What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
The Christian worldview in light of George’s condition will employ different values and consideration as dictated by the biblical teachings. One of the considerations which will be taken is the value of life as earlier discussed. The Christian worldview considers the sanctity of life and considers it as a gift from God.
Before God’s will for an individual is accomplished, then taking that life away is considered a sin before God. Likewise, Christians view the concept of birth and death as holding high spiritual significance, in the sense that both processes are controlled by the creator and therefore should not be interrupted by man (SSorajjakool et al.
, 2017). The fact that Christians also believe that all human beings were created in the likeness of God, then defiling the image of God through suicide, may be considered a sin. Therefore, opting for euthanasia, according to the Christian worldview, may be going contrary to God’s will.
Another Christian virtue is the virtue of perseverance. The biblical narrative elaborates preserving through hardship and suffering as being an essential aspect of a Christians life. It is through perseverance and maintaining a firm stance of faith that we get closer to God. the biblical narrative establishes that resurrection comes to those who persevere to the end (Romans 5:1-5, New International Version Bible).
Given the above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why?
From a Christian worldview, George should opt to persevere through the suffering with the belief that through his suffering, he will receive renewed strength from God. Given the Christian perspective on the value of life and perception of sin, George opting for euthanasia will be considered going against God’s will. The Christian worldview also looks at death as a phenomenon which should not be interfered with by mortals, and left only to God, for he is the creator and therefore the owner of that life (De Villiers, 2016).
Taking away that life through euthanasia will be tantamount to robbing God His possession. Ultimately, the Christian perspective considers all life as having equal value and George should not consider his as being any less valuable in light of his medical condition. These are some of the moral considerations which George ought to take by employed a Christian point of view.
Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George’s situation?
It is indeed a difficult choice to make when faced with such an illness as one experienced by George. When one encounters a seemingly hopeless situation, there are several considerations which come into play to make a decision. One of those considerations is, of course, the quality of life one will lead in light of the situation. Being incapacitated for the rest of your life seems to be harrowing enough ordeal which one would never want to experience.
Other than that, how the medical condition will impact the immediate family members is also a factor. In most cases, one would consider the burden left to those who care for them as being unbearable as such opting to rid them of that burden by going for options such as euthanasia (Movahedi & Tavacoly, 2016).
In some instances, one may not have someone to care for them, which exposes them to even more suffering. Taking all the listed considerations into perspective, opting for euthanasia will most likely be the selected choice of action to take.
However, coming from a strong spiritual background, where practices like euthanasia are considered sinful, then consideration of other options will be my preferred course of action. My spiritual perspective is one which is cemented on hope and faith that things may turn out for the best. Therefore, I would opt for the treatment regimens, which are aimed at reducing the progression of the disease.
I will consider this option in the hope that, after the bought time, a more permanent treatment solution will be available in the market, allowing the condition to get treated.
Conclusion
The concept of death and dying is one which breeds difficult moral dilemmas, especially when faced with a seemingly hopeless situation. The use of euthanasia as a possible option when dealing with terminal illnesses is one which, according to the Christian worldview, is considered as a sin. However, a patient facing such a condition may be inclined to opt for such measures, given the envisioned suffering faced by themselves, and their loved ones as a result of t