Balance between science and faith

I must admit, I was more interested in the daily routine of Dr. Hwang

-- who is described in some of this week’s articles as a Buddhist

workaholic -- than his recent accomplishment along with Dr. Moon in

cloning a human embryo.

Supposedly, Hwang gets up at 4 a.m., hits the public baths, then

practices a style of Korean yoga before arriving at work at 6 a.m.

After a jam-packed day of office and field research, he returns home

at midnight for a few hours of rest before starting again in the

early a.m. He proudly announces his office is open seven days a week

with no time off. I found myself asking such philosophical questions

as: Does he have a wife or family? How long can he go on? And, how is

morale at his workplace?

In all seriousness, the revolutionary contribution of Zen is to

look for “breakthroughs” where “no man has gone before,” that is,

right under our very noses. I don’t mean to undervalue the fantastic

contributions scientists have made in both explaining some of the

great mysteries of how life and the universe are constructed, and

also relieving some of the great suffering caused by disease.

But I will hold my excitement for the time when all children

receive equal education and healthcare, when people stop killing one

another in war, on the streets and in prisons and women can finally

live without fear of rape or domestic violence.

THE REV. CAROL AGUILAR

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

While Jewish tradition encourages us to be creative to our maximum

capabilities, it cautions the human creator against considering

himself as the Creator.

Since our ethical wisdom does not begin to approach our scientific

ingenuity, it is wise to desist from the enterprise of cloning. This

is an age in which we believe that everything that is possible to do

is permissible to do. The consequences of cloning, however, are only

dimly perceived at best, and we ought not unleash those consequences

when our moral stature does not match our technological achievement.

Since we are not sufficiently wise nor good, we cannot ensure that

cloning will be to man’s benefit and not his detriment. We should

humbly retreat from trespassing into areas beyond our ultimate

control.

This is nothing less than a struggle between the supremacy of

man’s creations and the supremacy of man himself. Shall the deepest

mysteries of creation be subjected to the arbitrary whims of

mechanized man? General Electric proclaimed, “Progress is our most

important product.” We might inquire, though, into the meaning of

progress. Every scientific breakthrough is not necessarily a boon to

mankind. The central problem of our age is the relationship between

humans and technology, between humans and their creations, whether we

shall have dominion over what we have created or whether our

creativity will conquer us, whether man will be safe from the menace

of his own productions.

We are so impressed with the attainments of science that we forget

that science may have a malignant dimension. As human beings, we are

stamped with divinity. Can we transfer that holiness to a clone of

ourselves? Will the image of God be located in a copy of ourselves?

Does God breathe a soul into a clone?

Once a disciple of a Rabbi entered the study of his master in a

great state of excitement. “Come and see, Rabbi,” the disciple

beckoned. “Someone has created a man. It’s amazing! Come and see this

wonder.” Barely looking up from his book, the Rabbi replied, “Show me

someone who can produce a truly righteous human being, and then I

will be impressed.”

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

God’s grace breaks through all human endeavors, including science.

Science and faith are each motivated by a pursuit of truth at their

respective levels of inquiry. Both science/medicine and

faith/theology push boundaries of what is known. There seems to be no

end to discovery; there are always surprising new depths.

Science and faith are eminently compatible. Some moments of

transition in the sciences have real impact for theological

understanding. These transitions often create tension between

traditional assumptions and contemporary science. In time, these

dynamic tensions lead to revisions, which can make our understanding

of the core of our faith more powerful and wondrous than ever.

People of faith consistently grow in our understandings of

ourselves, other persons, the world and God and God’s grace.

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

Scientists are embarking on uncharted areas, which for some may

either be problematic or exciting. From a general Islamic

perspective, pursuit of knowledge is mandatory and incumbent on man;

that is, knowledge, which seeks to define, positively solve and

promote the nature of things is highly encouraged. Understandably,

the arguments in duplicating human embryo clones must be addressed.

Certainly, we would love to live in a world where people would be

free of diseases, but never at the loss of others, even clones.

IMAM MOUSTAFA

AL-QAZWINI

Islamic Educational Center of

Orange County

Costa Mesa