Prečo kresťania vyslovujú žiadosť o eutanáziu?
Why Do Christians Ask for Euthanasia?

Summary/Abstract: The study aims to examine the reasons why Christians express the wish to undergo euthanasia. The arguments presented in the study are situated in the context of the lively debate on euthanasia taking place in today’s postmodern society, especially in connection with the issue of its decriminalization, which raises questions about the motives behind the reqiests for euthanasia. The study points to the fact that the phenomenon of voluntary decision for euthanasia reflects global cultural change whose basic paradigm is represented by the idea of absolutely autonomous human being as the definitive measure of reality, so to speak its creator, giving rise to practical atheism that does not deny the truths of faith nor shows hostility towards religious rites, but considers them irrelevant to everyday life, the logical consequence of which is that today’s people have lost the sense for the sanctity of life and human dignity, and euthanasia is perceived as easily accessible possibility to escape suffering. When examinng the decisions of Christians who present the request for euthanasia, the study also takes into account the role played in this process by their faith, with particular regard to the degree of its authenticity and concrete impact on their daily moral choices. It points to the fact that while most Christians were baptized at a very early age, only only a small number of them have been involved in the process of maturation in the faith, which gives rise to large number of Catholics who are Christians by name, but not in real life. This manner of living their Christianity has undeniable impact on their decisions affecting their own life and the lives of others, which is particularly true in the case of moral choices regarding the beginning and end of human life.

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