Religion kills, not really news, religion kills since a long time and in various ways (crusades, wars, evangelization, bombing, etc.).
People commit suicides, not really news, but there are several reasons one would want to kill himself.
What made a lot of buzz the recent days is a particular form of suicide, motivated by religious beliefs, and validated by a judge, John Meyer. And this against the suicidal boy’s birth parents.
Somebody may think that Dennis Lindberg will make a quite fit candidate for a Darwin Award. Dead for not willing to accept a blood transfusion, a practice against Jehovah’s Witnesses way of life. I suppose the award recipient should be the Jehovas’ Witnesses rather, as one of the dumbest religious movements (there should be a classification someday).
Now, the little guy was too young to vote (14 yo), but aged enough to decide that he wouldn’t accept a blood transfusion and therefor die.
I’m a proponent of euthanasia to avoid unjustified suffering, and for the right to commit suicide without possible hindrance; for adults. If I decide to die, nobody will have his word to say. Exactly in the same way as nobody have his word to say wen I’m voting.
But I feel unable to understand how a judge could pronounce this particular case of death sentence, on the basis of irrational beliefs, for a youngster, against his parents will. Maybe this is legal but it’s highly unethical. I’m not usually concerned by ethics, but this particular cases ring a bell.
I would like to know that John Meyer will loose his job as a judge, or that judges will not be able anymore to pronounce death sentences (in general), that the law will make mandatory to rescue children whenever possible, even against their will. Not kill them legally. That’s a dream, but I’m a dreamer, sometimes.
What would be an acceptable alternative? Give the boy adequate medical treatment, try to save his life and latter on, when he turned 18 yo, offer him a painless suicide kit and live him alone with the choice. No christian was ever consider impure for what was done to him/her. And in the mean time Dennis Lindberg should have made his the words: For all things I have the strength by virtue of him [Jehovah God] who imparts power to me.”—Philippians 4:13.
