Hi Obnbklcnblu,

As an atheist, I've never been sure what religion has to do with euthanasia. From my point of view, we each have only one life, there is no after-life, except perhaps for the worms. So life is very precious, our one and only. We most certainly should take very seriously the notion to end it.

But it should be our own personal choice. I don't believe that it is fully legal yet, otherwise doctors could, after proper counselling, prescribe medication for it quite legally.

Suicide has, of course, always been possible, if not legal, but the point is that there are still probably all manner of legal obstacles and problems that it throws up.

Please let's keep clearly separated the issues of suicide on the one hand, and some sort of assisted euthanasia on the other. They are very different kettles of fish.

Joe

"As an atheist, I've never been sure what religion has to do with euthanasia."

It is the intolerance of modern leftists that makes it so. The old or 'real' Lefties would be turning in their graves at the intolerance of the modern leftists. Then there is their preference for totalitarian Islam.

The modern leftists must have compartmentalised minds. Perhaps it is as simple as personal powerlessness (and jealous hatred) that has caused them to suspend their critical faculties and judgement to be led by nose by others with secondary agendas in mind?

The old Lefties knew religion as quaint and prop for some, but hey, each to his own, the real enemy is fundamentalism, totalitarianism. The modern leftists ARE totalitarians, it is their way or the highway and they support fundamentalists for the idiotic, unjustifiable, short-sighted convenience that 'the enemy of the Islamic fundamentalists is their (the leftists')enemy, usually the US (regardless of whether the US policy is good or bad too). It is they, the modern leftists who are the enemy.

'I thought this thread was about euthanasia, not abortion? Runner strikes again....'

obviously mouthing off without reading the article Susie. Progressives really do even deceive themselves ( or is it deliberate). If the article was about euthanasia why did the author speak of homosexulaity, God unjustly 'killing people'. The author being Christophobic like yourself Susie draws his hopelessly flawed conclusions through Christophobic eyes. He does not even attempt to hide his dogmas.

Rhosty, far from being " spineless, whining whimps" and “hopeless people just giving up" members of Exit international (and other voluntary euthanasia groups) are strong-minded, clear-headed people who have decided to take control of their own lives and own deaths. They make preparation for possible future ill health, and then get on with enjoying life.
runner, maybe David Swanton could have better worded the passage about people's dislikes. But a short reflection should make it obvious that he is referring to homosexuality and the currently much-discussed topic of equality of marriage. It is foolish to twist his words this way, and does you no credit.
Joe, your romantic picture of swimming off happily into the sunset gives a very wrong impression off that situation. If you have ever almost drowned, as I have, you would know that it is a terrifying ordeal and that you would be regretting your decision as instincts kick in when you are breathing water instead of air. That is why it becomes necessary to provide safe, reliable and gentle means of death when required.

Er, wrong, onthebeach. (There goes that annoying Chris Rea song in my head again.)

<<It is the intolerance of modern leftists that makes it so.>>

The answer to Loudmouth's question is that (most) theists make it so by claiming that euthanasia is playing God and that it devalues the sanctity of God-given life. Suicide is a sin in the eyes of many religions.

Just how do you propose - in the bizarre and delusional reality that you have created in your own head - that “modern leftists” could drag religion into, and mobilise it on, a topic that they (according to you) originally had no interest in in the first place?

That’s some feat!

You never attempt to hide your warped dogmas Runner, and you push them on the rest of us relentlessly....continuously....

AJPhillips, well said!