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
