Endgame
CLICK to hear the audio version of this Daily Paradox
Life is more important than death and life is sacred. That is not a word to be used lightly. It implies a value to life before birth as well as while the heart still beats. Nevertheless we destroy life daily on a massive scale, even when it could be fairly easily saved. The standards that condemn suicide and murder are cast aside when the interests of those with power are threatened by those without.
We rightly try to define ‘life’ before a baby is born but do not attempt to define it when the old become senile. There is a good reason for this. We do not know how much senile people are conscious of what is going on around them.
Not long ago a man in a coma for 23 years recovered to declare that he had been fully aware of everything that was happening to him all the time he appeared to be comatose. The worst horror movie made cannot begin to convey what most of us thought about a situation like that. How he retained his sanity is something I suppose we shall take years to find out.
It is not therefore for us to decide when someone else should die. But that does not mean that it is not for us to decide when we should die. The gift we were given at birth is the gift of decision – “free will” as it is often described – and it would not be choice if we were not intended to exercise it.
There is something disturbing about a world that insists that a person wanting to take their own life if they become incapable of appreciating it must do so before it is necessary because it is illegal to forward plan an assisted suicide. Who are the likely guides to show us the way to evaluate the sanctity of life?
Religions of all denominations, one would think. Yet they are either uncompromisingly dogmatic or silent – a different sort of dogma – on the subject. Faith should be touching, not dogmatic. It should combine the innate spirituality of man with the reason he has developed over time to produce answers that fit an underlying moral code but adapt to the society in which he now lives.
Sadly most organized religions have woefully failed in this regard.
With the forecast explosion of longer life and, at the same time, increasing senility and dementia the question of assisted suicide needs thinking through by those who have a rightfully high regard for life, both their own and others’. The matter becomes more urgent daily because the question of euthanasia may soon become a matter of survival of the species, and euthanasia is far from assisted suicide.
My own father sought the help of a kind doctor to end his life, not for his own convenience but to stop the suffering he saw on the faces of his family who had watched him dying a long and painful death. He was a highly religious and devout man. I believe his devotion was manifest as much by his death as by anything else.
I just don’t see why an act of charity had to be so covert and grubby.
Ai Siew
Intuitively I know this heart felt persuasion cannot rest well within me. It’s probably my religious belief that the constants laid down ( yes, I do believe it’s laid down) must be upheld as constants – life is scared and cannot be per-terminated regardless.
How does that sit with euthanasia especially those on medical grounds. To me, God accepts our disobedience/failure/sin..etc in such cases. As His compassion is beyond understanding.
Hence, I do accept that as created beings we will fail time and again to meet and understand these constants; reflecting our inability to comprehend God’s purpose in entirety. Therefore we supplant it with our rational understanding which He has gifted human beings since we are created in His image – almost His equal BUT not. I believe therein lies the paradox of the Christian faith. We veer to play God.
But you know what, I believe God accepts and embrace us nevertheless as we stumble towards Him in this life.
So it’s not covert nor grubby to God.
Does this makes sense? probably only to me. sigh.
Ai Siew
let me rephrase this bit:
How does that sit with euthanasia especially those on medical grounds. To me, God accepts our disobedience/failure/sin..etc in such cases. As His compassion is beyond understanding.
to:
How does that sit with euthanasia especially those on medical grounds. To me, God accepts and understands our decisions. As His compassion is beyond understanding.
johnbittleston
Why were we given reason? In order to behave reasonably, presumably.
If that is not correct then we must find another purpose for our reason.
If, however, it is correct, then why should we behave unreasonably over some issues because another human tells us to?
Please note that I was talking strictly about assisted suicide in my Daily Paradox. I did not discuss euthanasia except to say that we did not have the right to take another’s life. Euthanasia will become an important subject in the fairly near future, I am sure. For the moment I think we should try to resolve the issue of assisted suicide. Reasonably!
All views are relevant and welcomed. Reason is only effectively developed by thesis and antithesis.
Dolly
I agree that assisted suicide should be permitted within the law. Of course the motivation and the involvement of other people in the case must be carefully examined beforehand. But every person should be able to choose not to suffer any more if they so decide. I firmly believe this and I don’t believe in God, so why involve him! To say God gave us life is also a belief I do not hold. People who do believe their life belongs to God should do as they see fit, and us others should be allowed to do as we see fit. Agreed?? Dolly
johnbittleston
Hear, hear, Dolly
Joo
The right to end life with dignity is self evident. Show me someone who has been up close and personal with a difficult death and witnessed great sufferring and I’ll show you some either pro euthanasia or at least agnostic. I agree with you John, at the end of life it becomes important to end it well! Ignoring these pleas and being paralysed with inaction isnt always right.
johnbittleston
Thank you, Joo, you are so right.
I have always been very impressed by the prayer called “Your dog’s last request” – I’m sure you have seen it. Very short, it goes like this:
“On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone.
Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.”
At the end, dogs and humans have much in common.
John