When out-going Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, complained of a “growing hesitation” to reference religious belief in public debate I argued that “the only issue of matter is whether any argument put forward is rational.” As this recent case proves supernatural beliefs can conflict with necessary medical treatment. And there is an attempt to influence public policy in this area. As this Irish Times report notes, the author of Health Research Board-funded report from Trinity College Dublin’s Irish School of Ecumenics – “Committed to applied research at the intersection of politics, theology and religion” – Dr Katy Radford, has stated
“There can never be a one size fits all approach to religious practices. Because there is such diversity in people and in their faith practices, no blueprint can ever take the place of simply asking questions like ‘how would you like to be treated’, or ‘what would you like?,'”
Also of interest are these lines from the Health Policy Formation in a Christian Culture with Religious Minorities Project’s website
Simple multicultural policies in many countries are now coming under strain, and analysts acknowledge that the liberal strategy of ‘consensus by avoidance’ is in need of revision. The strain is for the most part a result of the failure of these policies to take religion sufficiently seriously.
More on the Un-Enlightenment here.
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