Compare and Contrast: Buddhism and Christianity on Euthanasia
Introduction
Religious beliefs and views are in most cases contradictory to the medical principles. When it comes to issues pertaining death I.e. euthanasia, then different sacred teachings will hold to put it differently. Many religions completely condemn and credit an act of claiming life as a great taboo since the giver of life represent God. There is a virtual statement in nearly all religious beliefs that a exceptional treatment should be given to a person who is sincerely I’ll. Like in the case given where George is suffering from ALS. The religious books further give a deep explanation on the consequences of participating in seizing a person’s life. Some of the results and punishment for this act are severe. This makes most believers not to promote euthanasia. Some religious books indicate euthanasia as taking innocent lives and thus brand it as murder. Besides, the supreme power forbid killing, so who is that person to go against the will of the supreme being. This is compare and contrast Buddhism and Christianity essay in which we shall be analyzing two religious beliefs that is, the Christianity and Buddhism on euthanasia. This will eventually help us to comprehend the situation of George and the best alternative aspect to pick based on religion.
Christianity Perspective
Although most Christians are against assisted suicide There exist no form of justification or affirmation that the Christian belief oppose euthanasia; the assisted type of death like one would pit it, for an individual like George who has made up his mind to die. As long as such a person or patient has got convincing words and arguments on the reason he wants to die. These arguments should be extremely considered. One of the most familiar complaints that is based on Christian faith is that life need to be preserved at all cost no matter what the circumstances. This simply and basically so since life is vastly a sacred gift.Nevertheless, not most people would dispute a right to personal defense of which may a time require a force which is lethal.Besides, our social based structures are always designed in such a manner to allow lose on life as an unfortunate occurrence which is not avoidable. Death should be unplanned. This is a real fact since human brings were made in the image of God and so by planning to take away life, it is equally like you are trying to reject your God. Since it is a factual phenomenon that life is a gift from and that both life and death are part of life process, every person is mandated to respect their boundaries. No authority is given to any person to take life of any fellow even if it is the case whereby, the person wants to die just like in our case where George wants to die due to ALS.
The intrinsic dignity that all mortal beings possess because of being created in the image of God, paves a way for all persons to have a distinctive destiny of having a share on God’s own life. This set humans on a higher rank than other animals in terms of their value (Keown,2015). This is a strong Christian teaching. By saying that people were created in God’s image doesn’t humans look like God in actual appearance however, it shows that people posses a peculiar capacity and ability of rational existence which helps them to see and discern what is good and also that which is bad. Ultimately from this discernment, humans can desire for what is good.The intrinsic dignity that all human beings possess because of being created in the image of God, paves a way for all persons to have a distinctive destiny of having a share on God’s own life. This helps Christian believers to show mercies and care to the I’ll unlike the other perspective of taking human life. This helps Christian believers to show mercies and care to the I’ll unlike the other perspective of taking human life. It is highly irrelevant when it comes to Christianity that if there is no quality of life say due to illness then one can opt to performed euthanasia. This is supported by a clear fact from the bible that no person holds the right to view himself or herself as worthless. In addition to this, a person should never see his fellow too as of no worth due to earthly situations like incurable diseases like ALS. This is supported by a clear fact from the bible that no person holds the right to view himself or herself as worthless.
Moreover, the faith in Christianity guides and leads those who follow it to have some great care to a person who has reach the death point. An individual who has reached the state of death should be handle with a better treatment. There should be a palliative health care towards the dying persons and not to wish for their deaths. In addition to this, a person should never see his fellow too as of no worth due to earthly situations like incurable diseases such as ALS. This makes the dead to entrust their lives to the risen Christ. Individuals of Christian beliefs are further directed to recognize an open discussion about death. Individuals of Christian beliefs are further directed to recognize an open discussion about death. George should understand everything happens for a reason and that God is the one who can redeem him and heal him the diseases. It is therefore, important to trust upon God even in the most hard situation. Death should never be an alternative or option to quench the suffering on earth. This is because, a person who takes his own life or life for another person according to Christianity, has a case to answer on the day of judgement.
To be more specific, a familiar situation that condemn taking away of life is that God is the only being which has the power to decide on someone’s death. Therefore if even one wants majorly to die and perhaps seek for an assisted death, that move should never be accepted based on the teachings of Christianity.
