The Church and Euthanasia
Euthanasia, meaning "well death" in Greek, is deliberately bringing about a person's death for the purposes of eliminating suffering. Just like abortion, euthanasia is purposely taking away the life of a human being, except this time the consent of the person may be given for this procedure, but not all the time. Someone may want to end their life because they are suffering so much that they just want it to end. Also, that person's family may take the steps to cause their death because they love that person so much that they do not want to see them suffer anymore or endure anymore pain. Another reason why an individual or their family may decide to perform euthanasia is because the expenses for keeping that person alive may be getting too high to pay for.
There are two different kinds of euthanasia. They are active or direct euthanasia, and passive or indirect euthanasia. Active or direct euthanasia is deliberately taking the steps to end the life of a suffering and incurably ill person. In this category there are involuntary euthanasia, meaning the patient cannot decide for themselves, and voluntary euthanasia. Active euthanasia is the direct and intentional taking of life. Passive or indirect euthanasia is deliberately not taking the steps to prevent an ill person's death, with the intention that this action of withholding will result in their death. The consent of the patient may or may not be given depending on their condition. An example of this kind of euthanasia would be when the parents of a Down's syndrome newborn withhold from letting the baby have a special surgery be performed on them, and having the intent that the child does not survive because of this.
Another type of euthanasia is physician-assisted suicide, a form of active-voluntary euthanasia. In...
More Christianity
essays:
The Role and Function of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans
... purpose of this discussion the following functions of the Spirit will be investigated as they pertain to the outworking of the Christian existence: As the outpouring of God's love ... to groaning is a picture of the believer's co-suffering with Christ, and results as a direct consequence of the ...
What do I understand the church to be?
... of us to bring us closer to God, who is love, and away from all evil, and that through the teaching, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we may gain eternal ...
“The Symbolism Of Churches And Church Ornaments
“The Symbolism of Churches and Church Ornaments” Churches during the twelfth and thirteenth century were transformed from just being a building into a building of reference and symbolism to who ever partook in it. William Durand in his essay of “The Symbolism of Churches and Church ...
The Church In The Middle Ages: What Was the church's role in the middle ages toward education.
... and monks. In the 11th and 12th centuries new types of schools were developed in some cities. These schools were different from the old ones because they were usually located in city cathedrals rather than in monasteries, and they were dedicated ...
How does the Church ritualise important moments in our lives to develop our spiritual growth and deepen our relationship with God? - 7 Sacraments
... and suffered so they should place their suffering with him. They are also pardoned for their sins. This sacrament can be received more then once. A person that has a serious illness, is ...
The Christian Church and crimes against Paganism
... , there could not be a pagan church because all pagans believe somewhat differently because the pagan religion allows free thinking. In today's society persecution ... by stating that people who did those things must have been mentally ill. I then asked him about the cult of Charles Manson. According ...
Jesus and the Role of Sin in the Catholic Church
... unity with the church is to become one with suffering, atoning body of Jesus. "The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation ... of the Church ("The Seven Sacraments of the Church." 1213:5) However, without Christ's sacrifice of his life and suffering on behalf of humanity the sacrament of baptism would not be possible. Baptism addresses the Original Sin of Adam and ...
The Life and Times of Saint Francis of Assisi.
... wanting to know if it was possible to feel the love that he felt for us that made him accept the suffering that he did on the cross. Francis fell into a ... meditation. For the two years he lived in the cave kind people gave him food. Quite often though he had to ...