Opus 2018-171: How about Euthanasia?

Why is it that people who believe in eternal life tend to be the ones against legalizing euthanasia?  Christians do not fear death because they believe it will lead to the resurrection and an eternity in the presence of God.  What is the problem with getting a little help in the process?  It comes down to the questions in the Garden of Eden and whether God is in charge or we are.

Most have heard the misquote from the Ten Commandments,

(Exodus 20:13 KJV)  Thou shalt not kill.

It is a misquote because it should be “murder” not “kill”.  Since the death penalty is given in the Bible and there are cases where war is allowed, to forbid killing would be nonsense.  Murder, on the other hand is killing for your own selfish reasons.  There is even an allowance in the Old Testament law for manslaughter and an acknowledgment that there is a difference between killing in a fit of passion and cold blooded planned murder.

For Christians taking a life is not something you do for personal convenience or profit.  Life is given by God and the length of life is in his hands.  It is part of a belief in Providence.  God is in control.  He can shield us from the virus that kills.  He can put us in the other room when the chimney falls.  On the other hand He can call us home at any time.  Certain decisions are hard to make such as turning off life support on someone who is brain dead, but that is a total different discussion than administering lethal drugs because someone is depressed. 

Where are the Buddhists and Hindus on this issue?  They believe that death leads to reincarnation.  Does that make them in favor of helping people die?  Do they write it off to bad karma because they are in the situation or good karma because they get to reboot to something better?

Death comes to all but we have different attitudes toward it.

homo unius libri