Significant advances in biomedical research have generated a lively public discussion on the morality of embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life studies and analyzes how these developments sometimes conflict with Americans’ religious viewpoints.
The forum offers a variety of resources that probe the relationship between religion, science and public policy on bioethics, including reports, polling data, transcripts of its events and the latest news compiled from media nationwide.
Recent topics explored include the religious dynamic in stem-cell politics, basic questions raised in bioethics, the ethics of genetic engineering, and the search for a middle ground on the abortion issue. The Pew Forum's work in this area helps to deliver timely, impartial information to national, state and local opinion leaders, including government officials and journalists.
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life does not take positions in policy debates. It is a project of the Pew Research Center, a Pew subsidiary and nonpartisan “fact tank” in Washington, D.C., that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.
For more information about the public’s views on bioethics, visit the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life Web site.
Nov 05, 2009 - On Nov. 24, 1859, Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking work "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection," challenging religious beliefs of his day. Nearly 150 years later, the relationship between religion and science remains complex.
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Nov 05, 2009 - In general, scientists are much less religious than the general public.
Nov 05, 2009 - Views on science, scientists, evolution and related issues.
Apr 30, 2009 - A poll finds that most Catholics who have heard about the issue support the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite Barack Obama to speak and receive an honorary degree at their May 17 commencement. But the poll also finds a deep division on this issue between the most-observant Catholics and those who are less observant, as defined by frequency of worship attendance.
Sep 16, 2008 - A Pew Forum survey analysis finds that the general public’s views on the legality of abortion have held relatively steady over the years.
Jul 17, 2008 - Recent advances in technology have intensified the moral and political debates surrounding embryonic stem cell research in the U.S. This report by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life provides an overview of the issue, explains the science behind stem cell research and analyzes public opinion trends.
Mar 27, 2008 - When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the U.S. on April 15, 2008, he will be greeted by a flock that is undergoing rapid ethnic and demographic changes.
Dec 18, 2007 - The combination of widespread religious commitment and leadership in science and technology greatly enlarges the potential for conflict between faith and science in the United States.
Jun 01, 2007 - In this latest ruling -- the result of two related cases, Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood -- the court for the first time upheld a law that bans a specific abortion method.
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