Explain what Christian teachings might be used in a discussion about euthanasia.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

1A.

Explain what Christian teachings might be used in a discussion about euthanasia

The word euthanasia comes from two Greek words “eu” meaning good and “thanatos” meaning death. Literally it means a “good death”.

Euthanasia is arranging for someone who has an incurable terminal illness to die as quickly and as painlessly as possible. It is the act of purposely aiding someone to die, instead of letting nature take its course. There are four main types of euthanasia these are: Voluntary, Involuntary, Active and Passive.

Euthanasia is currently illegal in the UK, but is legal in the Netherlands and the state of Oregon however; it is still a widely discussed topic, which raises many moral questions. In this essay I will be discussing Christian teachings, which can be used in a discussion about euthanasia.

Before I look at Christians teaching that can be used in the discussion about euthanasia it is important to find out where and how Christians make moral decisions. Christians use a number of sources to make decisions; these include the Bible, Church teachings, Jesus’ actions and the society around them. It is also important to remember that the Bible does not mention euthanasia but however teachings from the Bible can be related back to the topic of euthanasia:

The Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on euthanasia is that it apposes it completely, this is an absolute view:

“ Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the

deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.”

Pope John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae 1995.

The Roman Catholic Church also states that any attempt of ending life is opposing God’s love for that person. Circumstances like long illness actually help people to face death, even though it is frightening. Also the Roman Catholic Church opposes euthanasia because of the strongly taught commandment: “Thou shall not kill.” To add to that: the Roman Catholic Church regards the sanctity of life as an extremely important teaching and places the highest value on human life and suffering and pain do not stop life being valuable and is not a reason for ending life, therefore the Church believes that people should leave the dying process to God, not to humans who by allowing euthanasia are, for Roman Catholics, devaluing human life and making it seem disposable. Instead people should die with dignity and let them be loved unconditionally by God until the end of earthly life. Therefore Roman Catholics oppose euthanasia, this is an absolute view.

The Church of England’s report in 1975 on “dying well” and the Methodist Church’s statement in 1974 both oppose euthanasia. They emphasise the fact that human life is sacred.

However Christian views today vary with most Christians not accepting euthanasia.

A Christian teaching that can be used for euthanasia is the sanctity of life. Christians believe that all life is given as a gift from God:

“ God made man in his own image, male and female he created them.” Gen

Therefore because God gave life, it is a gift ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

The Church of England’s report in 1975 on “dying well” and the Methodist Church’s statement in 1974 both oppose euthanasia. They emphasise the fact that human life is sacred.

However Christian views today vary with most Christians not accepting euthanasia.

A Christian teaching that can be used for euthanasia is the sanctity of life. Christians believe that all life is given as a gift from God:

“ God made man in his own image, male and female he created them.” Gen

Therefore because God gave life, it is a gift and it is valuable because humans are made in God’s image:

“God made man in his own image.” Gen.

Because God created humans equally in his own image Christians believe that life is sacred and has dignity. The sanctity of life places the highest value on human life and for this reason it would be wrong and against Christian teaching to end life, also making it seem unvalued and disposable. Therefore the teaching “the sanctity of life” opposes euthanasia completely.

However some Christians do not oppose euthanasia. A teaching that could be used to support euthanasia is situation ethics. Situation ethics evolves from the Christian teaching of Agape, Agape is Christian love. Situation ethics focuses on the most loving thing to do in a situation. Some Christians feel that it is better for someone to die a painless death in dignity than go on suffering in pain from a terminal disease. Therefore situation ethics can be used to support euthanasia, however not all Christians support this view:

For a Christian who opposed euthanasia a teaching, which they would use to support their view, may be Didache’s teaching:

“ For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under

Heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.” Ecc

Christians can see clearly from this that God chooses when we die. Another teaching that could be used to support this is:

“No person has control over his or her own life.” Ven.

So therefore some believe that by humans taking life away unnaturally by euthanasia we are not only throwing God’s gift of life back at him but are “playing God” and by doing this we are taking life’s value away and making it seem disposable. Therefore this teaching opposes euthanasia.

Another teaching that will support this view is Josiah’s teaching from the Old Testament;

“ I was born with nothing and I will die with nothing

“ The lord gave and now he has taken away”

From this some Christians see that we started our lives with nothing and we shall end with nothing, also they can see that God has given life and therefore only he can take life, only he has the right to take life away. Therefore these teachings oppose euthanasia

However, not all Christians except the view that there is a time to die, they may instead bring up the teaching of “Free Will” that supports euthanasia. Free Will is for some Christians very important because it is one of the things that make us unique from animals; the ability to make our own choices and decisions about our own lives. Therefore these Christians believe that we have the right to use free will whenever we want, even for perhaps the most important decision of our lives, weather we are going to go on living or to end our lives.

Another teaching which supports this view is the teaching from genesis that God gave man domination over everything. From this Christians can see that they have a Responsibility to use God’s gift to the full

However, a Christian teaching, which may be used to oppose euthanasia, is the teaching that the body is a temple:

“You are God’s temple and his spirit lives in you.” Cor.

From this some Christians believe that God’s spirit lives in us all because he created us in his own image, which links back with the sanctity of life and life being sacred. Also because his spirit lives in humans some believe that if we destroy God’s temple (the human body) then we will all be destroyed because it his holy, therefore this teaching opposes euthanasia.

On the other hand, a Christian who supported euthanasia, might use the teachings on exceptions and omissions to support euthanasia:

“Show respect for old people and honour them.” Lev.

Christianity teaches humans to love human beings but to also respect human beings so it is important to accept their decisions, this comes from the Christian teaching “agape” or “the love principle” and they also believe when they show this love for others God lives in them and they live in God.

However, for a Christian who opposed euthanasia, they may instead support the hospice movement. A hospice is a place where people who have a terminal illness can live out the rest of their lives; the hospice provides pain control and aims to give people the best quality of life. The modern hospice movement happened in the 1960’s ad some have Christian influences however the staff and patients can be any faith or religion. A hospice will help the patient prepare for their death and will also care for the relatives who may be suffering;

“Hospices are places where people come to live, not to die”

Dr.H. Mossop – A hospice doctor

Many Christians support the hospices because they treat the whole person, not just the disease; this is an example of the teaching:

“Love your neighbour”

Also, some Christians support the hospice movement because they say it supports the teaching:

“Faith without action is an empty vessel”

A hospice movement supports this teaching because the Christian is showing love and compassion for people by supporting hospices; therefore the hospice movement can be used in Christian teaching against euthanasia.

In conclusion, it can be seen that there are many different views on the topic of euthanasia in Christianity, and there is no absolute view on euthanasia mainly throughout the Church except the Roman Catholic Church which gives clear guidelines for Christians to follow, while other churches will take a stand but will not take an absolute view which lets Christians explore the facts and make decisions for themselves. Also, by looking through the Christian teaching I have used I can see clear link between all of them and the Christian Love principle, which is important because this is the centre of Christian moral teaching.