Euthanasia

**research paper from Summer 2010 Christian Ethics Online**

There is always “a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). These times are designated by God, but there are those who seek to become as God and decide for themselves when they or others should meet that end. This idea is known as euthanasia. People argue constantly on whether this idea of euthanasia is ethical or morally sound. There are many opinions and reasons for why these opinions are held. Most Christians would say it is wrong and that it is like “playing God.” Some would say that some types of euthanasia are wrong, but some types are right. Some would say the reasons for euthanasia are what make the idea moral or not. With all this debate the idea needs to be better explained and then shown where God actually stands on this issue.
Euthanasia is commonly understood as deciding when to allow death to come to an individual- whether this is physician-assisted suicide where the individual wants to die or just simply pulling a feeding tube out of a seemingly hopeless patient. Kirby Anderson, famous author and radio personality, had this to say about euthanasia in his book Christian Ethics in Plain Language- “The term euthanasia is derived from the Greek prefix eu- meaning ‘good’ or ‘easy,’ and the Greek noun thanatos, meaning ‘death.’ Critics, however, have said that euthanasia is anything but easy and anything but good” (Anderson 52). Author and orthodox theologian, John Breck, describes euthanasia as “an expression…[that] has lost its original meaning of ‘a good death’” (Breck). He goes on to say that “in current usage, it refers to an unnatural invasion into the life of the patient, the sole purpose of which is to hasten death. When we use that unfortunate expression, we are speaking about active intervention that intends to shorten the patient s life, usually in order to end severe suffering and to short-circuit the stress and distress of the dying process" (Breck). He says that euthanasia is a “way out” for the suffering patient by introducing a foreign substance into the body to quicken the dying process (Breck). “Scholars in heavy tomes and pragmatic lobbyists in state legislatures promote new ways for family and others to find a ‘good death’ for the sufferer,” says Robertson McQuilken, President of Columbia Bible College and Seminary for thirty years, in his book An Introduction to Biblical Ethics (327). Many claim euthanasia is “safe, legal, and rare” (Thomas). In the end, is it really safe? Should it be legal? How rare will it be in a few years? Is God fine with humanity taking death into their own hands?
Before the history of the argument and the biblical argument can be seen, the rest of the euthanasia idea needs to be shown. Meaning there are different types of euthanasia. According to Anderson, it is "crucial to any further debate on euthanasia [to have] a proper definition of the various forms of euthanasia” (Anderson 54). The four types are known as voluntary passive, voluntary active, involuntary passive, and involuntary active (54). Voluntary passive euthanasia refers to when the patient decides he just wants to let “nature run its course” and go off life support (54). This does not mean the physician hastens death (54). It means that the physician meets the patients request by just comforting him as he goes through the dying process (54). This is the type of euthanasia most people have no problem accepting. Voluntary active is considered to be physician-assisted suicide. "With PAS, the physician provides medication that the conscious and presumably competent patient self-administers,” says John Breck (Breck). Voluntary active euthanasia is simply the doctor helping the patient along in speeding up the dying process or dying sooner than destined (Anderson 54). Involuntary passive sounds exactly like it is. The patient cannot volunteer himself to die so the doctor withholds treatment to allow the patient to die (54). Involuntary active is where genocide comes in (54). This type of euthanasia is where the patient cannot volunteer or does not volunteer but the doctor opts to kill the patient by causing the dying process (54). He speeds up death by whatever means not simply allows death by removal (54). The person selected does not always mean someone who is already dying (54). Now that the meaning and types of euthanasia have been discovered, the history of the argument and the Biblical argument can begin.
Now that the idea of euthanasia is better understood, people need to understand that this is not just a new issue as well as the recent history of this issue (Anderson 52). The Greeks debated it, the Pythagoreans opposed it, the Stoics approved of it in hopeless disease, and Plato approved of it in terminal illness (52). England approved of it in 1935 by creating a society to allow it (52). Anderson claims America did the same thing a few years later (52). Derek Humphrey was a man who promoted euthanasia in America through being an author (53). Jack Kevorkian helped Americans and others die with use of his “Mercitron” (53). Anderson points out Kevorkian’s fame starting in 1990 with his assisted suicide of Janet Adkins (53). Michael Betzold, a Detroit Free Press reporter who became personally connected to [Dr. Kevorkian's] story, follows the story of Kevorkian in his book Appointment with Dr. Death. He shows how twisted this man was in his thinking. He was called Dr. Death and was fascinated by death itself (Betzold 3, 7). He would attempt to film