Claiming Power over Life: Religion and Biotechnology Policy
By Mark J. Hanson, ed.
Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC
2001, 192 pp., $44.95 (hardcover)
BY: THOMAS A. SHANNON, PhD
The eight essays constituting this book emerged from a three-year project on
Religion and Biotechnology sponsored by the Hastings Center. Four of the essaysthose
by Mark J. Hanson, the books editor; John H. Evans; Audrey R. Chapman; and
Elliott N. Dorffhave appeared elsewhere but were revised or adapted for this
volume. The other fourby Courtney Campbell, B. Andrew Lustig, Ronald Cole-Turner,
and Gerald P. McKennyare published here for the first time.*
* Elliott N. Dorff and Courtney Campbell were among the contributors to
a January-February 2002 Health Progress special section on technology
and ethics.
The subject of these essays is a difficult one, both internally and externally.
The topic of religion and biotechnology is internally difficult for religious
organizations because biotechnological breakthroughs have in recent years occurred
too quickly for thorough analysis by such groups. Religious groups have, moreover,
the general problem of determining how to use the resources of their particular
traditionsformed at a time when even rudimentary genetics was unknownto deal
with such exotic topics as stem cell research, xenotransplantation, and gene
therapy. This is not to argue that religious traditions have no resources or
have not in fact responded. They have responded; many have done so very helpfully.
Rather, the point is that this engagement is particularly difficult because
of the highly specialized nature of new topics in genetics.
Religion and biotechnology is also a difficult subject externally because
the current cultural climate hesitates to allow religion into public policy
debates. This hesitance is partly a remnant of the distaste left by the posturing
of the so-called Moral Majority and partly also a rejection of the premise that
religion has anything positive to contribute to such debates.
Fortunately for those who want to engage the religious traditions in a dialogue
with current genetics and public policy, we have this book. The eight essayswhich
focus on a variety of topics, ranging from religion and public policy, on one
hand, to considerations of nature and the intricacies of patenting laws, on
the otherare models of how to engage in such a dialogue. The general lesson
of the essays is that we should do this knowledgably, critically, constructively,
and competently. All of the essays are characterized by an excellent degree
of comprehension of the scientific or policy issues at stake. They also manifest
a deep grounding in particular religious traditions or perspectives. If you
are interested in a book that gives an excellent introduction to this area,
this is the one to start with. On the other hand, several of the essays are
not for the faint of heart. Both Evanss and Hansons articles on patenting
go into significant detail in their analysis and show clearly both the religious
and legal issues that are at stake.
The essay by Chapman on religious traditions and biotechnology is an excellent
overview that provides a wonderful presentation of a variety of traditions and
what they have said about biotechnology and genetics. This is an excellent first
article for individuals unfamiliar with this material. The same is true of the
essay by Dorff. Although he focuses mainly on providing an overview of Jewish
bioethics, he does highlight several of the themes on genetics that are discussed
by others.
The articles by Campbell and Lustig directly engage the issues of religion
and biotechnology and provide an excellent engagement with many of the current
biases against the presence of religion in the public arena. Not polemics, these
essays are carefully considered arguments about the positive contribution that
religion can make to public policy debates.
Cole-Turner and McKenny each engage religious traditions and perspectives
to challenge religion to take a deeper look at their resources and begin a critical
discussion of the issues.
Books on genetics, biotechnology, and religion have the inherent problem of
being quickly made dated by ever-newer scientific developments or public policies.
However, these essays are thematic enough to help us begin to think through
carefully which resources a particular religious tradition offers in dealing
with the ethical and religious implications of policy issues and particular
scientific developments. Although not a particularly comforting bookit clearly
lays out the difficulty of the tasks aheadClaiming Power over Life nonetheless
gives us a most useful framework for beginning this task.
Thomas A. Shannon, PhD
Professor of Religion and Social Ethics
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA
Copyright © 2003 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.