What is it about?
This paper explores the theology the absolute nature of the sanctity of life doctrine, challenges the doctrine's rigid stance. It presents theological principals that support a sanctity of death ethic and discusses a hypothetical case to demonstrate how those principles can impact pastoral care.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The current nature of healthcare leaves it struggling to comply with its long held belief in the sanctity of human life in a time when medical technology finds new ways to prolong life. My belief is in some instances prolonging life actually violates the sanctity of life. Euthanasia can be a way of honoring life's sanctity ironically by valuing a sanctity of death ethic.
Perspectives
My personal experiences as a hospital chaplain and pastoral counselor have caused me to seriously wrestle with this controversial issue. As a result i have come to believe in euthanasia as a possible option for end of life care.
Dr Joseph Baroody
Baroody Pastoral Counseling
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Life and Death Matters: Toward a Sanctity of Death, Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications, September 1999, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/002234099905300305.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
