1. Life and Death Issues

2. Christian understanding of human existence – all life is a gift from God – life on this earth is of a limited duration

3. Important distinctions – euthanasia has been popularly defined as “mercy killing” – its literal meaning is “good death” – allowing someone to die – assisted suicide

4. Fundamental Issue Do human beings have the moral obligation to struggle against death by every means possible, both for themselves and for other people, until the inevitable moment arrives?

5. (cont’d) Or do human beings have the moral right to exercise some choice as to the time and manner of death?

6. Beginning of Life When do human rights begin? o conception: DNA is formed here o implantation: no further possibility of twinning; individualization o development of brain waves: biological substratum for personhood (6-8 weeks)

7. (cont’d) o viability: supreme court judgment—3 rd trimester. Human life begins at 7 th month [ruled in 1972] o birth: separation from mother Potentiality (of becoming a human being) vs. Reality/Actuality: does such “potentiality” have rights?

8. End of Life  Hydration & Nutrition. Coma. Euthanasia, assisted suicide.  Definitions of Death: o cessation of breath (it’s in the Bible; e.g. David) o cessation of heartbeat (invention of sthetoscope) o cessation of brainwaves (most states follow this; legally dead)

9. (cont’d) Basic care vs. Therapy: o basic care: person is conscious and nutrition is administered/included o therapy: intention is to make person better 10,000 people on feeding tube in the US paid for by government [2006]

10. Theological Considerations Ω First Consideration + Biblical teachings + – “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20: 13) – Jesus’ interpretation: one’s attitude toward other persons (Matthew 5: 21-22)

11. – Prohibition from sixth commandment but not from Hebrew law: Exodus 21: 12-19 Deuteronomy 21: 18-21 1 Samuel: 31: 4-6 John 15: 13

12. Second Consideration + Christian Understanding of Personhood + 1- Persons are creatures made in the image of God 2- Persons are both body & spirit 3- Persons are self-conscious

13. (cont’d) 4- Persons are rational beings 5- Persons make decisions on moral issues 6- Persons relate to other persons

14. Third Consideration + Christian Understanding of nature of death + – Is death always bad? People in biblical days were no less anxious than we are Ω Life after Death: * Life begins & ends with God

15. * There is the growing hope in the biblical tradition among the faithful that they will be with God beyond death. * Affirmations of hope for life after death are grounded in faith, in the experience of the individual & of the faith community

16. * The focus on continued personal existence is sometimes expressed with individual emphasis, sometimes with collective emphasis