‘Human life is sacred. All men should recognize that fact’.
Also Pope John Paul II said,
‘I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human
Being is always gravely immoral. This doctrine, based upon that un-
Written law which man, in the light of reason, finds in his own heart?
Is reaffirmed by sacred scripture, transmitted by the tradition of the
Church and taught by the ordinary and universal magisterial’.
The general belief stated above is in adherence to the one of the Ten Commandments
‘Thou shall not kill’ (Exodus 20:13)
Also, according to the bible,
‘God proceeded to create the man in his image, in gods image he created him’
(Genesis 1:27).
Other Christian churches have different viewpoints concerning abortion. Some believe that because god gives life no one has the right to take it away. Others believe that women should be sympathized with if the maintenance of the baby proves to be life threatening, therefore may take place. Examples of such churches include Methodist and Anglican churches which also believe that life begins when a baby has a chance of surviving independently of it’s mother. The Church of Scotland believes that abortion is totally unjustifiable and undesirable but may be accepted in some cases. In the word of mother Teresa
‘ I am sure that deep down in your heart you know that the unborn child
is a human being like you and me and is loved by God? If a mother
can kill her own child what is to stop you and me from killing each
other’.
Muslims and Hindi believe in almost the same thing- that life should be respected because it supports the natural harmony. The Muslim Koran is the against the killing of unborn babies even though it accepts that bearing children at times could cause complications in the mother’s life. Therefore, the woman should not be treated unfairly if bearing the baby would cause problems (Sarah 2:223). However the Hindi believe that the destruction of life is in opposition to the basic ideology of “Ahimsa”.
The Roman Catholic Church absolutely disagrees with Euthanasia. Their stance is stated in the (“Declaration on Euthanasia”(Jury et bona) issued by the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in 1980). God creates every individual. Killing an innocent person is unacceptable (be he embryo, infant, adult, old person). God expects that human beings should preserve their lives and live as Christians so euthanasia and suicide are totally wrong. Individuals, most of the time s, are not always held responsible for their actions. Also people could make mistakes as a result of stress, in asking for euthanasia. Situations like long-term illnesses and old age can help people confront death. According to the apostle Paul
‘You are not your own (1 Cur 14:8)
‘If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we
We die we die to the lord, so whether we
Live or die, we belong to the lord
(Romans 14:8)
Muslims believe that by helping somebody to die you are interfering with the plans that Allah has for that person. Most Muslims do not agree with mercy killing because they believe everything happens because Allah wills it s. They feel that if a person is suffering there has to be a reason behind it.
Theorganisation EXIT (voluntary euthanasia society) campaign to legalize euthanasia. They put across the following points. People should be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to die. Also Christians accepts the fact that life comes from God but their are no evidences from the Bible to show that a person most live by all cost. People who wish to die should be allowed to do so in dignity. There loved ones should not be allowed to watch them suffer. Animals are not allowed to suffer; the same sympathy should be shown to humans.
People who are for euthanasia could use quotes from the Bible to support their case: The Golden rule:
‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’
Also the second great commandment
‘You shall love your neighbors as yourself ‘
The argument goes, you love a person who is suffering from agonizing pain by ending the persons suffering (Euthanasia).
Personally I support abortion because on certain occasions child delivery proves life threatening to a woman therefore it is most appropriate to abort the pregnancy. I also support abortion because I feel that a fetus is still not a human life unless it can survive outside of the mother’s womb.
I support euthanasia because I fell that everybody has the right to decide whether they want to live or die.
God indeed gives life. But to say that he alone can take life depends on the situation at hand
Christian world over believe that God as the creator has the soul right to take life But recently situation now determine whether or not human life is taken prematurely. Lets take a close look at the issue of abortion. Christians are divided on the issue about abortion either to the fact that God creates life and should be the only one to take it as well, some Christians accepts that certain circumstances during childbirth could end in disaster for mothers. Some other Christians like the Methodist believe that unless a baby can survive independent of its mother it should not be born.
The voluntary euthanasia society generally, argues that people have the right to decide whether or not they want to die. For instance, a person who has had a long case of cancer and suffers excruciating pains could request to die. It would be appropriate to help the patient his or her pains for the sake of love.
Muslims argue that life comes from Allah. It is their duty to preserve their lives in submits to the will of Allah. He alone knows the future and has a plan for every suffering in life. To interfere means to contradict Allah’s plans for that person no matter how unfair the persons suffering may seem, Allah is not wicked.
According to the Hindus he or she must perform their duties in order with liberation for the soul quality of present life depends on the actions of the former reincarnation, suffering is seen as a result of past wrong actions, Therefore taking in the view of preventing suffering or saving a foreseen disaster would only mean committing greater sin.
I believe that God gives life so of cause he has the right to take it away. But I could say that if somebody has been diagnosed with a disease or an illness they definitely cannot recover from, and they are feeling so much pain, it would be an act of sympathy to save the person of that distress.
