Euthanasia
According to the Bible, life is a gift from God and only God can decide when a life begins and ends. Christians believe that any killing without God’s authority is wrong.
Some Christians believe that this includes when a person’s life is ended by request. The sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not kill.” They feel that euthanasia is going against this commandment and is therefore a sin. They may also believe that life is sacred and no one has the right to take it and so suicide is also a sin.
Other Christians disagree and feel that you should have control over your own life and have the right to die with dignity. They feel they have a responsibility to others to keep them from being in pain and suffering. For example, if someone’s quality of life were non-existent they would feel it is their responsibility to help them, in the New Testament it says, “ love your neighbour.” If someone was terminally ill and in a great amount of pain they would think it would be cruel to make them live the remaining part of their life suffering, when they could end their life peacefully and with dignity.
Q2 FACED WITH THE ISSUES YOU HAVE CHOOSEN EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT WAYS CHRISTIANS MIGHT RESPOND.
One way some Christians might respond is with anger that someone thinks it is acceptable to make the decision to take away the life of an unborn child. Some would also strongly disagree with euthanasia. This is because whether a life has just been conceived or someone who is terminally ill, to take away that life according to the commandment “ thou shalt not kill ” is a sin. Those who feel as strongly as this might think that someone who is contemplating abortion or euthanasia is going to commit a dreadful sin.
Other Christians however, would agree that abortion and euthanasia are wrong but would recognise the difficulty faced by those in these situations and may be sympathetic. They may feel they want to help by offering support to those considering euthanasia or abortion.
Some Christians might recognise the predicament faced by those people considering abortion or euthanasia. These Christians might realise that there are many different circumstances, which cause people to consider abortion and euthanasia, and therefore might be understanding in some situations.
However, some may turn a blind eye arguing that it is wrong of them to interfere with other people’s decisions. They might think that everyone is entitled to make their own choices on such issues.
Some Christians may even feel that in certain situations abortion and euthanasia are acceptable, for example, if a baby was going to be born seriously handicapped they may feel that an abortion would be acceptable because it would be kinder to the baby.
If there was a risk that if the women continued with the pregnancy she could die, then some Christians would agree that having an abortion would be the right thing to do.
Also, if someone was terminally ill and in unbearable pain and that person wished to die they may think it would be kinder to let that person die peacefully and with dignity.
The reason why Christians might respond in so many different ways is because just as the circumstances of those considering abortion and euthanasia are different, so too are the attitudes of every Christian.
Q3 “ WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE ABOUT LIFE IS UP TO THEM. THEY SHOULD NOT TRY TO MAKE OTHERS ACCEPT THEIR POSITION ”.
DO YOU AGREE?
Yes, I agree that Christians should not try to make other people accept their position.
I feel this way because I believe that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Everyone has different views on religious and moral issues and their personal beliefs are just as acceptable as anyone else’s. If somebody disagrees with an other person’s point of view then they should not try to make that person take their own point of view, this is because the other persons point of view is just as valid as their own.
Another reason for not forcing your opinion on someone else is that it is their life and they can live it however they want and this includes making their own decisions, and it is no one else’s business.
However, I do think that if you are unsure about your views on a religious or moral issue, for example abortion and euthanasia, then it is a good idea to discuss with other people your feelings about that issue. So long as the other people don’t try to force their ideas on you, discussing issues you are unsure about can be good because it can help you make up your own mind.
Finally, I don’t think Christians should try to make others accept their position on any kind of moral or religious issue, because for a person to truly believe something they have to come to that decision themselves.
Some Christians might believe that you should try to make others accept your position.
They may feel that because someone’s point of view is different to theirs, that person is wrong. They may also feel that they are helping that person by trying to make them accept their point of view, and may even believe it is their duty as a Christian.
