Interview with a Spiritual Leader

Part Two: Interview with a Spiritual Leader

Edith Valderas

Grand Canyon University

NRS-437V

Gena McGowan

August 14, 2016

Many people have different views and beliefs when it comes to euthanasia and/or assisted suicide. I had the pleasure to interview a religious leader in my community about his views and thoughts regarding euthanasia and/or assisted suicide. This individual is strongly against euthanasia because he believes that life is a gift from God and only He can give life and take life away. According to this individual, no one has the right to die, but we do have the right to be taken care of when we are sick and suffering. This individual pointed out some alternative treatments that are acceptable when a person is chronically ill and is suffering. These treatments include spiritual care (praying for the patient) and hospice care. With hospice care the patient can be given medications to reduce pain and suffering to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Taking care of people or patients is part of our duties as human beings. God is Love and if we care and love others as God does, we will be reward when the time comes. This spiritual leader also mentioned about the laws of the land and how they must be obeyed and followed, if not there can be consequences. Same thing goes with God’s law. The Ten Commandments are a set of laws established by God and in the Bible the sixth commandment states, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex 20:13, Dt 5:17). Assisted suicide or euthanasia is considered the same thing as murder because you are taking a life that does not belong to you, but to God.

Many people might not see euthanasia as morally wrong because they think it is a terrible thing to watch someone you love suffer, therefore choosing euthanasia as the answer believing they are doing the right thing. This individual’s views are similar with so many especially Christian views, because life is a gift from God and we need to live life until God wills it, not us.