people dying so he could know the signs of the exact point of death (7). He told many this was for research to help along medicine, but he admitted it was mostly for interest (7). He conducted experiments on death row convicts, used corpses for blood transfusions, and painted disgusting pictures of cannibalism and death (10, 12, 13). Betzold says that when Kevorkian saw a women suffering immensely with cancer with no hope of recovery just waiting to die, Dr. Death decided "doctor assisted euthanasia and suicide are and always were ethical, no matter what anyone says or knew” (9). Kevorkian successfully helped along the idea of physician-assisted suicide in America. In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed that states disallowing euthanasia were constitutional ending the argument against those states (Anderson 53). There are many other cases in American History as well as World History having to do with euthanasia. A few other famous American cases are Nancy Cruzan and Terry Schiavo. Nancy Cruzan was a young woman who had a family fighting for the right to have her feeding tube pulled (Colby). She died shortly after (Anderson 53). Her case can be seen in William H. Colby’s book The Long Goodbye. He was one of the lawyers on the Cruzan case. Terry Schiavo is another very controversial case. There are several different ideas about this case. In short, a lady who was assumed to have no hope had her feeding tube removed by her husband. Some say “Terri Schiavo's legal rights were never once violated. The result in the case was so unjust not because the courts ignored the law but because they followed it. The laws of Florida, like those of most states, specifically allow that, in cases like Schiavo's, some people may decide that others ought to die” (Miller). Then others rebuke this by saying, “removing Schiavo s feeding tube was an act of murder by omission, not an act of ‘letting die’” (“Endings”). Either way, this and many other cases prove the outrageous debate over euthanasia throughout all history.
Now that almost all about euthanasia has been observed, the Biblical argument can begin. Many will say, “Christians are hardhearted in not supporting euthanasia” (Gushee). They say this because the person may be in severe pain and Christians opposed allowing their pain to end. David P. Gushee, professor of Christian Ethics, says this view “is wrong” (Gushee). First of all, it depends on which type of euthanasia the person is talking about. If talking about voluntary passive, the view is partially wrong because many Christians would support allowing “nature run it’s course.” Many would say that “[people] should do away with the expression "passive euthanasia," since it refers to an omission that merely allows the dying process to run its course. The patient dies not from active intervention on the part of the medical team, but from the underlying pathology” (Breck). So, this can be considered as just simply death. Death is a normal thing according to Ecclesiastes 12:7. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). So this type of euthanasia is not really euthanasia. So in this aspect, Christians are still not in favor of euthanasia. If you call this euthanasia, still, then Christians can be in favor of at least one type of euthanasia. The next type is where Christians start really opposing. Voluntary active euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is where the line is drawn. This is wrong. This is murder. Many people seek suicide because they are suffering and do not want to suffer any more. God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9). God has a reason for everything. Seeking to usurp God’s power by taking death into humanity’s hands is wrong. It is God’s responsibility and choice when someone is to die or go through a trial. He says in Deuteronomy 32:39, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand” (Deut. 32:39). So, this is where Christians are against euthanasia. The last two types of euthanasia, Christians are also against. Involuntary passive and involuntary active euthanasia are wrong. It is not up to humanity when a person dies. Taking any action whether that be passive or active is wrong. Many cases the person in passive euthanasia was not dying in the first place, they were just in a vegetative state. It may seem wrong, but it is even more wrong to usurp God’s authority on death. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13). "Killing others deliberately, whatever the motive, violates God's law and should be condemned by human law," says McQuilken (331). Man is God’s creation- “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26-27). It is not up to humanity to dispose of God’s creation. So, in the end, Christians are opposed to euthanasia for the most part and for good reason. It may be torturous to see someone in pain, but it is not up to humanity to become “like God” and solve the problem by murder.
The idea of euthanasia, the types of euthanasia, the history of euthanasia, and the Biblical argument of euthanasia has all been seen in this report. Hopefully now, this whole idea of euthanasia can be better understood and the Biblical, Christian view of this complicated issue is seen. This may be a hotly, debated issue, but when the scriptures are searched the truth can come alive. There may always be “a time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2), but at least now God’s idea of this time is revealed. No human should take God’s authority into their own hands.

