Christian attitudes to euthanasia

Question 1

Liberal view 1

Answer 1

They believe in the sanctity of life showing only God can take life away.

Question 2

Liberal view 2

Answer 2

Murder is forbidden by the Ten Commandments and they regard euthanasia as murder.

Question 3

​Liberal view 3

Answer 3

If someone is pronounced as brain-dead switching off the life machine is accepting God’s decision.

Question 4

Liberal view 4

Answer 4

If medicine prescribed to a sick patient kills them, this is not murder as the intention was to save their life. This is justified by the doctrine of double effect.

Question 5

Liberal view 5

Answer 5

Withholding, extraordinary treatment is justified by the Catechism.

Question 6

​Strict view 1

Answer 6

The Bible bans suicide and these people take it literally.

Question 7

​Strict view 2

Answer 7

Euthanasia involves humans ending life when this authority should be put in the hands of God.

Question 8

​Strict view 3

Answer 8

Euthanasia is murder, and this is said to be wrong by the Ten Commandments.

Question 9

​Strict view 4

Answer 9

The Bible shows that life and death decisions belong to God alone.

Question 10

​Other Christians 1

Answer 10

Medical advances have made it hard to know what of God’s wishes for life and death are.

Question 11

Other Christians 2

Answer 11

Loving your neighbour can justify assisted suicide.

Question 12

Other Christians 3

Answer 12

It is a basic human right to have control of your body.