May 2005 - Tower - Page 8
| Page 7 | T.O.C. | Index | Page 9 |
Church and Society
Russell Fox, Captain
Ever since primitive man invented the bow and arrow, he found that he could use it to kill animals for food, but also he found a more efficient way to kill other human beings. And so it has been down through the ages, how we adapt new technologies to our needs for better living, or to use them for exercising power to kill other people.
In the 19th century, we saw a major expansion in the use of new technologies which had made major improvements in our lives. On the other hand, we have found more efficient ways to kill. So the problem facing our society is how to use our new knowledge for a better society, or even more, a better human race.
The recent case of Terri Schiavo has brought into sharp focus the problem of moral ethics in the use of technology. The insertion of the feeding tube was done as an act of mercy to keep her from starving. Then later, when the tube was removed, the moral question arose: was this an act of mercy or murder? So we find our country sharply divided over the morality or ethics issue of the situation. It even strained our interpretation of our Constitution when we found the legislative and judicial branches of our government at odds.
Technology and Science are amoral. It is the way in which they are used that determines the morality. For example, during World War II nuclear fission was discovered which at that time resulted in the atomic bomb being used to destroy two cities in Japan, and kill thousands of people. But one argues that the use of the bomb at that time saved more lives than were lost. Since then, the radio active isotopes developed from this same technology has been used in the medical profession to save more lives than were destroyed by the bomb.
Now, new technologies in the life sciences are raising more ethical problems. Shall we use stem cell research for possible application in curing a variety of illnesses? To what use should we explore cloning as a possible breakthrough for medical purposes? And so it goes with new information. What are the moral and ethical problems associated with the use of this new information or technology? What laws, it any, should we enact to control the use of this new knowledge?
During the Civil War, James Russell Lowell penned a poem entitled, The Present Crisis. Here is the last stanza which reads as follows:
New occasions teach new duties;
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward,
who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp fires!
We ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly
through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future's portal with
the Past's blood-rusted key.
CONTACT Peninsula, A Ministry of Love Through Listening, will begin training for their 24-hour crisis hotline on June 4. Classes will take place on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and will run for nine weeks. If you are a caring person who would like to help others, they will train you in the area of Active Listening. To find out more about CONTACT, please call the business office at 244-0594.
| Page 7 | T.O.C. | Index | Page 9 |
If you have any comments on any of these pages, please email me: Robert W.(Bob) Mckitrick, thanks.
Last update: May 7, 2005
