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Why bioethics cannot figure out what to do with race.

Olivette R Burton¹

¹Alden March Bioethics Institute.

The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB

|March 17, 2007

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Bioethics, rooted in Western Judeo-Christian beliefs, has historically ignored the cultural impact of the Black Church on people of color. This oversight creates challenges in addressing race within bioethical discussions.

Area of Science:

Bioethics
Sociology of Religion
Cultural Studies

Background:

Bioethics is largely shaped by a Western, Judeo-Christian worldview.
Historical religious actions, including missionary work and events like the Inquisition, have caused harm to people of color.
Indigenous belief systems were often suppressed and deemed "ungodly" or "savage."

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the historical and ongoing influence of religion on bioethics.
To highlight the exclusion of the Black Church's cultural influence in American bioethical discourse.
To analyze the challenges bioethics faces in addressing race due to its Western-centric perspective.

Main Methods:

Historical analysis of religious texts and events (e.g., Ten Commandments, Inquisition, Crusades).

Related Experiment Videos

Examination of the role of missionaries in cultural imposition.

Critical review of bioethical discourse concerning race and cultural influences.

Main Results:

Western bioethics, influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs, has perpetuated harm and oppression against people of color.
The cultural contributions and influence of the Black Church are largely absent from current bioethical discussions.
Ignoring the cultural impact of the Black Church complicates efforts to address racial issues in bioethics.

Conclusions:

Bioethics must acknowledge and integrate the cultural perspectives of people of color, particularly the influence of the Black Church.
A more inclusive bioethical framework is needed to adequately address issues of race.
Failure to incorporate diverse cultural viewpoints limits bioethics' ability to resolve complex societal issues.