Conclusion

In Summary, religion has been known to impede scientific research into stem cells, and cause pointless and painful deaths for adults and children alike. However may also teach children to be self-sacrificing and pro-family in addition to developing positive relationships with their family.

Counter Argument

 Religion is not without its boons (NEELEMAN , HALPERN , LEON , & LEWIS , 2000) Nelleman, Halpern, Leon & Lewis claim that their study links the effects of religious identity with personal meaning and prosocial concern, illustrating how religion provides a resource for meaning and purpose and a sense of commitment to caring for others beyond themselves. What this means is that people who see themselves as part of a religious identity use their religion as a means for assisting and caring about others beyond themselves. Another example is that religious networks can provide social support to parents, as claimed by John Bartkowski (a Mississippi State University sociologist) (Wenner, 2008). He then goes on about to talk about the “values and norms” claming that “values and norms that circulate in religious congregations tend to be self-sacrificing and pro-family” and that these “could be very, very important in shaping how parents relate to their kids, and then how children develop in response.” What this means is that due to religious children (those attending congregation’s) are more likely to be self-sacrificing (putting others before themselves) and pro-family (maintain positive relationships with family members). These are just a few examples of how religion can be a positive influence on the world.

Argument 2

Certain religions deny medical treatments because of their faith. In the words of Crislip (Crislip, 2013) “At this point we geared up for transfusions of red cells and clotting factors and he let us know that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and, no thank you, he would not accept any blood or blood products” the patient was bleeding from the gums and they would not clot. Around a week later he was suffering ischemia (loss of oxygen to tissue) and then multiple strokes. He later died of a heart attack; this very painful death was caused by the man’s religion, for if he was not a Jehovah’s Witness then he may have been saved by the  “transfusion of red cells and clotting factors”. Another example of the denial of medical treatments is the omission known as faith healing (ignoring medical treatment in hope of a supernatural recovery). One example of this is in April of 2009; Brandon Schnabel died of pneumonia after the parents decided to pray over the infant rather than seeking medical treatment. Another example of this is in 2011 Dale and Shannon Hickman of Oregon were sentenced to 75 months in prison after turning to faith healing to say their premature new-born, which was born in a family home, died from complications that could have easily been averted with medical care. These are just a few examples of how religions have denied medical treatment resulting in pointless deaths. 

Argument 1

Religion is a common source of impedance of scientific progress this is most widely known in the area of “Stem Cell Research”. Essentially (as defined by Wikipedia) Stem Cells are a type of biological cell that can differentiate into specialized cells and divide to produce more cells.  Essentially they can replicate different cell types this can be used to repair or replace damaged, defective or missing cells (with enough research regrow entire organs). Parry (Parry, 2013) reports that scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands have developed lab-grown meat from stem cells; this is one example of the usefulness of stem cell research. The method of obtaining these cells is where the conflict has arisen; Stem cells are normally obtained through young human foetuses. Some people believe that these are to be considered living creatures; to quote The Pope John Paull the second: “embryonic stem-cell research is related to abortion, euthanasia and other attacks on innocent life”. However a foetus normally is not considered living until it is removed from the womb. Consequently it is because of this, Singer (Singer, 2004) claims that “if it were not for religious opposition to the destruction of these early embryos, federal funding would be available for research in this area”. This is just one example of how scientific progress has been impeded by religion.

Introduction

Religion is a Negative Influence on the World, the scope of this argument will be limited to two points for the topic (Religion is a Negative Influence on the World) and one topic against. Firstly, the impedance of scientific progress will be discussed (this will be entirely about stem cell research, including alternate uses of the research), secondly the impedance of medical treatment (this includes topics such as faith healing and religious preference) and finally the positive psychological effects (this will cover topics like values, morales and raising children).

References

References Crislip, M. (2013, June 26). Religion and SCAM « Science-Based Medicine. Retrieved October 1, 2013, from http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/religion-and-scam/ Http://theunboundedspirit.com (2012, July 10). The Negative Effects of Religion on Society | The Unbounded Spirit [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://theunboundedspirit.com/the-negative-effects-of-religion-on-society/ NEELEMAN , J., HALPERN , D., LEON , D., & LEWIS , G. (2000). Tolerance of suicide, religion and suicide rates: an ecological and individual study in 19 Western countries. Psychological Medicine, 27(05), 1165--1171. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291797005357 Singer, P. (2004). The Harm That Religion Does. Free Inquiry, 24(2), 2. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.aut.ac.nz/docview/230086323 Wenner, M. (2008, January 11). Study: Religion is Good for Kids. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from http://www.livescience.com/1465-study-religion-good-kids.html