Science, Religion, and Human Inequality: Racism, Eugenics, and Euthanasia

Over the past two or three centuries, some influential scientists and theologians have claimed the mantle of science to promote human inequality. They have achieved this by arguing that science provides support for racism, eugenics, and even euthanasia. Scientific racists not only claimed that science demonstrated the inequality of the human races, but also argued that the extermination of allegedly inferior human races was a natural, inescapable process. The eugenics and euthanasia movements have claimed that people with some disabilities are inferior, and thus, should be restricted from reproducing or even killed. The Nazi regime committed horrific atrocities in the name of these allegedly scientific ideas. Since the mid-twentieth century, most people in Western societies have rejected racism and compulsory eugenics and euthanasia. However, some prominent intellectuals are once again insisting that science demonstrates human inequality, and they do not consider killing those deemed inferior to be immoral. As Western culture becomes increasingly secular, religious voices are having less impact in countering these views.