“I have carefully proofread this paper OUT LOUD checking for spelling and grammatical errors (the spell and grammar check programs on the computer were applied to this paper)”. Kristina N. Jordan__

Works Cited

Anderson, Kirby. Christian Ethics in Plain Language. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005.
Betzold, Michael. Appointment with Dr. Death. Troy: Momentum Books, 1993.
Breck, John. "Alternative to euthanasia." St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly 52.3-4 (2008): 389-401. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 18 June 2010.
Colby, William H. Long Goodbye: The Deaths of Nancy Cruzan. Carlsbad: Hay House Inc, 2002."Endings." Christian Century 122.8 (2005): 5-318. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 18 June 2010.
Gushee, David P. "Killing with kindness: why is the church against euthanasia in instances w here people are in terrible pain?." Christianity Today 48.12 (2004): 62-318. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 18 June 2010.
KJV Reference Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Print.
Miller, Robert T. "The legal death of Terri Schiavo." First Things 153 (2005): 14-16. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 18 June 2010.
McQuilkin, Robertson. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 1995.
Thomas, Sally. "Shadows in Amsterdam." First Things 193 (2009): 13-15. ATLA Religion atabase with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 18 June 2010.

Capital Punishment

*-This is what I posted in a Discussion Forum for my Christian Ethics Online Class-*

Capital punishment is a difficult topic to argue and discuss because almost everyone has a different opinion. Some people use the Bible to defend it, while others attempt to condemn it with the same methodology. For example, Elizabeth Morgan in her article Crime and Punishment uses her faith to debunk the death penalty argument. "It seems to me as a Christian that it contradictgs the gospel call for forgiveness and truncates the possibility of transformation." The second example is of someone using the Scriptures to argue for the death penalty. Rick Reed in his article Should Christians Support the Death Penalty? uses Romans 13:4 to support his argument. He says, "We also agree that governments with the responsibility of protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty." The verse states that "he [a ruler] does not bear the sword in vain." Seeing these two sides, how can we really know which is correct?
It is very hard to determine which is the correct ideaology, but in the end you have to look at what God says. The one trick is to remember to interpret the scriptures as what God says and not what you think. This is my argument for whether or not the death penalty contradicts the 6th commandment. It does say "Thou shalt not kill," but the actual meaning of the word kill does not contradict the idea of punishing by killing. According to Strong's Online Concordance the word kill is ratsach which means "to murder or slay or kill with premeditation, or accidental means, or for revenge, or intentionally as a slayer when used as a participle." So, it does not contradict.
In the end, I believe the dealth penalty is justifiable by NT scriptures (Romans 13:4 is one), but that our governments ideas of the death penalty needs fixing. My idea (not sure if I can completely prove the idea with scriptures other than he should be killed)- the offender is one who has killed and should be killed the same fashion as his victim.

Sources:
KJV Bible
Morgan, Elizabeth. "Crime and punishment: wrestling with the death penalty." Christian Century 123.20 (2006): 30-33. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. EBSCO. Web. 10 June 2010.
Reed, Rick. Should Christians support the death penatly? Delve Into Jesus. Web. 10 June 2010.
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for ratsach (Strong's 7523)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 10 Jun 2010

Sick of Crap

You know, life is pretty bad when you suddenly wish you would've went through with killing yourself a few years ago. My life's not bad. I mean I've got a great guy, I'm going to a good school, I can "tolerate" my job, and I actually know people care for a change. When you're told though by someone who's supposed to care the most that they don't care anymore- it makes all else seems like nothing. The thing is I didn't think I cared all that much about this person and what they think considering how this person does tend to treat me, but I really do. It makes me feel like nothing. Pointless. Like I really should have killed myself when I wanted to. I don't want to because of all the other people who do say they care- especially Matthew. I'm just so sick of crap. You know, it's worse when all this had to do with a stupid car and a senseless "rule" and a forgotten "promise". I love this person, surprisingly, but as soon as I get my chance- I'm gone!

