Religions and assisted dying: An overview Prof David Albert Jones The Anscombe Bioethics Centre What this presentation will cover What is meant by religions Religions and death Religions and assisted dying Broad religious views we will
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Presentation Transcript
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Religions and assisted dying: An overview Prof David Albert Jones
The Anscombe Bioethics Centre<br>
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What this presentation will cover What is meant by religions
Religions and death
Religions and assisted dying
Broad religious views we will cover:
Eastern / Dharmic
Judaism
Islam
Christian
Roman Catholic
Summary<br>
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What do we mean by religions? Religion concerns the ultimate meaning of human life
Expressed not only in words but in a way of life
Distinct religious traditions (sacred texts, rituals, ministers)
Eastern / Dharmic religions originating in India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism
Western / Abrahamic religions originating in the Middle East: Judaism, Christianity, Islam<br>
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Religions and death Death is a key concern of all religions, moment of profound human significance
Religions typically have teaching about:
What lies beyond death
How to prepare for death and what constitutes a good death
The ethics of taking of human life
Provide care for the dying and rituals of mourning<br>
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Religions and assisted dying Individual believers may support assisted dying
Little in teachings of religions to support assisted dying
Most religious scholars are strongly opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide
Broad consensus between very different religions on this issue<br>
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Eastern / Dharmic religions Within Hinduism and Buddhism a good death is a moment of renunciation
Death hastened by violence would damage karma
Neither prayopavesa (fasting unto death) nor sati (widow burning – now illegal) is assisted dying
Dharmic religion expert view requires a spiritual guide
Non-expert view: Dharmic religions little support for assisted dying, illegal in India<br>
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Judaism Within Judaism protection of human life supreme duty
This duty overrides other commandments (Sabbath)
Outside war and punishment it is always wrong to kill
Orthodox Judaism no authorities support assisted dying
Reformed Judaism minority support for assisted dying
Euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in Israel<br>
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Islam The Qur’an forbids taking human life, except for justice
Only Allah gives life and only Allah has authority to take life
The Qur’an overtly forbids suicide as do several saying of the prophet (Hadith)
Many contemporary Fatwas against euthanasia, PAS
Assisted dying is not legal in majority-Muslim countries<br>
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Christianity Church of England: Lambeth Conference (1998), euthanasia is “neither compatible with the Christian faith nor should be permitted in civil legislation”.
Reaffirmed General Synod (2005) by 293 to 1
Christians oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide:
Dignity of human beings made in the image of God
Disabled people merit equal respect and protection
Legalisation likely to have an adverse impact on society<br>
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Roman Catholic views Euthanasia and assisted suicide contrary to Catholic teaching
“Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.”
Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995
Should not despair of those who die by suicide
But encouraging or assisting suicide gravely wrong<br>
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Summary Death is a key concern of all religions
Some believers support assisted dying
Very little support for assisted dying in the teachings of any religion
Strong religious support for palliative care
Broad consensus between religions on this issue<br>
