Live And Let Die

[luna-tic]

If God gave us free will knowing that bad things would surely happen then why is euthanasia (when the quality of one's life has gone) considered as wrong by many religions, when the killing of Jesus is the foundation of certain belief systems?
If Jesus had continued to live and become more popular through his teachings, what effect would that of had on his iconic status now?
Sorry, that's two questions in one but hey ho !

[WaldoMcFroog]

Sorry, but I'm not following your contention in the first question. According to the collected novels, Jesus did not choose euthenasia, he was murdered by the state for being a bit of a hippy; I'm not sure I see what you're trying to get at. Euthanasia and the death penalty are hardly the same thing!

You might as well argue, 'If God gave us free will, why is anything considered wrong?' According to the mythos, it's considered wrong simply because God says it is (logic, ethics and internal consistance need not be considerations, however).

[Octavius]

Euphanasia means �good death�. In common society this is often referred to as assisted suicide or a dignified death. The link you have made is rather tenuous.

Jesus died on the cross (hardly dignified). If he hadn�t have died then, I am sure he would have eventually or just risen to heaven at some point.

[Octavius]

*euthanasia

[luna-tic]

I do apologise for my question not being very clear as I was quite tired when I thought of it.
While doing some tidying up in a religious education class before the kiddies arrived I saw a brief explanation of euthanasia on the wall and wondered: If God knew all things and created free will in humans knowing in the future that Jesus would be killed for basically something he (god) created then why do religious people find euthanasia wrong if his son was killed before his teachings were completed.
That's like God killing his own Son to be a martyr so people can worship him.
Pardon my tenuous link. This is not an attack on peoples religions or meant for purely argumentative reasons and as my knowledge of religion is extremely basic I was just curious.

[Octavius]

I don�t think the acceptance or disapproval of euthanasia in society hinges on religious belief, although people often refer to it as �playing God� or life belongs to God etc., it has more to do with social attitudes and the acceptance of the power of one to take another�s life. In the right circumstances most people would wish for a dignified death (providing they knew that death was impending of course!), the problems become apparent when it requires someone else to help or assist with the death. Some medical practitioners and individuals would prefer not to have that responsibility.

In olden times, a warrior would die a �good death� if he died on the battlefield with sword in hand � and this often has religious connotations in that the warrior (depending on the base belief) will join his ancestors in a great place reserved for worshipful heroes. Even on occasions where a warrior-type was executed, out of respect, he would often be allowed to be grasping his sword at the point of death, if not he believed that he would most likely be left wandering the underworld in shame.

Killing yourself because you are tired of pain or embarrassed by disability is the exact opposite of what you are asking. It is taking your life not so that others won't suffer, but so that you won't suffer. In comparison, you could consider the fireman who enters a burning building to help other�s escape, or the doctor who treats terminally diseased people knowing potentially they could contract the disease and also die. It is with this act of servitude and self sacrifice that the crucifixion of Christ is viewed, not as euthanasia.