A Christian's Arguments For or Against Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the act of bringing about the easy and gentle death,

usually someone who is terminally ill or in great pain, which is why

some recognise euthanasia as 'mercy killing'. There are many types of

euthanasia: Non-voluntary euthanasia is when the person concerned is

no longer in a condition where they can make a decision for

themselves, and that their death can be caused by their relatives or

medical experts. Active or voluntary euthanasia is when the person

concerned asks someone else to help them to die. Passive Euthanasia is

when a person is allowed to die for example the life support system is

withdrawn.

There is much evidence from the Bible that disapprove euthanasia. In

Genesis, it is God who creates human beings and animals that roam the

earth, 'Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the Earth and subdued

it. Rule over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and every

other living creature that moves on the earth. It is God who breathes

into Man the breath of life' (Gen1: chapter 2: v7). In 1Cor 3:16-17,

it explains the value of human life and that life is scared, ' If

anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple

is scared, and you are that temple'. In Psalm 31: 15, it explains that

human life is in the hands of God, emphasising the point that it is

God who knows when to give life and when to take it away. This is also

supported in lines 1-4 in Ecclesiastes, 'For everything there is a

reason..a time to be born, a time to die'. From these quotes, many

Christians believe that since life is given by God it is only God who

has the right to take life away. All Christian Churches strongly

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...des when the

ventilator is switched of? Tony Bland was in a persistent vegetative

state, does that mean that because he lacks the intellectual capacity

that most people have, he should be killed? Dame Sicily Saunders

believe by legalising voluntary euthanasia, it would cause disastrous

effects, 'it would be an irresponsible act, hindering help,

pressurising the vulnerable and abrogating our true respect and

responsibility to the frail, the old and the dying'.

There are many views that support the legalisation of euthanasia and

many that reject the idea of euthanasia. However many would agree with

Dr. Judie Jackson's quote, 'Better to have a shorter, pain free life

that a larger, painful life', nevertheless whether the need to include

euthanasia to achieve this will always be a controversial and

debatable subject.