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healthy. The most prevalent argument is centered around religion. Many people feel that it is against their religious beliefs for a person to take their own lives, but should they be allowed to impose that belief on someone who does not feel this way? I do not believe that it is fair for decisions to be made about their life based on beliefs that they do not hold.

Religion is one of the most prevalent factors in the debate of euthanasia. On the anti-euthanasia side of the battle is the more conservative religious groups including; The Christian reformed church, Islam, the Lutheran church, the Mennonites, Orthodox Christianity, Orthodox Judaism and The Roman Catholic church. These groups and many others have two main statements concerning euthanasia; the first is, that life is a gift from God, and that each individual is its steward, thus, only God can start a life, and only God can end one; An individual who commits suicide is therefore committing a sin. The second statement is that God does not send us any experience that we cannot handle; God supports people in suffering; to actively seek an end to one?s life would be a lack of trust in God?s promise (Euthanasia, p.2).

The opposition to this side comes from groups including liberal Christians, humanists, secularists, agnostics, atheists, non-christians, and others who do not accept the theologically based arguments. Their arguments can be summed up in two statements; The first is that each person has autonomy over their own life, persons whose quality of life is nonexistent should have the right to decide to commit suicide, and to seek assistance if necessary. The second statement is sometimes terminal illness causes life to be an unbearable burden; death can represent a relief of intolerable pain. The main political question is whether individuals should be allowed to choose suicide, or whether they should be forced to follow the theological beliefs of the dominant religion. This point is similar to that raised in discussions on

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choice in abortion and prayer in public schools. At what point does the church and state overlap?

Many polls have been taken to research the public opinion on euthanasia. However, the the results vary according to the precise question asked. A poll taken by CNN/USA Today in 1997 shows that the support of euthanasia choice is, 57% in favor, and 35% opposed. Given this statistic, one would assume euthanasia to be a legal choice, but still it is legal only in the state of Oregon. Only time will tell whether euthanasia will become a legal choice nationally, but for now, the battle still rages on.

Works Sited

Egan, Timothy. ?Oregon?s Assisted-Suicide Law Threatened by a Technicality.? The New York Times . USA: November 19, 1997.

?Euthanasia, Synod of the Great Lakes, Reformed Church in America? at: http://www.euthanasia.com/lakes.html

Horgan, John. ?The Right to Die.? Scientific American. USA : 1996.

Mullens, Anne. Timely Death. USA: Knopf, 1996.

Reed, Christopher. ?Oregon Tackles Mercy Killing.? Globe and Mail Newspaper. Toronto: November 6, 1997.

?Religion and The Right to Die.? at: http://euthanasia.org/religion.html

Robinson, Bruce. ?Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide.? All Sides of the Issues. at http.//religioustolerance.org

World Book Dictionary. Chicago: Childcraft International, 1982.

Euthanasia: Who Should Decide?

by Matt Baber

American Government

January 5, 1999

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