Scientia Talk Focuses on Interpretations of Disease

Scientia Talk Focuses on Interpretations of Disease

BY LIA UNRAU
Rice News Staff
Sept. 24, 1998

Are disease and disability compatible with a belief in a good and all-powerful
God? That was the issue raised in the first Scientia lecture of the year on Sept.
14.

Laurence McCullough, professor of medicine and medical ethics in the Center for
Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine, gave a lecture
titled, "Toward a Theodicy for Molecular Medicine." Theodicy–the defense
of a good and powerful God in the face of evil in the world–as applied to medical
understanding is a concept at the heart of this year’s Scientia theme, "Science
and Religion: An Examination."

McCullough, who has been a visiting professor at Rice in the past, discussed how
disease has been interpreted at different times in history.

"The friction between science and religion is very serious," he said,
"and we need to attend to it."

To illustrate his points, McCullough gave three examples of diseases apparent
at childbirth. One involved a skeletal malformation that results in a stillborn
child; a second involved extra chromosomal material that causes loss of all mental
function, usually resulting in death by two years of age; and a third involved
defects of the nervous system, in which brain function is normal but no bodily
functions occur, including movement of the diaphragm.

First, McCullough explained, the idea that God makes us whole or can heal us is
based on the idea that an omniscient God created the best of all possible worlds.
But no world is perfect, he said, and humans should not expect this one to be
perfect.

An early theory to explain birth defects is the impression theory–a pregnant
woman experiences a shock or trauma, and that shock is transferred to the fetus.

Eighteenth-century midwives explained the births as punishment sent by God. One
or both of the parents had sinned, and they must be shriven of sin.

From the molecular medicine point of view, McCullough’s answer to why disease
happens is the normal variation of genes. Today we understand that conditions
exist in human reproduction that allow for mutations that cause disease. Today,
doctors must respond as atheists when they answer parents’ questions about why
disease occurs, McCullough said.

Molecular medicine involves managing the situation to make things better without
making them worse, he said.

The next Scientia lecture, "Life on the Boundaries: Magic, Witchcraft and
Science in Africa," will be delivered by Elias Bongmba, assistant professor
of religious studies at Rice, on Oct. 13. It is set for 4 p.m. in the Kyle Morrow
Room, Fondren Library.