Birth after Menopause

I really didn't know what to title this blog so that'll just have to do. There is a movement I am going to rant about quickly where women are going and getting inpregnated by ivf at late ages. Late ages meaning sixty and seventy- long after menopause. People have dubbed this selfish and I agree. I mean think about it. Life expectancy for a women is around 70s-80s. Having the baby at sixty is pushing it, but waiting all the way to 70! You could die when that baby is only 10 years old or younger. Can you imagine the torture that child would be put through? Emotional distress. Poor kid. Selfish mother. A child needs his/her mother and your basically taking that away from him/her by giving birth to them just shy of death. I hate to be morbid and say yea your gonna die soon, but look at statistics. You have to think about it. At least for the baby's sake, think about it. Hopefully you've made good provision for the child but how often will that happen. I know the dr's wouldn't allow it if you were in bad health but still. It's pushing it. I call it selfish. You wanna baby so bad you don't think logically and in favor of the child. The other with this idea that should be more important but it's not is that God gave menopause for a reason- no more babies! Why are we determined to go against God and his design so much? So first, if you thinking about having a baby late- think about the innocent life your about to bring into the world. Second, which should be 1st, you are seriously going against how God designed the body to work in doing this. So, birth after menopause- my take, selfish.

Miley Cyrus

Ok. I was not gonna comment on the Miley Cyrus issue, but I am getting annoyed so here it goes. Stop calling her a slut. I know it's tempting. I know I've done it, but just move on. It's no use wasting your breath or w.e. I know it's hard. We need to overcome it though. Honestly, it's just giving her what she wants- more publicity, more fame. So, you want her to go away- stop making her a big deal. I know it's horrible. A sweet innocent girl is dressing skankily and having sex for the camera, but come on now! She never was that innocent to begin with. The only thing that still gets me is the fact that she does in fact say she is a Christian and say she wants to remain pure (ignoring the fact that kids look up to her). Honestly, it does affect us Christians because she does do this stuff after saying all that, but really Christians fall and screw up all the time. In the end, she alone is responsible for what she's done. She wants to be popular. She wants to be a pop artist. She knows what it takes and she's going for it. If you keep arguing and bringing her up, you're just egging her on. That's my opinion.

Freshman Year

Well, freshman year is over. I am actually workin' on my last day of classes as I write this blog. I look back at some good memories and some life lessons I will never forget. I learned how to better write a paper (w/ citations and everything), I learned how to "attempt" to manage my money better, I made new friends, I had my mind strenghtened, I had my beliefs tested, I had my eyes open, and so much more. This year, though difficult, has been so great. I'm a college student. I've been tested beyond measure. I really saw how this is not high school. :) There have been some great lectures and then those that completely sucked. There's obviously been procrastination, but I've seen how hard that is to do in college. It's kind of funny. It's hard to not do your work til the last minute. More understandable- it's hard to do all that work at the last minute. I have had a great time. Many memories have been made- Sara and her Cherry Coke, Elisabeth not understanding a word of spanish (except que now), sneaking pictures, being too scared to go get ice cream alone, playing life before class, playing my power point game, the [], and many more. I have mixed emotions being done with Freshman year, but it doesn't matter how I feel in the end- it's just over! After exams nxt wk, I'll be a SOPHOMORE!

(pictures from Freshman Year)

dude named Cam "playing" the piano before our last class of the day- Foundations of Education.

friend, Leah, waiting for the Caf to open for lunch

me during Survey of Fine Arts...friend took this to get back at me for always sneaking pictures of her.

friend, Sara, actually letting me take a picture of her

gettin' ready for chapel

friend, Elisabeth aka Que, txting HER Matt

Governmental Pet Peeves

I have many pet peeves- incessant clicking of a pen, idiotic drivers, tapping, and allowing me the pleasure to hear you chew your gum. There is one though that annoys me to no end. That is the people who complain about government and our officials and then don't vote. Why in the- How- ugh! I don't get it. If you don't vote, voice your opinion in the given fashion, why then are you voicing your opinion now! If you don't care enough when it matters- when you can make a difference, STOP CARING AT ALL!! In my opinion, if you don't try to make a difference, shut up about the way things are. Yea, I agree- this government is really starting to suck and these officials aren't helping (especially Obama >:-/ ). The only difference between me and you though- I actually vote! Now, I'm 19. I missed the past election because my birthday was the day after election day, so up until recently I hadn't registered to vote. What I did though is our county elections are coming up so I went to early voting so I could do both- register and vote! I got the voting packets after the actual cut off but called to find out if I still could. So, yes, I have only voted once. I'm hoping though that I can continue to do this duty. Yes, it's a duty. It's a privilege. You want to be able to complain with rights- then vote! If you don't vote, don't complain to me. Chances are I'll smack you upside the head! You don't like the way things are- then make your voice known by voting!

finally got to vote!!!!!!!!!