|
Christian
attitude includes issues about
Birth
Preserving life
Death
1. Birth
Most Christians in some way see God as a creator. This is supported by
the Christian creeds and such things as baptism promises.
Bible
This contains some very literal images.
Gen 1 God created man in his own image and after his own likeness.
Jeremiah 1:5 God tells the prophet that he called him to be a prophet
in the womb.
Psalm 139:13 The Psalmist says that God creates the child in the womb.
Christian attitude
Humans are different from other forms of life and must therefore be in
some way special.
Humans in some way reflect what God is like.
Humans have souls which continue after death.
2. Preserving
life
Bible
Psalm 82:3-4 Give justice to the weak … rescue the weak and needy.
Luke 5:12-13 Jesus heals a leper (Any other healing by Jesus could be
used)
Christian attitude
Christians value life and work towards eradicating disease and relieving
suffering.
It means they have a specific viewpoint about downgrading life –
sterilization and contraception.
Christians try to work against poverty.
They believe that the handicapped and mentally deficient should be afforded
the same rights as others.
Christians should not do things that harm their lives eg smoking, drug
abuse, suicide.
3. Death
Bible
Only God has the right to end life
Exod 20:13 You shall not murder
Psalm 104:29 When you (God) take away their breath they die.
1 Cor 3:16-17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, (body) God will destroy
him.
Christian attitude
Christians should not injure or threaten life. N.B. Quakers are pacifists.
There is a prohibition against murder in the ten commandments.
This raises questions about abortion and euthanasia.
These are difficult issues because they insist that a choice is made between:
(i) Allowing suffering
(ii) Causing death.
|