Did not God make all life sacred on Earth? If so, why do these religious nutters encourage and condone the unnecessary slaughter and torture of all other species, and the continuing desecration of this planet. Oh, I think I get it now? We are the superior species therefore it's okay to exploit and plunder providing there are profits in the equation - right?

And so we have voted the religious right into office to legislate on our behalf where they have declared that we humans are all to die in agony because their God says so! Think carefully folks prior to the next election and insist that candidates disclose their views on euthanasia, prior to your visit to the polling booths.

Your good work will not be in vain, Dr Nitsche!

Cripey what God or what religion are you thinking of Dickie? None that I know and I call myself a Christian.

You've got nothing to worry about though mate, its incredibly easy to argue against any Christian who thinks exploitation of our environment in profligacy and greed is condoned by Christ.

Just point them in the direction of the New Testament.

Who you really have to worry about are those who don't believe in God, who don't believe morality has an objective reality. Otherwise you're heavily dependent on their good conscience to act in your interest as a political leader.

God has the authority to command, He holds us to account for our actions, He will judge us on the last day and takes our good works (good works in full bloom, seeds that we have planted but can't see their fruitfulness in this life) with us to eternal life. Those of us who have consistently rejected His flavour throughout life will not want to join Him in beautitude at the Resurrection. The Gospels are clear about a lake of fire which we interpret today as shame. So eternal life or an eternal sub human life in shame.

A person who knows they are subject to the above, subject to the authority of the Word of God in the Bible, can be held accountable to these things. They have humbly and publicly proclaimed adherence to the Good News of Jesus Christ - something itself fully public to us in the West after two thousand years and easily used to counter any hypocrisy in the politician or official.

How scary though a politician whose philosophy is moral/cultural/religious relativism? Who believes that right is only a function of how much power a person or group can bring to bear on an issue - not any intrinsic rightness or wrongness?

Martin

If you are unaware of religious leaders on this planet who are dictating because of their personal beliefs, then your head is truly in the sand.

I have no objection to your declaration that you are a Christian, however, do not force your beliefs down my throat since you are simply consumed with your own salvation.

I too have a God - it's called "Conscience". This is the code I endeavour to live by which includes the following parable (biblical at that!): "Only to do the right, and to love goodness and to walk humbly with my God". My conscience is not bogged down with religious dogma - just an awareness of man's inhumanity to man!

Your lecture failed to touch on the issue here. That is Euthanasia. The mercy I endeavour to show to other infirmed species also extends to those humans who desire to exit this sphere since they can no longer lead a useful life, as a result of a terminal and painful physical condition. Does an extended agonising physical condition assure the patient's salvation, Martin?

I shall wait to see if our "leaders" have the guts and compassion to conduct a referendum on Euthanasia. It is long overdue!

Its true that bad religious people are worse than bad non-religious people I agree there. The corruption of the best is the worst. Religion is the greatest force for good and for evil we have so we must learn to make the most of it.

This is where the Church comes in, its reflected on the Revelation of God in Jesus for thousands of years, interpreted, philosophized, and added meaning each generation. It’s a shame you reject all this. I can understand the spirit you express and its common in our age, self serving feel good spirituality rather than the faith Christ speaks about. The latter is hard the former suits our rabid individualism – its not a faith that saves though dickie.

As for dogma, trees don't make dogmas, turnips are singularly undogmatic. It is human to make dogmas.
If you believe religious dogma is being shoved down your throat simply in the restatement of orthodox Christian belief what does that make your dogma? Ought your dogma be assumed to be true?

'Dickie's doctrine of the automatic acceptance of the primacy of Dickie's unguided uninformed conscience'. If you want shoved down a throat there it is in spades.

The dogmas I hold have been public for two thousand years - subjected to intellectual scrutiny throughout this time – Jesus and his Church is still here while the persecutors of the Church disappear. Billions of ppl before have believed before and will in the future. Great geniuses, saints and holy men and women have contributed to its formulation and understanding.

I think I'll take this over your dogma Dickie. Do as you will but don't pretend you aren't trying to promulgate the doctrines of dickie's church with its membership of one.

PN knows that euthanasia will have to be legalised if it is to be taken up. He also knows that every large inquiry into the consequences of legalising euthanasia which has published its findings has found that it will never be possible to make any such law safe from abuse. If he doesn't believe that, he has been repeatedly challenged to devise and publish his version of a 'safe' law but, despite promising to do so, he has never done so. Will he now attempt it or at least say why he hasn't kept his promise? bjp

Philip Nietszky doesn't have to offer explanations to the legions of morons who cling to so called ethical safeguards against abuse.
Euthanasia is just a word for 'a painless death'
That is all Philip has been promoting.
He is not proposing that anybody should be euthanased by another party. He has always sought to place the knowledge and means in the hands of those who choose to end their own lives at a time and place of their own choosing.
People take their own lives all the time for many and varied reasons,mostly by violent or painful means.
I would have thought that voluntarily suiciding oneself in a painless manner should be embraced by compassionate people.
Philip gets my endorsement for citizen of the year.