Suffering, Death, and Human Freedom: A Christian Ethical Perspective on the North American Euthansia Debate

Team Members/Contributors

Helene Anne Lutz Saint Louis University

About this dissertation fellowship

This dissertation examines the ethics of active euthanasia and assisted suicide in reference to arguments based on self-determination and autonomy, particularly as articulated in the United States since the 1960s. Discussions of euthanasia are generally framed in reference either to liberal ethical or legal notions of autonomy and freedom, or in terms of prohibitions against taking innocent human life. My project does neither of these. Instead, my aim is to explore Christian theological notions of human freedom and to consider their relevance to the euthanasia debate. The dissertation focuses on a theological study of free choice, which will then be joined constructively to the issue of euthanasia. No one has attempted to bring these two issues (a theology of freedom and euthanasia) together in the way I will, i.e., by using the former constructively to address the latter. I believe this offering of a new perspective to the debate will advance the discussion, not only for Christians, but also for non-Christians and even nonbelievers.

Image Title Year Type Contributor(s) Other Info
  Suffering, Death, and Human Freedom: A Christian Ethical Perspective on the North American Euthanasia Debate 2001 Dissertation Helene Anne Lutz