YouTube Video, Session 41, Vegan Theology: Euthanasia for Humans and Animals: A Christly Perspective. Dr Chapman Chen

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/WuU29yiltjQ                               

Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a person's or animal's life, ostensibly to relieve suffering, particularly suffering associated with an incurable illness or irreversible condition. Theologically, both euthanasia for humans and euthanasia for animals are problematic, even when they are supposed to be voluntary.

1. Intrinsic Value

All lives, both human and animal, possess God-given value. Life ultimately comes from God. Each life has its own intrinsic value, its own mission, and its own meaning.

God's creation is inherently good (Genesis 1:31). God's compassion extends to all creatures (Psalm 145:9). Jesus teaches that not even a sparrow is forgotten before God (Luke 12:6).The 6th Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (lo tirtzack), means any kind of killing whatsoever (Alcalay 1981, Rosen 2004:87); and includes the killing of both humans and animals, whether others or oneself.

2. Compassion versus Killing 

Compassion cannot be judged by intention alone. A compassionate motive does not necessarily justify deliberately causing death. Proverbs 12:10 warns that even apparent mercy may conceal cruelty. Likewise, Jesus and James stress that mercy is a fundamental moral principle (Matthew 9:13; 12:7; James 2:13). Romans 3:8 rejects doing evil in pursuit of a supposedly good outcome.

3. Care rather than Elimination

Vulnerability strengthens rather than diminishes our responsibility to care. The biblical image of the good shepherd is one who tends the sick, rescues the lost and protects the weak (Ezekiel 34:4; Isaiah 40:11). Jesus himself invokes the rescue of an animal in distress as an example of morally appropriate action (Matthew 12:11).

Reference

“Killing, Karma and Caring: Euthanasia in Buddhism and Christianity”

Authors: Damien Keown & John Keown Published in: Journal of Medical Ethics, 21 (1995), pp. 265–269.

4. Pain Has Meaning

Humans usually opt for euthanasia on the grounds that they can no longer bear the pain they are going through, be it physical, psychological or spiritual. But as aforesaid, thanks to God, pain has its own meaning. E.g., Job in the OT experiences unspeakable pain, including physical pain due to all kinds of ailments and psychological pain arising from his feeling of alienation from God. But through pain, Job learns that animals can be our teachers (Job 12:7–10). : "But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you... In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." God then shows Job a zoo-centric view of the plurality, diversity and magnificence of the world (Job 38–39).

Indeed, we can feel pain but not suffer. Associated emotions may amplify pain a hundredfold.

5. Abuse of Voluntary Euthanasia for Humans

Even when pro-euthanasia elements shout, “My life, my choice! Why can't I end my own life when it is too painful to live?”, they and we need to be mindful that voluntary euthanasia may be abused and turned into involuntary euthanasia by people, institutions and regimes with ulterior motives.

E.g., in Canada, 83-year-old Brigitte Stegemann reportedly expressed regret about her decision to undergo medically assisted dying (MAID). According to her granddaughter, she cried and said she had “made a mistake” just two days before her death. And in dictatorial countries, euthanasia will almost certainly be abused for live organ harvesting and transplant.

Anyway, when a human or animal really does not want to live, their body may naturally and automatically stop functioning.

6. Abuse of Euthanasia for Animals

Euthanasia for animals is more controversial & problematic. Tis very difficult for an animal to express clearly their consent to euthanasia. In fact, euthanasia is often (ab)used to get rid of animals whom people find inconvenient. E.g., the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has repeatedly provoked strong public outrage over its practice of “humane destruction” (euthanasia) of stray cats, dogs & other wild animals.

Euthanasia can become a euphemism for extermination. When healthy wild animals are killed merely because humans wish to exploit/occupy their habitats, the killing is not an act of mercy towards the animals, however painless the method may be.

7. Let God Decide

From a vegan theological perspective, euthanasia for humans and animals had better not be legitimised or legalised except in very rare, extreme cases, so that lives created by God are respected. But patients, to maintain their own dignity, may choose to stop all burdensome treatments and let God decide their fate.

8. An Open-Ended Question Leading to Animal Pneumatology

There remains, however, a difficult theological question: What if we sincerely pray, attempt to understand the animal, and provide every available form of care, yet the animal continues to experience severe, irreversible suffering?

Our two proposed practices—seeking to understand the animal's wishes and praying for God's guidance—may help guide moral discernment, but they do not by themselves settle that final question. Meanwhile, relieving the animal's suffering remains an immediate responsibility.

I think this unresolved issue would make an excellent subject for a future session on Animal Pneumatology (the systematic theological study of the Holy Spirit's relationship with animals) and Animal Communication. #VeganChrist #VeganGod