RS SUPPORT REVISION

 

 
  Explain ways in which Christians might respond to a person who is terminally ill and has asked to die.  
 

 

Beliefs
For many Christians this would present a problem because:-
The Bible stresses the sanctity of human life.
Life is created by God Genesis 2 God breathed life into Adam.
Some see the premature termination of life as murder.
Job 1:21 Job talks about God who gives and takes away life.
Psalm 104 When you (God) take away life, they die.
St Paul sees the body as a human temple of the spirit that none should destroy

Churches The Roman Catholic Church is totally against euthanasia.
They stress the need for giving good terminal care.
The Church of England stresses sanctity of life and is generally against euthanasia.
Church of England reports try to see all sides of the argument, but they also stress care for the dying.
The Church of England speaks out against specific cases. They spoke out against the
Assisted suicide of Dr Anne Turner.

Baptist Church thinks that in some cases patients who are brain dead should be allowed to die.

Attitude
Some Christians stress the sanctity of any sign of life.
There are those who consider that life must include some form of interaction with others.
For some the plight of the carers has to go into the equation. The carer who looks after a terminally ill person also needs to be considered.
For Christian doctors there is a conflict also. The doctor’s role is to save lives not end them.

Some Christians think of suffering as part of God’s purpose.

Action
One response of a Christian who is involved in this might be to encourage the patient to look at going in to a local hospice.
Although Macmillan nurses are not specifically Christian, one who is trying to get help for someone who is dying, might try to involve Macmillan Nurses.

Values
All Christians would value life.
The problem is how one defines life.