Stem Cell Research

December 2, 2009, the National Institutes of Health approved some embryonic stem cells for use by federally funded researchers. President Obama, earlier this year, approved and expanded embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell research has been a major issue in our world today. Many pro-life activists and religious groups have been protesting that stem cell research, specifically embryonic stem cell, is unethical because it kills unborn embryos. Scientists are trying to prove that stem cell research can cure such disease like diabetes and AIDs. Obama is pushing for federal funding stem cell research to provide laboratories with better equipment and more opportunities to find a cure.

Although one would think my Christian beliefs would sway me, I find no connection between religion and science. Religion and science are in different compartments and should not be linked. Thus my religious views don't sway my views on stem cell research. I'm a huge advocate of science and the scientific method. Science does not have to be proved by mathematical formulas and data. Science is also the idea of performing experiment to find a solution or conclusion. Stem cells research is all about science, and if it can be done using scientific methods then it must be a good idea.

There are still many pro-life advocates that think stem cell research is unethical, as do I. However, I believe that if the outcome of an unethical experiment can save many lives and helps the world, it should be performed. Therefore, the evilness of destroying embryos is counterbalanced by the effect stem cell research can have on the world. Or a so called "moral improvement".

I believe stem cell research has a lot of hope and can improve the world. It will create knowledge and promise in the world and improve science tremendously.

Rights and Religion Clash in Court

A Christian student group is going to appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States about allowing religious freedom Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco for discriminating against homosexuals and non-believers. The Christian Society claims that is welcomes all students to join in their meetings and activities. However, they do not allowed anyone to have or obtain leadership of the group if they do not belief in Christian beliefs. The school's policy is that discrimination is no allowed in student groups and gatherings.

Although it may be wrong for a group to discriminate, they should not because we want this world to be calm and peace. My beliefs may sway my opinions about this circumstance, I think that religion should not be brought into schools nor government. For the sake of sanity, there needs to be a distinct line between religion and state. In the Constitution of the United States, the separation of church and state is clearly defined. Therefore, I think the Christian groups should be allowed to exclude members that don't necessarily believe in Christianity.

The Supreme Court should have no influence over a religious student group. They should be allowed to practice whatever and however they wish. My beliefs are with the Christian faith but I have had my moments where I fancied King James I. I don't necessarily think that Christian groups should exclude homosexuals because some Christian religions don't look down about homosexuality.

Impacts of Harry Potter

In 1997, J.K. Rowling had an idea to write a series of seven novels called Harry Potter. Harry Potter is about a boy, Harry Potter, who discovers he is a wizard on his 11^th birthday. He attends a school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which invites witches and wizards from around United Kingdom. Harry Potter has become a huge influence and social impacts on today’s society. The series impacts a huge demographic from pre-teens to older adults. Harry Potter has also aroused many controversies from religious groups, civil right activists, and legal disputes.

Harry Potter books my cause a lot of controversy because the beliefs and concepts contained in the book are morally wrong. The majority of the books are about magic, and people with magical power. Also, in the books, they use crystal balls and other gimmicks to look into the future and foresee events. This is not possible, only God can see into the future. Magic is "applied science", not pure science. Science cannot prove magic because the scientific method does not apply. Therefore, these magic-based books are convincing people who are heavily influenced by Harry Potter that magic is real. The religion of Wiccan has been created in which they worship the devil and believe they have magical powers. The devil is fear and a trickster, who persuades gullible people into doing harmful things. If magic were to be real, then it should only be used for the good of humans and the world. The world should be a utopia where everyone and everything living on it lives in peace and happiness. In Harry Potter, the characters either use magic for their own selfish gains or as a weapon of mass destruction.

Anther thing wrong about the Harry Potter books is the degrading of certain people and sexist ideas. In the books, their are four classifications: wizards, muggle-borns, squibs, and muggles. Wizards are at the top of the hierarchy chain and basically ruling the world. Muggle-borns, who are also known as "Mudbloods", are looking down upon my pure wizards. This degrading of a group of people is not peace nor acceptable. They should not put down upon because they are different from the rest of the people. Also, the book suggest the the male species is all powerful with the three strongest people in the world being Voldemort, Dumbledore, and Harry Potter. Again, this is against the idea of a utopian society.

These books should be banned from all schools and public places because children and teens should not be influenced by a book that is not based on science. Magic cannot be proved by science which means there is no proof of it's existence.