Sanctity Of Life

`Sanctity of life' and `human dignity' are two bioethical concepts that play an important role in bioethical discussions. Despite their separate history and content, they have similar functions in these discussions. In many cases they are used to bring a difficult or controversial debate to an end. They serve as unquestionable cornerstones of morality, as rocks able to weather the storms of moral pluralism. This book provides the reader with analyses of these two concepts from different philosophical, professional and cultural points of view. Sanctity of Life and Human Dignity presents a comparative analysis of both concepts.

Heated debates are not unusual when confronting tough medical issues where it seems that moral and religious perspectives often erupt in conflict with philosophical or political positions. In The Sanctity of Human Life, Jewish theologian David Novak acknowledges that it is impossible not to take into account the theological view of human life, but the challenge is how to present the religious perspective to nonreligious people. In doing so, he shows that the two positions—the theological and the philosophical—aren't as far apart as they may seem. Novak digs deep into Jewish scripture and tradition to find guidance for assessing three contemporary controversies in medicine and public policy: the use of embryos to derive stem cells for research, socialized medicine, and physician-assisted suicide. Beginning with thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Nietsche, and drawing on great Jewish figures in history—Maimonides, Rashi, and various commentators on the Torah (written law) and the Mishnah (oral law)—Novak speaks brilliantly to these modern moral dilemmas. The Sanctity of Human Life weaves a rich and sophisticated tapestry of evidence to conclude that the Jewish understanding of the human being as sacred, as the image of God, is in fact compatible with philosophical claims about the rights of the human person—especially the right to life—and can be made intelligible to secular culture. Thus, according to Novak, the use of stem cells from embryos is morally unacceptable; the sanctity of the human person, and not capitalist or socialist approaches, should drive our understanding of national health care; and physician-assisted suicide violates humankind's fundamental responsibility for caring for one another. Novak's erudite argument and rigorous scholarship will appeal to all scholars and students engaged in the work of theology and bioethics.

A comprehensive examination of the sacredness of human life, encompassing biblical roots, theological elaborations, historical cases, and contemporary ethical perspectives. Gushee argues that viewing human life as sacred is one of the most precious legacies of biblical faith-- albeit one that the church has too often failed to uphold.

Written to Pastors, Christian healthcare workers, and Christians sitting in our churches, On the Sanctity of Human Life is a straightforward book detailing a biblical perspective of the sanctity of human life; but more than that, it delves into how we as Christians need to view life when we are faced with decisions such as having a family, dealing with sickness and death, and maintaining a proper perspective of the uniqueness and value of every human life from the moment of conception. This book is written with the purpose of informing ministry and laity alike of some of the complex issues that face and will face every family in every one of our congregations. It also seeks to alert believers who work in the medical community to the humanistic influences behind some of the changes being implemented in medical institutions across America. Additionally, pastors have a duty to be informed and aware of what is happening in the world around us. We must become aware of a worldview that is prevalent and growing in modern medicine, academia, government and public media that is quite contrary to Scripture. This prevalent worldview, by reason of its pervasiveness in many parts of our society, will invariably affect our thinking unless it is countered with sound, biblical teaching that inculcates a biblical worldview as it relates to these issues. Some areas of the United States generally have a more Judeo-Christian mindset than other areas of the country, and the secular worldview described in this book is not as prevalent in those areas-even though that secular worldview is making serious inroads even in those areas. Much of the country, however, is profoundly influenced by a culture that devalues human life, and this has infiltrated the healthcare industry. Pastors should read these pages with interest and use this book as a stepping stone to become vitally informed about the issues that face every family. In doing so, it will better equip them to wisely counsel families and individuals in their congregations-and teach them these principles before their times of need. Every Christian needs to understand these principles and how they apply to life and end-of-life situations so they will not have to try to digest it all during a time of crisis.

In recent decades, there has been much discussion of the sanctity of life and the level of protection to be accorded human life. This book discuss the nature of this protection, the basis for claims about its protection and how it is to be brought about in specific instances and situations.

Examining and refuting the "sanctity-of-life" view in medical decision making, Kuhse argues for a quality-of-life ethic based on the belief that there is a profound difference between merely being alive and life being in the patient's interest.