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Every human in
our world experiences moments of self-reflection, doubt and skepticism.
We search for answers that help us define God's role in our lives and
our relevance to the universe and beyond. These are not new questions.
The Urantia Book can be a valuable source of enlightenment and comfort
when a soul is faced with Life's Toughest Questions. Click on a question
you've struggled with and discover The Urantia Book's perspective on
some of life's most difficult and frequently-asked questions.
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There are no references to euthanasia (mercy-killing) in The Urantia
Book. But knowing what I do, I hope can form an opinion that will be in
line with its teachings.
Euthanasia is an interesting subject, and once again in the news of the
day. I
can't tell you what to think - whether it is right or wrong. I suspect
that every case is different. But it is my personal opinion that if a
person has been in a vegetative state for some amount of time (in the
recent case I read of, the person has been in such a state for over ten
years!) and shows no sign of recovery, and no sign of brain activity, I
would say that euthanasia would be justified. I know that if it was me
in that bed, that I would not want to be kept alive if my Thought
Adjuster had left. And we are told that when brain activity ceases,
that is the equivalent of death, at which time the Adjuster returns to
Divinington to await the personality and soul reunion. Do the soul and
personality remain with the body until it is allowed to die?
The Urantia Book says this:
2. Intellectual (mind) death. When the vital circuits of higher
adjutant ministry are disrupted through the aberrations of intellect or
because of the partial destruction of the mechanism of the brain, and
if these conditions pass a certain critical point of irreparability,
the indwelling Adjuster is immediately released to depart for
Divinington. On the universe records a mortal personality is considered
to have met with death whenever the essential mind circuits of human
will-action have been destroyed. And again, this is death, irrespective
of the continuing function of the living mechanism of the physical
body. The body minus the volitional mind is no longer human, but
according to the prior choosing of the human will, the soul of such an
individual may survive.
3. Physical (body and mind) death. When death overtakes a human
being, the Adjuster remains in the citadel of the mind until it ceases
to function as an intelligent mechanism, about the time that the
measurable brain energies cease their rhythmic vital pulsations.
Following this dissolution the Adjuster takes leave of the vanishing
mind, just as unceremoniously as entry was made years before, and
proceeds to Divinington by way of Uversa. (112:3.3)
In days past, this was not ever thought about much, because a person
who had sustained a serious injury would have naturally passed away,
but in our times of amazing medical miracles and cutting-edge
technologies, doctors have the power to keep a person alive
indefinitely. But is that always wise? To me it seems like a case of
science without the moderation of spirit.
Euthanasia comes from two Greek words meaning
"good death." Lingering in a hospital bed, waiting for someone
to "pull the plug" does not seems like a very merciful way to treat
someone. Allowing them to have a "good death" seems to be, in these
extreme sorts of cases, the best course of action.
This is a question that has prompted the rise of "living wills," which
allow a person beforehand, to say how they would like such a situation
handled if they are not able to speak or act on their own. "Natural
death," as understood in The Urantia Book may not be possible in such a
situation, and so a person has to demand it these days.
Thanks for this thought-provoking question.
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