Religious Attitudes to Matters of Death
Religious Attitudes to matters of death
A) Explain the difference between active and passive euthanasia?
Active euthanasia occurs when the medical professionals, or another person, deliberately do something that causes the patient to die. Passive euthanasia occurs when the patient dies because the medical professionals either don't do something necessary to keep the patient alive, or when they stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive e.g switch off life-support machines or don’t carry out a life extending operation. There is not really a big difference as in both cases there is the intention of ending the patients’ life. B) Why do some religious people believe euthanasia is wrong?
Some religious people are against euthanasia because they believe its against the will and word of God who created us and they believe that he should be the one to destroy us. Secondly euthanasia weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life. Another reason which religious people are against euthanasia is because they believe that Voluntary euthanasia is the start of a slippery slope that might leads to involuntary euthanasia and the killing of people who are thought undesirable
C) Explain how religious teachings about life after death may help a believer to care for a terminally ill person.
In most religions it is taught that elderly or terminally ill person who is not stable enough to care for themselves should be helped and took care of.
In Islam there is an extended family society, which means many different relation and generations live together. Elderly parents or any terminally ill member have the right to expect their children or family members to care for them and it’s the responsibility and duty of the whole family to do this because of the effort and sacrifices the member patient has made. Looking after the elderly provides spiritual growth, and looking after a terminally ill patient is considered a ‘sawab’ which means a good act.
A) Explain the difference between active and passive euthanasia?
Active euthanasia occurs when the medical professionals, or another person, deliberately do something that causes the patient to die. Passive euthanasia occurs when the patient dies because the medical professionals either don't do something necessary to keep the patient alive, or when they stop doing something that is keeping the patient alive e.g switch off life-support machines or don’t carry out a life extending operation. There is not really a big difference as in both cases there is the intention of ending the patients’ life. B) Why do some religious people believe euthanasia is wrong?
Some religious people are against euthanasia because they believe its against the will and word of God who created us and they believe that he should be the one to destroy us. Secondly euthanasia weakens society’s respect for the sanctity of life. Another reason which religious people are against euthanasia is because they believe that Voluntary euthanasia is the start of a slippery slope that might leads to involuntary euthanasia and the killing of people who are thought undesirable
C) Explain how religious teachings about life after death may help a believer to care for a terminally ill person.
In most religions it is taught that elderly or terminally ill person who is not stable enough to care for themselves should be helped and took care of.
In Islam there is an extended family society, which means many different relation and generations live together. Elderly parents or any terminally ill member have the right to expect their children or family members to care for them and it’s the responsibility and duty of the whole family to do this because of the effort and sacrifices the member patient has made. Looking after the elderly provides spiritual growth, and looking after a terminally ill patient is considered a ‘sawab’ which means a good act.