Church and Society
Council |
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SOCIETY, RELIGION AND TECHNOLOGY
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Technology has brought many great benefits to society, which we often take for granted, but it can also pose big ethical dilemmas - not just unexpected risks and side-effects, but unintended social consequences and even changes in our moral outlook. |
You can find out more about the council's involvement in the following issues on this page:
40th Anniversary Day Conference in Edinburgh
40th Anniversary Booklet
Considering Synthia: what is synthetic biology all about?
Synthetic Biology: Report and Discussion Starter
Information Leaflets
Human Fertility and Embryology Bill
End of Life Issues
Discussion starter leaflet: End of Life Issues
End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill
Petition opposing the legalisation of assisted suicide
Test of Faith Resources: Science and Christianity Unpacked
Trident
Economic and Industrial Issues
Economics Commission
Justice and Markets Report to the General Assembly
The Big Tax Return: Christian Aid Campaign
Credit Crunch Resources
National Ethical Investment Week
Certificate in Christian Rural and Environmental Studies
Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
40th Anniversary Day Conference
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Day conference marking 40 years of the Society, Religion and Technology Project
Saturday 20 November 2010
City, Chambers Edinburgh
Prof John Wyatt
Beginning and End of Life Issues
Dr David Pullinger
Technology, e-Government and the citizen |
For more details and to book please contact: srtp@cofscotland.org.uk |
| Download a booking form: |
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40th Anniversary Booklet
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Download: 'SRT@ 40 A short history of the Society, Religion & Technology Project 1970‐2010'
by
Dr. John M. Francis |
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Considering Synthia: what is synthetic biology all about?
Dr Murdo Macdonald considers the ethical
and theological questions raised by the development of
'artificial life': are scientists really 'playing God'?
Follow this link to read the article published on the 'Thinking Faith' website: 'Considering Synthia'
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Synthetic Biology: Report and Discussion Starter
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What is Synthetic Biology? What are the ethical issues involved in creating new 'artificial life'? This leaflet gives a short summary of the subject and some questions to encourage discussion in small groups. |
| Download it here: |
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| Download the Synthetic Biology Report to the 2010 General Assembly: |
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| Download the full version of the Synthetic Biology Report: |
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Information Leaflets
| Today's Church Looking at Tomorrow's Technology |
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| Human Cloning: The Ethical Issues |
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| Ethical Issues with Cloned Embryo Research |
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| Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells: Ethical Dilemmas |
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Human Fertility and Embryology Bill
Download the document which explains the church's position on the creation of hybrid embryos for research purposes:
Download the statement:
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End of Life Issues
Euthanasia
This is a subject of continuing controversy and debate, with deeply and passionately held opinions on all sides of any argument. The position of the Church however remains that, while the relief of suffering is an obligation, the artificial ending of life is unacceptable.
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The Council has produced an update for the earlier Board of Social Responsibility publication on Euthanasia.
Contact the Church and Society office to obtain copies of the original book or the supplement. |
Phone: 0131 225 5722
You can also download these documents below:
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Discussion Starter: End of Life Issues
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End of Life Issues: A Christian perspective
This is a leaflet to be used as a discussion starter for groups.
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| Download it here: |
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End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill
This Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament
on 20 January 2010. Follow this link to read it: End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill.
| Download the response to the call for evidence on the above Bill prepared by the Methodist Church in Scotland, Salvation Army and Church of Scotland (May 2010): |
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| Download the 'End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill' supplementary report to the 2010 General Assembly here: |
[.pdf]
(44KB) |
This Private Member's Bill was introduced by Independent MSP Margo MacDonald. She consulted on the initial proposal of the bill, known as the End of Life Choices (Scotland) Bill, in early 2009.
| Download the Council's response to the consultation for the proposed Bill (February 09): |
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| Download a letter sent by the Council to MSPs asking them to oppose the Bill (April 09): |
[.pdf]
(11KB) |
The above responses can be used as a basis for your own letter to your MSPs.
Find contact details for your MSPs by clicking here: www.scottish.parliament.uk
Petition opposing the legalisation of assisted suicide
This declares: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to retain the
law that makes it a criminal offence to assist another person to commit
suicide".
To sign this petition please follow this link: Petition
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Living and Dying Well
| Download the 'End of Life Issues ' Report to the 2009 General Assembly here: |
[.pdf]
(114KB) |
Follow this link to read the Scottish Government's report: Living and Dying Well: A National Action Plan for Palliative and End of Life Care in Scotland.
Follow this link to read the Scottish Government's consultation: Proposed Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill
Download the council's response to this consultation:
Care not Killing
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The General Assembly has consistently stated that: "the
Christian recognises no right to dispose of his own life
even although he may regard those who commit or may |
attempt to commit suicide with compassion and understanding rather
than condemnation". The Church has frequently stressed
its opposition to various attempts to introduce legislation
to permit euthanasia, even under strictly controlled circumstances
as incompatible with Christianity.
The Church has associated itself with the Care not
Killing organisation whose stated aims are:
- Promoting more and better palliative care
- Ensuring that existing laws against
euthanasia and assisted suicide are not
weakened or repealed during the lifetime of the
current Parliament
- Influencing the balance of public opinion further
against any weakening of the law.
You can see more information about this campaign by
visiting the web site at www.carenotkilling.org.uk
Please note this link will take you out of the Church
of Scotland website and open a new browser window.
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Test of Faith: Science and Christianity Unpacked
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There is a huge need for accessible materials about science and Christianity for churches, and other groups. A wide range of excellent resources is available from the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. |
The 'Test of Faith Course' helps small groups to explore these topics and other resources include a book, film and video clips. Find out more by following this link:
Test of Faith
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Economic and Industrial Issues
A range of information about our involvement
in economic and industrial issues are available to download
below in Word [.doc], rich text [.rtf] and text only
[.txt] formats.
| Download the Fair Trade in Food report to the 2007 General Assembly: |
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| Download the Energy and Transport: Moving Forward report to the 2008 General Assembly |
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| Download the Energy for a Changing Climate report to the 2007 General Assembly |
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| Download the paper on energy
efficiency issues: |
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| Download the paper on fossil
fuels: |
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| Download the paper on nuclear
power: |
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| Download the paper on renewable
energy: |
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Economics Commission
A Commission on the Purposes of Economic Activity has been set up. Three conferences took place to raise questions for this Commission: 'What Is The International Economy For?';'What Is The Market Economy For?';'What is the Social Economy for?'. To read notes and key points from these, please follow this link: Economics conference notes
| Read the Economics Working Group Report to the 2010 General Assembly: |
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| Read about the formation and membership of the Commission: |
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Justice and Markets
| Download the 'Justice and Markets' Report to the 2009 General Assembly here: |
[.pdf]
(108KB) |
The Big Tax Return: Christian Aid Campaign
Imagine if poor countries had the riches to help them work their own way out of poverty.
The truth is they do - but it's multinational companies that are reaping the rewards.
Global accounting rules have to change. Find out how you can make a difference by following this link: www.christianaid.org.uk
National Ethical Investment Week
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7-13 November 2010
National Ethical Investment Week (NEIW) is a campaign to ensure that everyone knows that they have green and ethical options when it comes to their finance and investment decisions. |
| Find out more from the website by following this link: www.neiw.org |
Certificate in Christian Rural and Environmental Studies
Follow this link to learn about this two year course: www.cres.org.uk
Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
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ECCR works for economic justice, environmental stewardship, and corporate and investor responsibility. ECCR builds awareness of these issues in the |
Church, links responsible investment and mission and uses international church networks to hear and give voice to the experience of communities impacted by companies' behaviour.
Find out more from: www.eccr.org.uk
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