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Comparing Secularist Views On Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide

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Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, is a practice where a professional doctor prescribes medicine to help his or her patient to end their life whenever the patient feels the need to do so. Over the years, numerous Secular and Christian intellectuals had debated the morality of the topic. Even though Secularists believed that the decision is solely depends on the person since s/he controls his or her own fate, their philosophy is still inferior to Christianity for the case that the Secularists make for euthanasia is erroneous in the philosophical term. Unlike Christians, Secularists believe that their body is their own, not a reflection of God’s image. In their philosophical perspective, there is no such thing as God since no one can see Him …show more content…

Since Secularists deny metaphysics, they also deny the idea of a predestined plan for them from a divine deity. Instead, Secularists believe that human can control their fate through their actions and decision. Due to this ideology, Secularists approve the practice of euthanasia, for human can decide whether their life should continue or end depends on their view of the situation, “life is precious, but when the time comes, we should have the choice to die with dignity because, after all, it’s our life” (Katie, “A Secular Take on Euthanasia”) Without God as a paradigm, Secularists have no purpose in life nor any hope beyond the materialistic world that they believe in so they justify that it is alright to end their life since it is their choice to do so. Unlike the rather hopeless Secularists, Christians have a hope and a purpose in life since, as Jeremiah 29:11 said, God has a plan to “prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). Unlike Secularists who think that their purpose is to wiggle around until death take him or her away, Christians live with a positive mind that God had made a plan for them to grow stronger in their faith so that they can accomplish numerous achievements that will glorify Him. By following God’s Word and have faith in Him, human do not have to rely on euthanasia to avoid physical and mental pain. Instead, God can make …show more content…

People in the modern world defines euthanasia as “mercy killing; the act of putting to death painlessly” (www.dictionary.com) As sentimental as it may sound, euthanasia is essentially another form of murder; the only difference is that the victim allow others to kill them. Secularists, however, think of euthanasia differently. Since Secularists do not particularly has a specific purpose in life except for struggling through difficulties until death, they view euthanasia as the quickest way to end any form of pain in their life. In their own philosophy and reasoning, if they feel that their decision is correct, even if it’s suicide or murder or euthanasia, then it is correct. This why Secularists are wrong: human emotions cannot be the basis of laws or truth for it clouds a person’s judgement so making decision on temporary emotion is dangerous. Unlike them, Christians had God to rely on. Therefore, Christian never let astray by their own false emotions and make sinful actions like assisted suicide. Despite of numerous reasons the Secularists fought for euthanasia, euthanasia is immoral for it is another form of murder that rely on emotions instead of clear judgement that people should

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So that’s why I feel that the Christianity best states my views on euthanasia. There are many reasons why I believe that Christianity and the Oregon Death with dignity act have completely different views on euthanasia. For example, The Oregon death with dignity is not against euthanasia, but Christianity is against euthanasia. The Oregon death with dignity act basically allowing ill people to end their lives whenever they want to, but the person has to be 18 years old or older. They usually do that with the lethal medications that are prescribed by a physician.

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Physician Assisted Suicide is the patients decisions to end one’s own life by a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. In 2015 the federal government lifted to the ban on Assisted Suicide, causing many controversial debates. Some were happy about this decision but many were strongly against this, including the Catholic Church. The Church is against Assisted Suicide because they see God as the creator of all things which also means it is his decision as to when someones time is up on Earth. “While the Church recognizes, and encourages compassionate care that alleviates the suffering of those who are near death, She also vigorously teaches that immoral means (such as euthanasia or direct killing) may never be used to reduce suffering even if they are used with apparently good intentions.”

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The secular side of this debate is highly in favor of legalizing assisted suicide. The majority of their reasoning is that they believe people who are sick with terminal illnesses let in be cancer or perhaps a brain tumor or something along those lines that they have the right to rid their life of pain and suffering. Although some people who were in favor of legalizing it said that they may not ever think of it as in option for themselves either because of religious views or ethical views that everyone should have the opportunity to end their life if they choose to do

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Euthanasia is the painless killing, usually by injection, of someone usually done by doctors and is illegal in the United States as well as many other countries around the world. This differs from physician-assisted suicide because in physician-assisted suicide a doctor or physician provides means or knowledge required to commit suicide, but the person has to be the one to kill themselves. Both of these situations are viewed as morally wrong in the eyes of the church and many citizens in the U.S. Euthanasia, and physician-assisted suicide, both limit the life of a person based on his or her physical and or emotional health. This process takes away part of a person’s life, shortening God’s plan for that person, and does not allow for miracles to get better. There is no definite way to predict the future but people tend to think that since a person is in pain now, and the person wants to die, nothing can happen that can turn his or her situation

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Involuntary euthanasia is performed without the suffering patients consent. (“Euthanasia”).Christianity prohibits this because it is the killing of another human(“Euthanasia”). Euthanasia is the killing of a suffering patient. It is very controversial. During World War 2, Hitler authorized physicians in Germany to euthanize tens of thousands of disabled people(“Euthanasia”).

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Although, some people are against assisted suicide, because of their religious beliefs, lack of doctors training, and medication costs. According to Marilyn Golden “There is a widespread public that those opposed to legalization of assisted suicide in California are religious conservatives” (828). Some religious people don’t like assisted suicide because; they think it’s wrong for a person to take away the patient’s life. A psychiatrist named Herbert Hendin, argues that there’s lack of training of doctors, “Studies show that the less physicians know about palliative care, the more they favor assisted suicide or euthanasia, the more

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Haws and Hunt conclude that relying on your religion isn’t reasonable to oppose the right to end your life when the person has suffered enough. “While I do not support assisted suicide, it is unfair to describe a 10-year illness without addressing the cost [of prolonging life], which would have bankrupted many Americans” (Haws and Hunt). They imply that trying to pay for the patient’s treatment to continue fighting their illnesses will damage them financially and emotionally to the patient and their family. Even though Kuo’s beliefs are some reasons that assisted suicide should be illegal, there will be people who will be against those types of

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Everyone’s view of euthanasia is different. Some think it is best for what the patients want and give them that, others have their religious values to speak out against assisted death. Religions like Christianity and Catholics believe that assisted suicide violates the sanctity of life. The Mormon communities believe “Euthanasia is condemned. Anyone who takes part in euthanasia, including assisted suicide, is regarded as having violated the commandments of God” (Religion and Spirituality 1).

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