rhinefire

If any government official denies stem cell research on moral grounds is that not against the concept of church versus state?

rivrrat

"moral" /= religious

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The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.

WI Crippler

Morality does not necessarily have to come from religion, so no it is not. If the offical stated that it went against christian values, then it would be.

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"What Jesus fails to appreciate is that it's the meek who are the problem."- Reg

tryreading

Another side of this is that, for instance, George Bush is against embryonic stem cell research and we know it is because of his religion, and many of our legislators/leaders make decisions based on their religion every day. Can lawmakers who are religious people be expected not to do that? If possible, would you prohibit them from doing that?

rathi

Yes. Bush was elected by and serves the American people. He serves their needs first, and embryos that he thinks are people second.

Yes, but it is very difficult.

Stem cell research has enormous potential in medicine. The lives it could save are worth more than the embyos used in the research.

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He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield, swinging an axe into somebody's face.

Felicity

The lives it could save are worth more than the embyos [ LIVES ] used in the research.

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While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. ~*Leonardo Da Vinci*~

tryreading

It would be impossible. People make decisions based on the things they have learned and the things they believe in. And there's no way you could prove whether a legislator is voting based on his religion or not. And, it is not illegal for a person to use his religious beliefs to help him form an opinion or decide how to vote on a particular bill.

rathi

The good flavors of beef are worth more than the cows [LIVES] used in the barbecue .

Its not impossible. If a legislator admitted to doing it, you could prove it. However, you are correct that for the most part you couldn't prove it. That is why I said it was very difficult.

rhinefire

Labratories are making headway in articial stem cells so hopefully this moral BS issue will dissapate. Anything God can make we can make better given time.

president2028

I get tired of hearing the separation of church and state argument because this phrase is not in the Constitution.

The First Amendment says:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

It does not say that government officials may not take into account their moral or religious background. It just means that the government cannot make an official religion like our British cousins we were trying to get away from at the time this was written.