Euthanasia

[GeeMoney]

Can a Christian ever justify Euthanasia ?

[SmarterThanU]

Sure! Christian: "Do you follow Jesus, my son?" Non-Christian: "No, actually, I..." Christian: "HEATHEN! I must euthanize you!" "DIE PAGAN!" BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM! BLAMMITY BLAM BLAM BLAM click click click

[el duerino]

yes. but not really. understand?

[el duerino]

just to add, a christian can justify anything. whether it means he's a loon, a *******, a hypocrite or a mindless sheep is your call.

[Clanad]

El duerino... still at it I see. Have you checked your medication levels lately?

[beale]

He's got a point though, Cristian's can and for centuries have justified the most un-Christian behaviour in the name of God just to suit their own ends. Not all of them of course. I wouldn't want to tar Mother Teresa or Alfred the Great with the George W Brush. The George W Brush! I'm quite proud of that one.

[MrsCheeks]

I consider myself to be a Christian and I am 100% for Euthanasia.

[GeeMoney]

What about euthanasia when the patient is mentally unstable, or has lost his or her mind, and cannot make the decision for themselves ?

[IndieSinger]

Similar questions are raised about how Catholics (he was a great guy that Cathol) can ever justify babies born as a consequence of rape.

[GeeMoney]

Well i dont think any1 can justify a baby being born of rape, but wouldnt most girls/women have an abortion to get rid of it ?

[IndieSinger]

GeeMoney - strict Catholics believe that all births are planned and so would forbid the abortion of any baby, including that brought about by rape or any other non-consensual sex regardless of age etc.

[zgma]

Yes, anyone can use any philosophy to justify anything. You can say that it isn't Christian to kill - or you can say that it isn't Christian to let someone suffer when they are terminally ill and want to die. That and the abortion debate both boil down to priorities - is your priority "life at any cost" or is it the quality of life.

[DavidG]

You have to take into account that Christianity is based on the teachings of - or reports on the life/death/resurrection of Christ. Nowhere in the New Testament does it say "Thou shalt not kill." Christ preaches forgiveness, compassion and tolerance. I suppose a christian could easily justify euthanasia on the geounds of compassion.

[GeeMoney]

Nowhere in the new testament does it say it.... that is true... Now take a look in the old testament...

[DavidG]

Sure the Old Testament says don't do it - but the question concerns christians, and they are supposed to take their religious beliefs from the new testament. Old JC did say he came not to fulfil the scriptures but to challenge them/break them/not mentioned depending on which gospel. So Old Testament shouldn't enter into the debate. Which is why the "an eye for an eye" thing when coming from "christian" leaders is very dodgy.

[GeeMoney]

So christianity isnt about the bible in full, just the new testament...? If it isnt like the full bible, and only about one part, couldnt we use singular parts and ignore other contradictory statements in the new testament to justify things ?

[Merlin]

A definitive answer.

Yes, Christians can justify euthanasia if they want to. The Catholic catechism seems to allow euthanasia provided that you 'allow' a death rather than 'cause' it and the victim/patient is sufficiently conscious of what's going on. Catholics are Christians, the catechism says what Catholics can and can't do, the Catechism doesn't explicitly forbid euthanasia, therefore a Christian can justify euthanasia in certain circumstances.