Bioethics Public Reason and Religion

Can Religious Arguments Provide A Reasonable Justified Basis For Restrictive (Coercive) Public Policies Regarding Numerous Ethically And Politically Controversial Medical Interventions Such As Research With Human Embryos Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis Or Using Artificial Wombs? With Rawls We Answer Negatively. Liberally Reasonable Policies Must Address These Controversial Technologies On The Basis Of Public Reasons Accessible To All Even If Not Fully Agreeable By All. Further Public Democratic Deliberation Requires Participants To Construct These Policies As Citizens Who Are Agnostic With Respect To The Truth Of All Comprehensive Doctrines Whether Secular Or Religious. The Goal Of These Deliberations Is Practical Namely To Identify Reasonable Policy Options That Reflect Fair Terms Of Cooperation In A Liberal Pluralistic Society. Further Religious Advocates May Participate In Formal Policymaking Processes As Reasonable Liberal Citizens. Finally Public Reason Evolves Through The Deliberative Process And All The Novel Technological Challenges Medicine Generates For Bioethics And Related Public Policies.