🚀 go-pugleaf

bpl@lynx.co.nz (Brian Paul Lilburn) writes:

> In article <5dcbgf$c3o$3@euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au>, d-moss@adfa.oz.au (David Mos
> >
> 
> >There are also historical, moral, legal and socialogical reasons for
> >opposing euthanasia.
> 
> Indeed. But the so called 'moral' reasons for opposing *voluntary*
> euthanasia don't stand up to scrutiny - nor do any of the others
> you mention.

You are sure about this?  Please demonstrate.

> >
> >Also, do not assume that a person familiar with religious texts is
> >religious. They may somply be well educated.
> 
> And don't assume that a person who asks for the chance to have
> help to die with dignity is *not* religious. I hold pagan religious
> beliefs, and among them that a person with a very strong character
> can probably chose his/her moment of death anyway, without help.
> But we weaker vessels may desire that just as much as the strong ones.
> Why shouldn't we be given some assistance in having that desire
> fulfilled, when it doesn't mean we're hurting or restricting
> anyone else.

I take it you are a different sort of pagan that Hippocrates.  Here
from his oath.

"I swear by Apollo the healer, by Aesculapius, by Health and all
the powers of healing, and call to witness all the gods and goddesses
that I may keep this Oath and Promise to the best of my ability
and judgment. ....

I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I
suggest any such thing, neither will I give a woman means to
procure an abortion. ..."

Not all pagans it seems would agree with you.  The oath only
addresses the ethics of the pagan medical practitioner (and those
who adopt the oath as valid),  it does not address the issue of
pagan weaker vessels who would seek their aid to gate crash the
infinite.  Nevertheless there would seem to be a conflict of ethical
interests.

>                 If you met a soldier crawling out of a bombed fort,
> with gutz hanging out, obviously in mortal agony and soon but
> slowly to die, and he pleaded with you to take up his gun and
> shoot - what would you do? Turn away and leave him to it and
> think what a good Christian or whatever you are?

War is an extraordinary circumstance where much that is regarded
as immoral in peacetime, is not only moral but necessary.  As such
this example quite irrelevant.

Jan