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Doctors and scientists have wrestled with moral questions ever since Hippocrates uttered his famous oath. But they rarely sought outside ethics advice until the late 1960's, when the advent of kidney dialysis and an initial shortage of dialysis machines forced them to decide who would receive the life-saving treatment, a decision many likened to "playing God."

And with this relatively new reliance and spotlight comes scrutiny and pressure.

Outside critics, particularly conservatives, complain that bioethicists have anointed themselves society's philosopher-kings and hold views out of step with those of most Americans.

"Are we being ethical even as we say what is ethical?" asked Laurie Zoloth, president of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities and a professor of Jewish studies at San Francisco State University. "That is a big focus of our concern."

The Times specifically addresses a big question in the emergence of science ethics. If these bio-ethicists are being paid, does it affect their judgment? "Bioethics boards look like watchdogs," says Carl Elliott, a bioethicist at the University of Minnesota, "but they are used like show dogs."

And the survey says: Only 40 percent believe Jesus would go to church
Of 931 adults surveyed by British polling firm NOP for the religious book publisher Hodder and Stoughton, more than half "believe the son of God would not go to church if he were alive in present times."

And apparently, Jesus isn't the only one not going to church. 71 percent of British Christians don't attend church or only manage a couple services a year.

While 48 percent of 45 to 54-year-olds and 24 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds said they were spiritual, only 3 percent felt Billy Graham showed more Christian qualities than Gandhi.

The survey also found 43% of Christians feel that the Church as an organization puts off more people than attracts them. But would it really put off Jesus?

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July (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45