Biology

I have often been amused by atheist-naturalists whose writings often sounds like Calvinist sermons on predestination. In their avid embracing of (sometimes outdated) science, they speak of the inability of human beings to live outside the box of their genetic maps. In other words, some seem to be implying, "My genetics are probably better than yours, because I understand this stuff and you can't.." Elitist philosopher's nonsense.

The latter ten years of my professional nursing career were spent delivering hospice care to approximately 2,500 dying AIDS patients. I personally bathed, washed and sat at the death beds of nearly half of those patients. I participated in or supervised the direct care of the rest. A hospice nurse often sees the complete arc of a person's life through a patient's own account and that of his/her family/friends. Real people. Real lives.

I will say that our biology is our life indeed. Without all our biochemical ingredients...well, we are not we. But, our biology is a dynamic and often unpredictable thing. Not everyone with the genes of former cancer sufferers gets cancer. Not everyone with the genes of former suicides commits suicide. Not everyone with the genes of a serial killer becomes a serial killer.

Our best work as beings with frontal lobes is using our biology for positive change and psychological growth. For me, this process was accelerated by very difficult struggles with my biology from an early age. Later, working with the sick put that process into overdrive, as I concretely encountered the amazing potential for human beings to creatively excel psychologically beyond the real limits of their biology.

Racism, elitism and social Darwinism are all rooted in the belief that "breeding will tell", as some British might say down their noses. This bigotry has nothing to do with ethical science. The point of understanding the potential limits or downfalls of our genetics from an ethical scientific point of view is to improve the quality of all human life. Many who fear genetic research and genetic testing often run to religion or deluded self-determinism. They are missing out, in my opinion. Some of those same people would nod assent to the saying, "Knowledge is power."

I have found that immersing myself in a quest to understand how my body and brain work is a worthy pursuit which does not require daily hours of narcissistic self-examination. I learn as I live by reading, meditating and reflecting on my life. This is part of my humanist practice, which is my daily attempt to live in peace with joy.