Christians have noticed the more defenceless and vulnerable that people are the less they are valued by society. The most vulnerable people in society are terminally ill patients and unborn children. This is because of the increasing amounts of abortions and cases of voluntary euthanasia.
Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated and the baby is killed. This procedure is aloud to be preformed within 24 weeks of the child being conceived. In Corinthians 6:18-20 it says god is inside you so there for you should honour god with your body. It also says that having an abortion is a sin against your body.
Euthanasia means “good death”, but is that what it really is? Euthanasia is based on the principle that people have a right to die. If for example, someone is terminally ill or in great pain the belief is that it is more humane, more compassionate, to allow them to die quickly. At the moment euthanasia is illegal in Britain but acceptable in certain circumstances in some countries, such as Holland. An example of euthanasia in the media is the story of the 74 year old, Reginald Crew who suffered from motor neurons disease. Reginald travelled to Holland were he receive a fatal dosage of morphine in a local clinic. When stories of people committing euthanasia are in the news Christians feel it is putting increasing pressure on people to consider euthanasia.
Christian’s belief the only person who has responsibility over human life is God and this belief is outlined in certain passages from the bible. In Jeremiah 1:5 it says "Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." This is saying god created you so there-for has control over your existence. In Psalms 139 13:16 it says, “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Marvellous are your works,” this is saying god created human life and it is wonderful and that know-one should take their own or anyone else’s life away.
Christians feel its their responsibility to follow the example of Jesus Christ and therefore christen actions are often based on the life of Jesus. Jesus mixed with people less valued in society than himself such as outcasts. Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus Christ’s closest female followers, was a prostitute. Jesus showed that he was concerned for the least valued members of society when he made Mathew on of his disciples. Mathew was hated by society because he worked for the Romans as a tax collector.
Christians use certain ceremonies such as christenings, baptism, last rights and funerals to symbolise the start and end of someone’s life. These events symbolise the most important stages of a person’s life and there-for are celebrated with these events. Christenings are a way to celebrate a new life that has come into the world, as a Funeral is a way to commemorate the life that person has lived.
The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England both have different views on abortion and euthanasia. Like on abortion the Roman Catholics are absolutists on the matter, which means they say no to it in all situations. Were as the Church of England is more lenient as they disagree with it but in some cases they think exceptions should be made.
