Within these four religions, there are then numerous branches or denominations that vary in their specific beliefs and practices. Of all world religions, four stand out in terms of sheer numbers of adherents: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism (Hackett et al., 2015). In much of Africa and Asia, religion is playing an increasingly important role in many people’s lives (Hackett et al., 2015). Outside the West, the situation is even more apparent, with the vast majority of people worldwide identifying with a specific religion. However, in many instances, this affiliation may be nominal without a strong personal connection (Hackett et al., 2018). Therefore, understanding official religious teachings related to life, suffering and death will give significant insight into common and prevailing opinions on the morality of EPAS.Īlthough atheism is becoming more common in many Western countries, there still tends to remain a majority of citizens who identify as belonging to a particular religion (Hackett et al., 2015). cultural beliefs (both conscious and unconscious) might be influenced by the underlying majority religion (Abdulla, 2018). However, the reverse is possibly true, i.e. A secular Western mindset might presume that the underlying "culture" influences the religious doctrines and beliefs (Eckersley, 2007). Despite this, a religious organisation's formal theological teachings do influence societal beliefs, often unconsciously, in any given society where that faith predominates (Sandu & Huidu, 2020). Likewise, views on the role of pastoral ministry and the beliefs of chaplains and spiritual care workers also vary (Carey et al., 2009 Newell & Carey, 2001). The opinions of adherents of any religion may vary significantly between individuals and may sometimes be inconsistent with their religion’s specific official teachings. Given religious faith appears to play a significant role in defining individuals' beliefs about the ethics of EPAS, it is helpful to understand the official teachings of major religions on EPAS (Eckersley, 2007). Furthermore, in these jurisdictions, among people affiliated with a religion, a lower proportion consider their religious faith important when compared to their counterparts in other parts of the world (Hackett et al., 2018). A cursory glance at jurisdictions where EPAS has been legalised confirms that these tend towards a greater degree of secularity and atheism than the average (Table 1). Many studies have confirmed religiosity to be one of the critical factors associated with people's opposition to the legalisation of EPAS (Chakraborty et al., 2017). Where legal, rules about who can access EPAS vary, ranging from strict criteria related to terminal illness and suffering to those with minimal regulations other than patient autonomy and capacity.Īlthough not the sole reason, beliefs about the ethics of EPAS are often closely connected to religious beliefs (Sharp, 2018). Discussions about EPAS are often contextualised to people with terminal medical conditions suffering from pain and distress. The more recently introduced terms “voluntary assisted dying” or “medical assistance in dying” describe both active voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is the closely related concept of the prescription of a medication that, when ingested, will result in the person dying (Materstvedt et al., 2003). This will not only allow healthcare professionals and institutions opposed to EPAS to avoid engagement, but also provide options for members of the public who prefer an EPAS-free treatment environment.Īlthough understandings of EPAS vary, a widely accepted definition of voluntary euthanasia is the administration of a medication by a health professional to actively end a person's life at the competent individual's voluntary request and with their informed consent (Materstvedt et al., 2003). Given that these religions play a significant role in the lives of billions of adherents worldwide, it is important that lawmakers consider these views along with conscientious objection in jurisdictions where legal EPAS occurs. These texts demonstrate an opposition to EPAS based on themes common to all four religions: an external locus of morality and the personal hope for a better future after death that transcends current suffering. A literature search of the American Theological Library Association database revealed 41 relevant secondary texts from which pertinent primary texts were extracted and exegeted. This paper explores perspectives on EPAS of the four major world religions, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, through analysis of their primary texts. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (EPAS) are important contemporary societal issues and religious faiths offer valuable insights into any discussion on this topic.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |