Ethics and Spirituality | Case Study

Running head: ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY
ETHICS AND SPIRITUALITY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE CASE STUDY “END OF LIFE
DECISIONS”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
According to Parker (2016), euthanasia or medically assisted suicide is an important
method which is being presently used by numerous individuals who are suffering from terminal
illness and have no hope of recovering to die with dignity and respect. Deak and Saroglou (2017)
are of the viewpoint that despite the benefits offered by this method to the patients it had been
seen that this particular method had faced a strong criticism from the culture, religion and other
important attributes or the aspects of the life of the individuals. This can be explained on the
basis of the basis of the fact that the end of life decisions or even the manner in which the
individuals lead their life is being influenced by the religion, culture, social background and
other important aspects of the life of the individuals (Ziebertz, 2019). On the one hand,
euthanasia offers the opportunity suffering from terminal illnesses to relieve their pain, suffering
and also to die with dignity and respect however on the other hand it is seen that the religions of
the world have repudiated this process by highlighting the idea that God is the giver and taker of
life and thus the human beings have no right to end their life. The purpose of this paper is to
analyze the concept of euthanasia from the perspective of the Christian worldview through the
usage of the case study of George who is in a dilemma whether or not to undertake euthanasia.
Fallenness of the world, Christian Worldview and George’s suffering
Francis, McKenna and Sahin (2019) are of the viewpoint that an important idea
propounded by the Christian worldview and also the different other religions of the world can be
attributed to the fact that God Himself is the Creator and the Destroyer of all forms of Life in the
universe. Adding to this, Botvar et al. (2019) have noted that all the things which happen in the
life of the individuals or to them are the wish of the God and are intended to test the strength of

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their faith on God and Christianity. More importantly, the Christian worldview also propounds
the idea that the different diseases, pain, suffering and others which the individuals had to endure
are the resultant effect of the various sins and mistakes that they have committed in this life and
also in their past life as well (Steffen, 2017). In this relation, the concept of Original Sin
committed by Adam and Eve is important to note since the Christian worldview clearly indicates
that the present fallen condition of the world and also the human beings is the resultant effect of
Adam and Eve’s disregard of the Word of God, which in turn forced Him to banish Adam and
Eve and their descendent from Heaven (Gamble, 2018). These ideas regarding the fallenness of
the world, sin and punishment and others associated with the Christian worldview are likely to
yield insightful information regarding the condition of George in the case study under discussion
here.
The case study describes George as a family man and also as a role-model for his son
who lead a good moral life. More importantly, the case study under discussion here does not
indicate either implicitly or explicitly regarding any sin or crime that George had committed in
the past which might offer an explanation for the pain as well as the suffering that he is
undergoing presently on the score of his health issue of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from
which he suffers from. In the light of these aspects, it can be said that the present condition of
George rather being a punishment for the past sins or the mistakes that he had committed can be
seen as a form of trail that God is undertaking to test his faith on God and Christianity.
Hope of Resurrection, Christian Worldview and George’s suffering
Zaccaria, Anthony and Sterkens (2019) are of the viewpoint that an important factor
which distinguishes Christianity from the other religions of the world can be attributed to the fact

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it propounds the idea of an afterlife. Adding to this, Liégeois and De Schrijver (2018) have noted
that as per the Christian worldview the bodies of the individuals can be viewed as mere vessels
which are meant for carrying the soul of the human beings from one life to another. The resultant
effect of this is that after the death of an individual although the body of the individuals
deteriorates and disintegrates yet the soul of the individuals is transferred to another vessel or
body and thus the soul lives on till the eternity (Herzog, 2019). However, at the same time it
needs to be said that the Christian worldview makes it explicit only the individuals have strong
faith as well as belief on God and also the Christian worldview are likely to go through the
process of afterbirth or rebirth (Nwabueze, 2016). Thus, the individuals are required to go
through different kinds of trials, punishments, sufferings and others through which God tests
their faith and based on the results of these trials, punishments, sufferings and others, the
individuals take rebirth.
In the particular context of the case study under discussion here, it is seen that George is
going through a substantial amount of pain as well as suffering because of the amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease which he is presently suffering. However, rather than seeing the
illness as a form of suffering or pain, he needs to view the same as a form of trial or test which
had been undertaken by God Himself to test his faith on God and also on Christianity as well.
Thus, rather than giving up hope and undertaking the process of euthanasia he needs to go
through this illness gracefully so as to be able to get resurrected after his death and thereby take
rebirth. This is important since he needs to realize the fact that his body which is presently
suffering is likely to deteriorate as well as disintegrate after death however his soul would live on
and thus rather than reducing his pain he needs to focus on saving his soul.

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Value of Life
As discussed by Paterson (2017), the Christian worldview over the years had placed
special emphasis or for that matter value on the attributes of human life, respect, dignity and
other important factors or attributes that affect the quality of life which is being led by the
individuals. Adding to this, Raz and Schicktanz (2016) have noted that the value of life of an
individual substantially depends on the steadfastness or the strength of their faith on God and
also on the religion of Christianity. More importantly, the majority of the Christians also hold the
idea that the quality or the value of life of an individual is determined by how they are being
handle the different trials, pain and suffering which are being sent by God to test their faith
(Luna, 2018). In the particular context of the case study under discussion here, it is seen that
George is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which is likely to substantially
reduce the quality as well as the value of his life. For instance, because of this particular health
issue, his body would not be able to complete some of the most basic body functions like
breathing, muscle movement, waking, standing, digestion and others. Thus, he would have to
depend on his family for the completion of even the most menial activities which in turn is likely
to significantly reduce the quality of life that he would lead. However, at the same time it needs
to be said that George would still be of great value to the society and also his own family by
going through this trial which had been sent by God to test his faith.
Christian Worldview and Euthanasia
Francis, McKenna and Sahin (2019) are of the viewpoint that an important precept of the
religion of Christianity is that God is the Creator and the Destroyer of all forms of life in the
universe and also the things which happen in the lives of the individuals are the desire or the
wish of God Himself. Adding to this, Deak and Saroglou (2017) have noted that the Ten

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Commandments which all the Christians are required to follow ardently clearly indicates that the
human beings should not indulge in the kind of actions which are likely to cause harm to them or
to the other individuals. The resultant effect of this is that as per the Christian worldview,
euthanasia is completely derogatory since only God has the right to take the help of the
individuals and not the individuals themselves (Parker, 2016). These aspects of the Christian
worldview have importantly implications from the perspective of George. For instance, George
by opting for the usage of the method of euthanasia actually has the chance to reduce his pain as
well as suffering and also die with dignity and respect. However, at the same time it needs to be
said that if doe not opt to use the method of euthanasia then that he would have the chance of
resurrection yet he would substantially reduce the quality of his present life by giving up his
dignity and respect since he would have to depend on others for the completion of even the
smallest activities of his life.
Morally Justified Options available to George
According to Luna (2018), the method of medically assisted suicide or euthanasia is
being widely used by the different patients suffering from different terminally illnesses or the
kind of illness from which they have no hope of recovering so as to die with dignity. Adding to
this, Liégeois and De Schrijver (2018) have noted that this even becomes important from the
present condition of the healthcare industry wherein it is seen that there are shortage of
healthcare resources, healthcare professionals, medicines or drugs, equipment and others. The
resultant of effect of this is that many times the healthcare professionals are themselves required
to suggest the usage of euthanasia to family members of the patients since the resources which
are being used for their recovery although they have no hope of recovering could be used for
facilitating the recovery of other patients who still have change of recovering (Gamble, 2018).

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However, the Christian worldview clearly states that God is the Creator and Destroyer of all life
forms in the universe and the pain or the suffering, which the individuals go through are the trials
undertaken by Him. This raises important questions regarding the actions which patients like
George are required to undertake. For instance, should George go through the apparently
unethical process of euthanasia for reducing his pain as well as suffering and also to free-up
healthcare resources which could be used for treating other patients or should he continue to
endure the suffering or pain in the hope of attaining resurrection after his death. However, the
idea that he would be able to die with dignity, respect and also by going through euthanasia he
would be able to free-up healthcare resources which could be used for the treatment of other
patients who still have chances of recovery makes euthanasia a morally justified option for
George.
George’s suffering and the Buddhist Worldview
As per the Buddhist worldview, the human beings undergo various cycle of birth, death
and rebirth until they have attained nirvana. Nirvana is the condition or the state in which the
individuals have attained complete enlightenment and are therefore not affected by pain,
suffering, attachment and others (Vehaba, 2019). Thus, the followers of this particular religion
try to attain nirvana so as to overcome pain, suffering and other important issues which the
common people normally face. In the context of George, his primary motivation for undertaking
euthanasia is to reduce his suffering and pain and thereby get the opportunity to die with dignity.
In the light of these aspects, it can be said that euthanasia is being supported by Buddhism since
the focus of both is on the reduction of suffering and pain experienced by the human beings.

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Conclusion
To conclude, the process of euthanasia or medically assisted suicide is considered
unethical and derogatory by the majority of the religions of the world like Christianity, Hinduism
and others. These religions highlight the idea that God is the Creator and the Destroyer of life
and thus the human beings have no right to take their own life. However, when the benefits
offered by euthanasia like the option to reduce pain and suffering, to die with dignity, free-up
medical resources which could be used for facilitating the recovery of other patients who still
have chances of recovery and others are being taken into account then euthanasia actually
becomes a morally and ethically justified choice.

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References
Botvar, P. K., Sarti, C., Zielińska, K., & Zwierżdżyński, M. K. (2019). Religion and attitudes
towards abortion and euthanasia among young people in Poland and Norway.
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Limitations (pp. 243-270). Springer, Cham. Retrieved from
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-98773-6_10
Deak, C., & Saroglou, V. (2017). Terminating a child’s life? Religious, moral, cognitive, and
emotional factors underlying non-acceptance of child euthanasia. Psychologica
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Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Sahin, A. (2019). Religion, Human Rights and Matters of Life
and Death: Exploring Attitude Toward Abortion and Euthanasia Among Adolescents in
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Life and its Limitations (pp. 139-159). Springer, Cham. Retrieved from
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Gamble, N. (2018). Can euthanasia be classified as a medically beneficial treatment?. Ethics &
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Herzog, D. (2019). The “Euthanasia” Murders Archive: Confronting the New Findings.
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