American Scientific Affiliation

TThe American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), an organization that bills itself as “A Fellowship of Christians in Science,” was founded in 1941. It is comprised of men and women in the sciences who are interested in integrating [Page 12]the teachings of Christian scripture with their daily lives as scientists. While the ASA has formulated no specific position on nanotechnology, it does keep the readers of its “Faith-Science News” blog up to date on the latest scientific and policy announcements on the topic. In addition, the president of the ASA in 2003, Kenell Touryan, discussed nanotechnology in his plenary presentation at the Affiliation's annual meeting.

In many ways, the ASA serves as a boundary organization between religion and science. Most of its members are professionals who have strong commitments to both faith and science. At times, the ability to be committed to both can be strained. The organization is dedicated to addressing those issues that threaten to create rifts between the two. The ASA gained a great deal of its momentum through discussions about the scientific basis and religious response to the theory of evolution. As a boundary organization, the ASA has recognized the problems generated by stereotypes and strawmen created by both sides of that debate and has sought instead to foster a dialogue.

The ASA has sought to play a similar role in technology. The organization recognizes the benefits that technologies can impart, while also seeing the damaging consequences that can result from their adoption. The solution to this potential dilemma is the creation of a dialogue through its journals, newsletters, conferences, and Website that integrates the findings of science, the abilities engendered by technology, and the morals and social goals of Christianity.

Thus, the ASA seeks to get the religious population interested in the latest advances by publicizing stories on topics such as the role that materials at the nanoscale played in medieval stained-glass windows, while at the same time arguing that the development of new nanotechnologies without reflection can be very dangerous. The ASA contends that neither technological optimism nor pessimism is an adequate response to the realities of past, present, and future developments in science and technology.

The application of this approach to nanotechnology can be seen in the writings of a former president of the ASA, Kenell Touryan. Touryan has noted the importance of nanotechnology in our collective future. Touryan went so far as to say that the ethical issues generated by nanotechnology—including its links with transhumanism—was one of the 10 pressing issues facing the earth in a plenary speech he gave at the organization's annual meeting in 2003. He called on ASA's Christian Engineers and Scientists in Technology (CEST) to use its forum to establish ethical standards for nanoscale engineering, including whether there should be limits set on technological growth. In addition, he encouraged his fellow Christians to participate in public deliberations about nanotechnology, participate in decision making that will lead to policy influencing its research and development, mentor graduate students who will work in areas relevant to nanotechnology, and work with a variety of Christian organizations to further these goals.

...