Christian Perspectives on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicides - Essay Example

Religion and Theology Christian Perspectives on Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicides The Religion Facts have proffered pertinent information relative to Christian views regarding euthanasia and physician assisted suicides. The site initially discussed the issue of suicide as viewed from the Bible, from historical precepts, and in modern times. As revealed, the prohibition of inflicting death upon others or upon oneself came from the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13).

The prohibition for inflicting death was explained in greater detail by St. Thomas Aquinas as: “It is altogether unlawful to kill oneself, for three reasons. First, because everything naturally loves itself, the result being that everything naturally keeps itself in being, and resists corruptions so far as it can. Wherefore suicide is contrary to the inclination of nature, and to charity whereby every man should love himself. Hence suicide is always a mortal sin, as being contrary to the natural law and to charity.

Secondly, because every part, as such, belongs to the whole. Now every man is part of the community, and so, as such, he belongs to the community. Hence by killing himself he injures the community, as the Philosopher declares (Ethic. v, 11). Thirdly, because life is Gods gift to man, and is subject to His power, Who kills and makes to live. Hence whoever takes his own life, sins against God, even as he who kills anothers slave, sins against that slaves master, and as he who usurps to himself judgment of a matter not entrusted to him.

For it belongs to God alone to pronounce sentence of death and life, according to Dt. 32:39, "I will kill and I will make to live." (Summa Theologica; cited in Religion Facts). Further, the Catholic faith has remained steadfast in opposing both euthanasia and physician assisted suicide as these are considered grave sins against God (Religion Facts) for violating the fifth commandment. More explicitly, the same discourse disclosed that “on May 5, 1980, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an official "Declaration on Euthanasia," which reaffirmed the Churchs prohibition of all forms of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Performing euthanasia on another or allowing it for oneself is called a "violation of the divine law, an offense against the dignity of the human person, a crime against life, and an attack on humanity" (New Advent). It was likewise emphasized that “some people speak of a "right to die," which is an expression that does not mean the right to procure death either by ones own hand or by means of someone else, as one pleases, but rather the right to die peacefully with human and Christian dignity” (New Advent).

The Luthervan views and the Greek Orthodox views follow the same contention opposing euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. The Lutheran Church was cited to reaffirm that “in 1995, the Synod adopted a resolution that affirmed its objection "to medical personnel having any part in actively inducing death, even at the patients request or at the request of the family” (Synod). Concurrently, the Greek Orthodox Church indicated that “the Orthodox Church firmly opposes euthanasia and regards it as "a form of suicide on the part of the individual, and a form of murder on a part of others who assist in this practice, both of which are seen as sins" (Religion Facts).

The foregoing thereby clearly establishes the Christian views on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide as sins and are therefore being clearly and irrevocably opposed, as prescribed with the abovementioned justifications for its rationale. Works Cited New Advent. Declaration on Euthanasia. 5 May 1980. 16 November 2011 . Religion Facts. Euthanasia and Christianity: Christian Views of Euthanasia and Suicide. 2010. 16 November 2011 . Summa Theologica. 1271, part II, Q64, A5. Synod, The Lutheran Church Missouri.

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