2017, it was concluded that the United States spends four times the amount for funding of all categories of human non-embryonic stem cell research than funding for human embryonic stem cell research. This a major disservice to science, clouded largely by religion. Humanity has been given a less blurry view into the formation of the universe and how humanity came to exist with the and discovery of gravitational waves. With the increasing amount of discoveries being made in space, humanity would be thought to continually move forward and research. However, religion is rearing its head and pushing back. Leading creationist Ken Ham, who impressively displays 60,000 followers on the social media site Twitter, denounces space exploration to many of his readers, determining it to only be a rebellion against God that will ultimately end in damnation. ^8 A tactic heavily rooted in fear, that likely causes individuals to think twice about space exploration, as he negates the clarity it could bring about. It has also been concluded that religion can greatly hinder individuals from appreciating space, as well as ignoring factual evidence.

A study linked church attendance to individuals being less interested in space, more pessimistic about space findings, as well as decreasing accepted knowledge about space altogether.  While largely underreported, religion can serve as a barrier for individuals to receive medical care. Jehovah’s Witnesses follow and interpret scripture verbatim, resulting in a refusal of blood transfusions. Amish communities follow this as practice as well, along with refusing heart transplants and prenatal care. Christian Scientists have suffered multiple measles outbreaks, and suffered losses to their community, for a lack of receiving vaccinations.^10 It can also be noted that many religions do not support the use of birth control. ^11 While this may seem isolated to religion, religiously charged propaganda pushes individuals away from accepting medical technology. Gloria Copeland, an Evangelical Christian minister on Trump campaign’s advisory board has stated her lack of support for the annual flu shot. In her opinion, due to Christ’s power, he has ability to heal people from the flu.

Should someone catch it, it is his power to heal .  This ultimately renders the flu shot useless, an absurd claim as the annual flu shot is responsible for thousands of lives being saved, and is supported by scientific backing, rather than faith without any backing.  The reality is that individuals may believe such claims, as it comes from a trusted member of their religious community, though there is no evidence to support it. Science and religion are in a relationship that is not mutual beneficial to the other. Religion serves as an appetite suppressant, limiting what one can consume, while science acts as a buffet of knowledge, each bite giving society a glance at how little is known and the drive to continually pursue. Because of this differential relationship, with one concept being driven by faith and the other by knowledge, religion will continue to limit science. Areas of embryotic stem cell research and space exploration, as well as what medical help individuals can receive, will continue to be restricted if religion overlaps and replaces science.