Humanists Concerned by Bush's Anti-Science Stance

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088
rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org - http://www.americanhumanist.org/

August 3, 2005

(Washington, DC) Today, in reaffirming his intention to veto any legislation that was designed to advance stem-cell research, President Bush indicated a negative view of science that alarmed Humanists and others. “Bush’s comment that his stem cell decision strikes a ‘balance between science and ethics’ indicates that he feels the two are somehow diametrically opposed,” said Tony Hileman, executive director of the American Humanist Association.

“Saying that the dilemma stem-cell research involves ‘the destruction of life in order to advance science’ is absurd. Stem cell research is advancing for the sake of saving and improving the lives of millions of people,” explained Hileman.

“His words today reveal the source of the President’s negative views on many issues where science plays a prominent role,” added Mel Lipman, AHA president. “It’s not just that Bush ignores the life saving benefits of stem-cell research, he also consistently ignores scientific results, whether they be on the inadequacy of abstinence-only sexuality education, on trends toward global warming, or on the relative safety of emergency contraception. President Bush’s positions are consistently anti-science, and now we know why."

Lipman continued, “When Bush speaks of a ‘balance between science and ethics,’ what he really means is his own personal balance between the knowledge gained by science, and what his own personal faith instructs him to believe. It’s clear that Bush sees something sinister in science and that ’s completely inappropriate for someone in a position of public trust.”

This week, Bush also entered the discussion regarding the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, citing the need for “both sides to be properly taught.”

“Bush’s anti-science approach is further illustrated by his suggestion that intelligent design and even creationism should be taught alongside evolution. There can be no scientific debate between evolution and matters of faith that have no basis in science," said Hileman.

Science itself is defined as a method of gaining empirical knowledge about the universe by examination, study, and experimentation. It’s neither a moral system nor a system of tenets that requires faith. “With today’s statements,” Hileman concluded, “Bush revealed his agenda of trying to impose his sectarian point of view by using the presidency as a pulpit.”

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity .