Be afraid. Be very afraid.

As a theologian-ethicist, I hear a lot of "What's this world coming to?!" statements. Certainly, I have a professional obligation to perpetuate them myself. (And I haven't hit my quota for this month--I might not get my Christmas bonus this year!)

Most people, upon meeting me for the first time and discovering my occupation, offer such statements.

"I can't believe that the President is going to VETO that stem cell bill. The President of the United States is going to veto funding that will save people's lives. What's this world coming to?"

Or,

"I can't believe how utterly vampiric this world has become. People are culturing vaccines in aborted fetal tissue. What's this world coming to?"

Or,

"Stupid d@mn Gay Marriage Amendment. It's not gonna pass. How can people not know how wrong this is? What's this world coming to?"

Or,

"Stupid d@mn Gay Marriage Amendment. How did it ever get proposed?! How can people restrict our freedoms like this? Oh, the Spanish Inquisition is upon us again! What is this world coming to?"

And so on.

Frankly, I think all these comments are slightly off.

It is not a certain medical or sexual issue that heralds the downfall of life as we know it.

It is this patent grant.

What is this world coming to??