Religions and Assisted Dying: An Overview
Explore the intersection of religions and assisted dying, discussing key aspects such as the meaning of religions, views on death, perspectives on assisted dying across various religious traditions, and the lack of explicit support for assisted dying in most religions. The overview also delves into specific stances within Eastern/Dharmic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism regarding a "good death" and the role of spiritual guidance. Broad consensus against euthanasia and assisted suicide is highlighted, reflecting the perspectives of religious scholars and believers alike.
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Religions and assisted dying: An overview Prof David Albert Jones The Anscombe Bioethics Centre Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
What this presentation will cover 1. What is meant by religions 2. Religions and death 3. Religions and assisted dying 4. Broad religious views we will cover: Eastern / Dharmic Judaism Islam Christian Roman Catholic 5. Summary Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
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 Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
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 Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
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 Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
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
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
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 Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
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
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
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 Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
Jersey assisted dying citizens jury March-May 2021
