安楽死をめぐるアメリカ宗教界の対応

type:論文

type:Article

UNK

Euthanasia is one of the most high profile public issues being debated today in America. In order to investigate the position of Christian denominations on euthanasia I posed the following questions: 1. Please explain your denomination's position on euthanasia. 2 . Has your denomination ever made an official statement on euthanasia? I selected 50 denominations based on historical background, the numbers of members, and teachings and views on social issues. I sent the questionnaire by E-mail to their homepages between November 10, 1999 and March 10, 2000. By March 20. 2000 I had received answers from 20 denominations. After reading their answers I divided the word "euthanasia" into two categories, namely active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is defined as the direct, active and intentional taking of human life, whereas passive euthanasia is allowing someone to die under circumstances with no intention of taking life. None of the denominations has any official statement which allows active euthanasia. However, some denominations decide to leave it to the individual saying, "God has given us the ability to make choices." On the other hand, some denominations reject both active and passive euthanasia saying, "it violates the commandment of God." But more than half the denominations studied and allow passive euthanasia and have official statements. The State of Oregon legalized active euthanasia, and 23 patients were given lethal injections by physicians in 1998. Perhaps many states will pass bills to allow active euthanasia just like Oregon in the near future. Therefore, some denominations have started to study active euthanasia from religious points of views.

identifier:2

identifier:KJ00009364959