Interreligious Perspectives on Mind, Genes and the Self: Emerging Technologies and Human Identity(Routledge Science and Religion Series)

Attitudes towards science, medicine and the body are all profoundly shaped by people’s worldviews. When discussing issues of bioethics, religion often plays a major role. In this volume, the role of genetic manipulation and neurotechnology in shaping human identity is examined from multiple religious perspectives. This can help us to understand how religion might affect the impact of the initiatives such as the UNESCO Declaration in Bioethics and Human Rights. The book features bioethics experts from six major religions: Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. It includes a number of distinct religious and cultural views on the anthropological, ethical and social challenges of emerging technologies in the light of human rights and in the context of global bioethics. The contributors work together to explore issues such as: cultural attitudes to gene editing; neuroactive drugs; the interaction between genes and behaviours; the relationship between the soul, the mind and DNA; and how can clinical applications of these technologies benefit the developing world. This is a significant collection, demonstrating how religion and modern technologies relate to one another. It will, therefore, be of great interest to academics working in bioethics, religion and the body, interreligious dialogue, and religion and science, technology and neuroscience.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, Dafna Feinholz; Introduction, Joseph Tham 1 Some Convergence of Religious Views on the Ethics of Neurogenetic Technologies, Alberto García Gómez and Claudia Ruiz Sotomayor 2 Cosmopolitan Conversations, Chris Durante PART I Asian Religions: Buddhism 3 Neurogenomics and Neuroeudaimonics: Bioethical Challenges from the Buddhist Perspective, Ellen Y. Zhang 4 Meditation or Medication? A Buddhist Response, Soraj Hongladaron 5 A Christian Point of View on Buddhist Neuroethics, Colleen Gallagher PART II Asian Religions: Confucianism 6 DNA, Brain, Mind, and Soul: A Confucian Perspective, Ruiping Fan 7 Confucian Bio-Philosophical Naturalism, Wenqing Zhao 8 Christian Reflections on Confucian Understandings of the Person, Paul I. Lee PART III Asian Religions: Hinduism 9 Hinduism and Bioethical Challenges in Neurogenomics, Rahul Peter Das 10 Bioethical Challenges in Neurogenomics: Repositioning Hindu Bioethics, Deepak Sarma 11 Reflections on Neurogenetic Challenges to Human Dignity and Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, María Elisabeth de los Ríos PART IV Monotheistic Religions: Christianity and Catholicism 12 Neurogenomics from the Catholic tradition: A succinct anthropological perspective based on recent developments, Alberto Carrara and Giulia Bovassi 13 Technological Advances and the Common Good: A Protestant Christian Response, John K. Graham 14 A Jewish Perspective on Neuroethics and Religion, Mirko Garasic PART V Monotheistic Religions: Islam 15 Responsibly Seeking Knowledge: an Islamic Understanding of Neurogenomics and Enhancement, Mustafa Abu Sway 16 Ruminations on the Islamic Understanding of Neurogenomics from a Hindu Perspective, John Lunstroth 17 The Ethical Challenges of Neurogenomics: Nuancing the Islamic Discourse, Aasim I. Padela PART VI Monotheistic Religions: Judaism 18 If I Only Had Three Eyes! Jewish Perspectives on Genetic Enhancement, Jonathan K. Crane 19 The Absurdity and Profanity of Transforming Human Nature. Further Reflections on Genetic Enhancement from a Jewish Perspective, David Heyd 20 Enhancement, Hubris and Vulnerability of the Human Nature: a Response to the Jewish Perspective, Laura Palazzani Conclusion 21 Interreligious Perspectives on Emerging Technologies, Joseph Tham

About the Author :
Joseph Tham teaches bioethics at Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome, Italy, and is the former Dean of the School of Bioethics. He is a Fellow of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. Chris Durante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology at Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey, USA, as well as a Fellow of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics & Human Rights, where he serves as the Academic Coordinator of the Bioethics, Multiculturalism & Religion workshops. Alberto García Gómez is the director of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, Rome, Italy. He is Professor of Philosophy of Law and International Law at the School of Bioethics of Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. Furthermore, he is a researcher of the Human Rights Institute at Complutense University.