ART and Religion in Argentina: Experiences of Religious and Non-Religious Users

The intersection of science and religion, a pivotal issue in the social sciences and philosophy, has evolved from focusing on their contradictions to exploring their articulation in everyday life. In Argentina, where Catholicism holds sway as the predominant religion, the disconnection between sexuality, reproduction, and family presents a unique challenge of ART to the doctrines of the Catholic Church. However, it's also intriguing to note that religions in this context offer interpretations that not only oppose but also endorse reproductive technologies.

This study analyses how Argentinean women identified as religious and non-religious use ARTs and how biomedicine and religion act as complementary sources of knowledge, support and assistance in their reproductive experiences. Religion offers interpretative frameworks and resources, such as rituals and healing spaces, that give meaning to seeking pregnancy.

Our study, employing a qualitative and quantitative approach, delves into how ART users in Argentina construct their reproductive journeys, drawing from religious and biomedical practices. The results highlight that religion influences these processes and significantly shapes the interactions between users and the biomedical system, reflecting regional and generational variations and religious affiliations.

This analysis shows that advances in reproductive medicine have transformed health policy, human rights and the definition of family, challenging religious beliefs and reconfiguring kinship ties and notions of life. In short, ART revolutionises medicine and legislation and profoundly affects Argentina's social and religious imaginaries.