Author Topic: What's wrong with euthanasia? (Read 1735 times)

Alex · « **on:** March 21, 2009, 01:48:52 AM »

If you only have a month to live, then what is wrong with ending your life before that time so that you don't have to suffer? How is it different than jumping out a burning skyscraper to end your life rather than suffer by being burned alive? In both cases, you killed yourself to escape a more horrible death - a death that was going to happen anyway.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2009, 07:11:39 AM »

ѕυιcιdє is despair. Giving up all hope. Failing one's duty. Even at the end of life, even when things seem useless, we do not know yet what duties God has for us.

At the end of one's life, one should remember the example of the Cross. To put one's self right with God, to offer up one's suffering.

To kill oneself is not only self murder, but an act of presumption. It is a terrible scandal when any Christian does such a thing. Christians must be an example of fortitude. Remember your mission as a Christian is not to escape a brief period of suffering, but to find salvation, and to help others find salvation. To help others avoid eternal torment, and to avoid eternal torment yourself.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2009, 07:13:43 AM »

As for your example of people who jump from fires, they are often no longer in control of their reason, and are almost acting out of reflex, doing anything they can to escape the terrible heat.

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2009, 04:14:56 PM »

And, depending on how many floors up they are, they MIGHT survive, whereas they WILL NOT survive if they stay in the room.
Jumping out of a burning building might be desperation (to avoid a burning death, a reflex of self-preservation, etc.), but not necessarily despair.

It all has to do with the intention of the person -- do they intend to kill themselves? Or do they just intend to TRY to escape the fire, even if it might not work out? It sounds like death, in this case, would be an UN-intended consequence.

Now if someone jumped out of a building because the stock market crashed and their retirement account went from $200,000 to $1,200 -- now THAT would be ѕυιcιdє, and certainly a mortal sin.

I agree with Telesphorus. We can't dictate God's will. God's will is God's will, not ours!

Kephapaulos · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2009, 04:33:34 PM »

Yes, God's will is God's will indeed. I know there's the story of St. John Vianney reassuring hope of a woman's husband's salvation because she was concerned about his jumping off a bridge to kill himself. The husband actually had a change of heart in the few seconds before he hit the water, but of course, there was no way he could get out of falling to his doom at that point. So it's not impossible for someone still be saved in such situations, but we should not rely waiting until the end of life to convert. People usually die as they lived. Even St. John Vianney himself said that baptism of desire is something rare.

Alex · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2009, 12:58:34 AM »

What if I am thrown to the lions in an arena (as were the early Christians) and just before the lions can get to me, I shoot myself with a gun I had hidden - so as to die quickly rather than face the terror of being eaten alive? Or what if I am stuck in a mining cave that just caved in and water is filling the space I am in. The water is up to my neck already and I will drown in a couple of minutes. Rescuers can't get to me in time. So, rather than face the horrible death of drowning, I shoot myself in the head. Would that be an example of acting out of fear of pain and so not be considered killing oneself?

Catholic Samurai · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2009, 12:06:31 AM »

Quote from: Alex

What if I am thrown to the lions in an arena (as were the early Christians) and just before the lions can get to me, I shoot myself with a gun I had hidden - so as to die quickly rather than face the terror of being eaten alive? Or what if I am stuck in a mining cave that just caved in and water is filling the space I am in. The water is up to my neck already and I will drown in a couple of minutes. Rescuers can't get to me in time. So, rather than face the horrible death of drowning, I shoot myself in the head. Would that be an example of acting out of fear of pain and so not be considered killing oneself?

If your really panicking, I dont think you'll be able to reason that ѕυιcιdє is the quickest way to go. Thats still a case of intentional ѕυιcιdє. Nobody pulls out a gun in panic and shoots themselves. Nobody likes a slow death. But there aint anything you can do about it. If you die real slow, then it's the will of God.

spouse of Jesus · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2009, 01:08:55 AM »

life is precious in itself,no matter whether you are happy or unhappy.human life is sacred,and should be respected.ѕυιcιdє is bad and the fact that somebody has only 1 month to live doesn't justify this horrible sin.

Author Topic: What&#039;s wrong with euthanasia? (Read 1735 times)

Author Topic: What's wrong with euthanasia? (Read 1735 times)