Buddhism Perspective on Euthanasia
Believers in Buddhism don’t have a unanimous view and consideration on euthanasia like the counterparts in Christianity religion. This is because, many teachings from Buddha does not exclusively and explicitly deal with the situation of assisting someone to death. However, a good number of Buddhists just like Christians are always against involuntary euthanasia. On the other hand, they are not much clear like the people of Christian belief when it comes to voluntary physician-assisted suicide. On the other hand, they are not much clear like the people of Christian belief when it comes to voluntary physician-assisted suicide. The only factors that the Buddhists follow are that voluntary euthanasia is bad and should be condemning despite unclear supportive principles and guidelines in their religion to give support to this opinion.Besides, the Buddhists hold that people promoting euthanasia has allow the physical ailments to affect and cause mental suffering which should never be the case.
Effective meditation and proper application of physician’s directives should be sufficient to enable an individual to gain or rather regain the initial state of mind urge to live. This helps the persons suffering typically George to stop having mental pain which eventually completes their thoughts on euthanasia. In Buddhism, much argument may come in this perspective too. Aiding in terminating a person’s life is more likely to leave the helper in a bad mental state. This should be absolutely avoided since when it is shunned then, we are making a better society and effective coexistence. More emphasis is put by Buddhists on avoiding harm and ending of the life of a human being. This shows that even though there is no clear written guidelines in Buddhism that condemn euthanasia, it is against the teachings of Buddhism to kill someone even if he or she asks for it.A voluntary euthanasia should therefore be forbidden in this religion just like it was the case in Christianity. Certain codes of monastic law in Buddhism generally forbid assisted death. In addition to this, there is no code in the Buddhism law concerning the lay person and therefore, it is strongly perceived by the Buddhists that any person who participate and promote euthanasia has just man an error in his or her judgment.
In regard to the concept of Karma, Buddhists equally consider death as a transition to the next Kevel of life after death. This is very exact even if you talk of Christianity religion. That is, the person who opting to die will eventually be reborn to another new life which its quality will be highly connected with the outcome of their Karma. This yields two problems.One, nobody perceives how the subsequent life after death will be like. This yields two problems. Based on the first problem, In case the next life may turn to be badder than the life the sick individual like George is currently enduring, then it would vividly be wrong based utilitarianism to allow euthanasia. This is because it favors the shortening of bad state of life into one which is worse after death. Based on this argument, most Buddhists condemn euthanasia at what cost.
Buddhists again view euthanasia as being a suicidal act just like the Christians. Buddha himself demonstrated tolerance of killing by monks in two broad cases, The Japanese based tradition on Buddhism incorporated stories pertaining suicides of monks who were used as a weapon in politics by the Buddhists during the Vietnam War. However, a big difference should be seen since this was monks. In the religion of Buddhism, there exist a profound effect on the way new life commence after death with the manner in which life ends. So the state of mind of an individual at the time of death very valid. The thoughts of a person dying should be selfless and that it need to be free of hate, anger or any form of anxiety. This gives a clear and open suggestion as far as Buddhism is concerned that suicide or rather euthanasia is only credited and approved for persons who have reached the level of enlightenment achievement. The rest of us should at all time avoid it.
My Perspective and Stand on the Case of George
Following different arguments from the perspectives if religion, it is clear that both the two religion that I have analyzed are against euthanasia. Besides, on the medical basis and socially it is not a good act to take kill. I support both the conspiracies which condemn the act of euthanasia since life is very valuable and George can still do a lot with the little years he’s left with. His son and wife still need him for now and therefore, he should plan well his life and general programs during these moments that God has given him chance to life.Besides, best need to use the drugs that the physicians prescribe for in order to manage pain and help him have a comfortable state of being. The family can organize time with a psychologist to give more advice to George and make him understand that everything happens in life for a reason and that early death is never a solution to any life problem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, euthanasia is not a solution to life problems. Just like the religions forbid it, it stands out that it is one of the worst move and decision a physician or a patient may wish to make. Our lives should end at that time when it is stipulated by nature to end. It's therefore very essential for patients who have reached their end of trust and hope to be guided and made to value the little time they have. A person cone on earth with a purpose and mission and thus even if an individual is almost dying, let the mission be accomplished. Physicians should also learn to be encouraging the patients appreciate life.
References
- Keown, D., & Keown, J. (2015). Killing, karma and caring: euthanasia in Buddhism and Christianity. Journal of medical ethics, 21(5), 265-269.
- Perrett, R. W. (2016). Buddhism, euthanasia and the sanctity of life. Journal of Medical Ethics, 22(5), 309-313.
- Lecso, P. A. (2018). Euthanasia: a Buddhist perspective. Journal of religion and health, 25(1), 51-57.
