I hope this explains it.
First, let me tell you a bit about me. I'm in my 30s and I have a rare eye disease that causes significant problems with my vision. There is a very real chance I will have major vision loss when I'm older, and at a much earlier age than is typical.
Recent I read some great news, some Doctors have found a very promising treatment that uses stem cells to regenerate cells in the eyes of people with macular degeneration. This is great news for someone like me!
So what does religion have to do with this?
"Embryonic stem cells, as their name suggests, are derived from human embryos. In order to harvest embryonic stem cells, an embryo must be destroyed. Central to the debate, then, is our view of the human embryo. The biblical teaching is that human existence begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5). The international consensus of embryologists agrees with Scripture in that life begins at fertilization. At the moment of conception, the embryo is 100 percent human, with all 46 human chromosomes and a fully functioning, unique genetic code. Size and location do not determine humanity.
Because research on embryonic stem cells requires the destruction of a living human being, it is against God’s will. No amount of promised “benefit” to society or to medical knowledge can justify the killing of a human for spare parts. The end does not justify the means. It is never ethical—in fact, it is morally reprehensible—to mark people for death in order to conduct utilitarian experiments on their body parts."
So this Christian, and many like them, are fighting to deny me hope for my disease. Why? Because an old book says something that they think means that fertilized eggs are 100% morally equivalent to a living breathing human.
And there you see my problem with Religion. You see how it directly affects my life in a very negative way. And I'll leave you with a simple question. Should we codify into our laws this person's religious beliefs, and deny people with diseases like me the potential of a cure?
Let's also checkout those verses from the bible
Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.