Title: Christian Views of Euthanasia - ReligionFacts
Headings: Christian Views of Euthanasia
Christian Views of Euthanasia
What does Christianity teach about euthanasia?
Suicide in the Christian Bible
Suicide in Christian History
Modern Christian Views on Suicide
Anglican Views on Suicide and Euthanasia
Greek Orthodox Views on Suicide and Euthanasia
Article Info

Content: Now every man is part of the community, and so, as such, he belongs to the community. Hence by killing himself he injures the community, as the Philosopher declares (Ethic. v, 11). Thirdly, because life is God's gift to man, and is subject to His power, Who kills and makes to live. Hence whoever takes his own life, sins against God, even as he who kills another's slave, sins against that slave's master, and as he who usurps to himself judgment of a matter not entrusted to him. For it belongs to God alone to pronounce sentence of death and life, according to Dt. 32:39, "I will kill and I will make to live." { 2} In the Middle Ages and through the Reformation, both law and popular practice forbade Christian burial of suicides and allowed the confiscation of property and desecration of the body. { 3}
During the Enlightenment, philosophers began to base ethical decisions on reason and utilitarian concerns more than on Christian concerns. They came to varying conclusions.