Genetics Learning for the Churches

Confronting the Challenges of Biotechnology Where Faith, Ethics, Theology, and Science Meet

J Rusthoven and the Biotechnology Reference Group, Canadian Council of Churches

Presented at Tarrytown II, July 2011

Introduction

• Program Objectives (Oregon version)– Increase knowledge about genetic science

– Increase knowledge about complexity of ethical, theological, and policy questions

– Produce genetics policy white paper to state policy makers

– Develop a flexible, revisable adult education program for use in churches in the US

Program Organization

• The Program

– Overview of ethical, theological, and policy issues

– Case scenario narratives

– Questions for discussion

– Recommended articles to illustrate issues

• Website

Contributors (Oregon version)• Authors and originators– Marc Marenco – teaches philosophy, Pacific Univ.– Lisa Sardinia – teaches biology, Pacific Univ.

• Consultants– Audrey Chapman – humanities and ethics– Ted Peters – theology– Joseph Graves – biology– Ronald Green – ethics– Allen Verhey – bioethics & theology– Michael Banner – bioethics (UK)– Susan Olson – molecular biology and medical genetics

… And Genetics for Guiding Therapy

Section 5: Genetics of Race and Genetics for Guiding Therapy

• Genetic Racial Distinctions

• Medical Implications of Racial and Geographically distinct Human Groupings

Summation of Evaluations

• Did I learn something about my own faith? Yes 33; No 6

• Did I learn anything about science? Yes 35; No 5

• Did I understand the ethical questions and responses by Christians? Yes 34; No 6

Summary of Evaluations(Number received: 49; Rating: 1 (inadequate or poor) – 5 (Excellent)

• Number of sessions 0 2 8 16 21

• Length of sessions 0 0 10 19 19

• Intro. material (/session) 0 5 10 22 12

• Case scenarios 2 10 6 12 18

• Questions with scenarios 0 1 14 11 11

• Topics selected for study 0 1 8 19 19

• Science component 0 4 8 13 13• Opportunity to participate 0 3 7 11 27

Genetics Curriculum Evaluation: Pros

• ‘This is a great thing to have done, something we don’t do enough of….’

• ‘Liked depth of discussion’

• ‘Straying beyond questions led to insightful discussions’

• ‘There was real value in in struggling together as a community of faith with a number of really difficult issues’

• With what I learned and using the glossary, I can now

read and better understand articles in Time magazine

and the newspapers about genetic technologies

• The science learning has helped me to better discuss

science issues regarding genetics to my patients

(physician participant)

Genetics Curriculum Evaluation: Pros

Genetics Curriculum: Suggestions of Improvement

• Better integrate science and theology/ethics sections

• More ‘faith’ content

• Make scenarios more relevant (e.g., over-the-counter genetic test kits), sometimes less complicated

• Facilitators’ Guide

• Individual versus individual reflection

• Common theology statement in addition to denominational appendix

• Little on plant genetics, though part of considerable discussion

• Better title: ‘Thinking about Human Genetics from a Faith Perspective’

• ‘Thought we were going to get answers which I realize now was naïve. Should emphasize ‘Thinking about….’ if use recommend title’

• Some theological concerns – e.g., human likeness of God not useful for some-even off putting. Church authority not to make decisions but the individual – need collective forum with greater focus on creation and on how God in each of us affect how we express the divine

Genetics Curriculum: Suggestions of Improvement

• Add and diversify resources for illustration and future reading

• Consider more content on developing decision-making process and less on specific issues

• Add more current and format-diverse references

• ‘Unlike scientific paradigms, social, religious, and cultural paradigms seem to hang around forever… they never really die, are never really abandoned when a new paradigm appears. Rather, they are stacked up like trays in a self-service cafeteria.’

Genetics Curriculum: Suggestions for Improvement

• When my body is genetically altered, could it harm my soul?

• Add more about ‘the genetic person’ – need more on concern for the creation of humans (? extreme synthetic biology) and need to develop an ethical framework

• How can people of faith reclaim a possible future vision of hope in time of the potential genetics?

• What are the criteria we will use of judging the ‘good’ aspects of genetics?

Particularly Important Questions

Extra Slides