Abortion, Euthanasia, and Life After Death

Christian Teaching: The Sanctity of Life

Christianity teaches that human life is sacred because:

• Humans are made in God's image (Imago Dei).
• Life is a gift from God, not our possession to end.
• 1 Peter 1:24-25 — "All people are like grass... the word of the Lord endures forever."
• Matthew 25 (Parable of the Sheep and Goats) — serving the vulnerable and dying reflects love of God.

Key principle: Intentionally ending innocent human life is wrong; however, Christians differ on applying this to abortion and euthanasia.

Islamic Teaching: The Sanctity of Life

Islam emphasises life (Hayah) as a fundamental value:

• Surah 5:32 — "Whoever saves a life, it is as if he had saved all of mankind."
• Human life is the purpose of creation; preservation of life is a paramount duty (Maqasid al-Shariah).
• Only Allah has authority over life and death; humans should not claim that authority.
• Surah 39:42 — "It is Allah who takes the souls at the time of their death."

Key principle: Ending human life (except in jihad or legal punishment) is gravely sinful; however, there are nuanced positions on abortion and end-of-life care.

Christian Perspectives on Abortion

The key question: When does human life (and personhood) begin?

Conservative/Catholic position:

• Life begins at conception; abortion is equivalent to murder at any stage.
• The Catholic Catechism condemns abortion as grave sin.
• Exception: Indirect abortion (e.g., removing a cancerous uterus even if it ends pregnancy) may be permissible if the intent is not to kill the fetus.

Progressive/Protestant positions:

• Life develops gradually; early embryos are not yet persons. Personhood develops with consciousness, viability, or birth.
• Abortion may be morally permissible in early pregnancy, especially to preserve mother's health or life.
• Some Protestants accept abortion in cases of rape, incest, or fetal abnormality.
• Emphasis on the pregnant woman's autonomy and difficult circumstances.

Islamic Perspectives on Abortion

Key theological concept: Ensoulment — the moment the soul (Ruh) enters the body.

Hadith-based teaching: Prophet Muhammad reported that ensoulment occurs at 120 days (about 17 weeks):

• Before 120 days: Abortion is more permissible, especially to protect mother's health or life, or in cases of severe fetal abnormality.
• After 120 days: Abortion is virtually forbidden (unless mother's life is at risk).
• Traditional scholars (Jurists): Even before 120 days, abortion requires strong justification (mother's health, poverty, inability to support).
• Modern Muslim medical ethics: Increasingly allows abortion for grave fetal abnormalities or serious maternal health risks, even after 120 days.

Overall: Islam is more permissive on early abortion than Catholicism but stricter than progressive Protestantism.

Terminology and Distinctions

• Euthanasia: Actively ending a life to relieve suffering (e.g., lethal injection).
• Assisted suicide: Helping someone to end their own life (e.g., providing lethal medication).
• Palliative care: Treating pain and suffering without intending to cause death.
• Withdrawing life support: Discontinuing artificial interventions (e.g., ventilators) when there is no hope of recovery.

Catholic/Traditional Christian Teaching

Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are grave sins.

• Life is sacred; only God can determine when life ends.
• Killing someone—even out of compassion—violates the commandment "Thou shalt not kill."
• Palliative care: Seeking to relieve suffering is good; if pain relief inadvertently hastens death, it may be morally acceptable (double effect doctrine).
• Withdrawing treatment: In cases of irreversible coma or imminent death, allowing natural death (without prolonging suffering through artificial means) is permissible.

Progressive Christian Perspective

Some Protestants and liberal Catholics have moved toward permitting assisted dying:

• Compassion and autonomy: Forcing someone to endure unbearable suffering violates human dignity; we should respect their choice to die with dignity.
• God's love: A loving God would not require suffering when relief is available.
• End-of-life care: Allowing patients to refuse treatment, including life support, is morally acceptable.
• Caution on active euthanasia: Even progressive Christians worry about abuse and protecting vulnerable people.

Islamic Prohibition of Intentional Death

Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are forbidden (Haram).

• Surah 6:151 — "Do not kill yourselves."
• Hadith — Intentionally ending one's own life is grave sin; the person goes to Hell.
• Only Allah decides the hour of death; humans should not usurp that authority.

Withholding or withdrawing life support: Increasingly accepted in Islamic bioethics, especially when:

• The patient is in permanent vegetative state with no hope of recovery.
• Life support merely prolongs dying, not extends meaningful life.
• The patient or family requests it.

Palliative care: Pain relief is encouraged, even if it may shorten life (double effect reasoning similar to Christianity).

Christian Beliefs About the Afterlife

• Resurrection: Christians believe in bodily resurrection, especially through the resurrection of Christ. "Jesus Christ is risen from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20).
• Heaven: Eternal communion with God; described as a place/state of perfect peace, joy, and God's presence.
• Hell: Separation from God; often described as darkness, suffering, and the absence of God's love. Matthew 25:41 mentions "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
• Judgment: At death (or at the Last Judgment), individuals are judged by God. Matthew 25 (Parable of the Sheep and Goats) emphasises compassion to the poor and suffering as criterion for entry to Heaven.
• Purgatory: Catholic teaching includes a state where souls are purified before entering Heaven. Protestants generally reject this.

Islamic Beliefs About the Afterlife

• Akhirah (Afterlife): Core Islamic belief. Surah 2:62 — believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabeans who do good will enter Paradise.
• Jannah (Paradise): Reward for the righteous; described with gardens, rivers, spiritual pleasures, and proximity to Allah.
• Jahannam (Hell): Punishment for the unrepentant; temporary (potentially) or eternal, depending on sins.
• Barzakh: The intermediate state between death and the Last Day; souls remain conscious but in a different realm.
• Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah): Allah resurrects all humans for final judgment. Deeds in life determine eternal fate.

Activity: Belief in the Afterlife and Moral Life Today

How might a person's belief (or disbelief) in Heaven and Hell shape their moral decisions in this life? Consider: Would you live differently if there were no judgment after death? How important is the afterlife to religious ethics?

Guidance

Answer each question thoroughly. Use specific scriptural or theological references.

Lesson 6: Assessment

The next lesson is an assessment covering all of Unit 27 (Themes A & B). You will have the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of marriage, sexuality, gender, creation, abortion, euthanasia, and the afterlife in both Christian and Islamic contexts.