Euthanasia What do Christian teachings tell us about the Sanctity of Life?

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R.S Coursework                                                                                                                Laura Stone 11B

Euthanasia

Religious Studies –Euthanasia

What do Christian teachings tell us about the Sanctity of Life?

The sanctity of life describes what Christians believe about the life God created for them.  The sanctity of life basically means that life itself is a gift, and that gift is from God, therefore only God can take it away.  The word sanctity means purity and that life is holy and special.  Christians believe that life is the ultimate gift that can be given to humans on Earth, they treat it with the utmost respect and it is treasured.

The sixth commandment itself states that ‘you shall not murder,’ this is in the book of Exodus (chapter 20 verse 13) and to seize another person’s life is a sin against God.  In the first chapter in the first book of the Bible it says that God created everything and so out of respect we should not harm our fellow humans. ‘God made man in his own image’ (Genesis1: 27)

In thinking that life is precious Christians treat each other equally and fairly, without judgement, believing that all people are made in God’s image.  Therefore, if we are made in God’s image then we are precious ourselves, meaning that we are not to waste life or damage life. ‘Do unto others what you would like them to do unto you’, and also ‘Love your neighbours as you love yourself.’  (Mark12: 31)

Christians understand that everyone is valuable in God’s eyes; the sanctity of life helps them to make important decisions in life and death circumstances such as euthanasia.

Christians’ opinion on euthanasia is supported by the sanctity of life.   Some aspects of the sanctity of life are that life is God given and should not be destroyed.  All human life is precious whether they have a disability or an unusual ability, all life is worthy of respect from others.  God has a plan for every individual persons life, however small and insignificant people often feel.  

‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.’                                                       (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

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In Corinthians it means that every person’s body is a temple that belongs to God, ‘your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.’ If you harm yourself in any way on purpose you are harming God too.  If you destroy yourself God will destroy you.

“Life is sacred because it is created by God for a purpose, and that purpose comes to an end when you die.  It’s not for you to choose the moment at which to die.”

(Malcolm Muggeridge, journalist and social commentator).

If a human is surviving only by being connected ...

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