Very thoughtful. And well-argued. If this is the second-worst part of your sermon, then it should be a relief to you.
I do disagree with it as a liberal person of faith. Or I might; perhaps it is something that you might clarify. I believe that your principles might well convince you that you should persuade me that my life has value. However, if those principles lead you to reject my right to self-determination, then it is a rejection of my identity and is unjust.
I think that the ablism charge is one that we should analyze as a culture. I don't think that it alone stands up as a major factor, but it's fair to suggest that it is in the mix. Conversely, I think that the belief that the greatest priority of one's life should be to preserve one's life is no less an error. This is not a fresh idea; there are causes for which Gandhi was willing to die, and Jesus believed that the greatest love is laying down ones life for one's friends (John 15).
It's a difficult decision that we will more and more be asked to face ourselves as clinical immortality becomes increasingly less fantastic. But to say that the answer is always "no" is to doom us all to the curse of Tithonus. For myself, I'd rather spend my estate endowing a college scholarship than paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to extend my life beyond my body's natural ability to live. My death is mandatory, but being forgotten after my death is something that is worth struggling against. In any event, with all due respect, you are not welcome to make the decision on my behalf.
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Date: 2010-06-28 07:50 am (UTC)I do disagree with it as a liberal person of faith. Or I might; perhaps it is something that you might clarify. I believe that your principles might well convince you that you should persuade me that my life has value. However, if those principles lead you to reject my right to self-determination, then it is a rejection of my identity and is unjust.
I think that the ablism charge is one that we should analyze as a culture. I don't think that it alone stands up as a major factor, but it's fair to suggest that it is in the mix. Conversely, I think that the belief that the greatest priority of one's life should be to preserve one's life is no less an error. This is not a fresh idea; there are causes for which Gandhi was willing to die, and Jesus believed that the greatest love is laying down ones life for one's friends (John 15).
It's a difficult decision that we will more and more be asked to face ourselves as clinical immortality becomes increasingly less fantastic. But to say that the answer is always "no" is to doom us all to the curse of Tithonus. For myself, I'd rather spend my estate endowing a college scholarship than paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to extend my life beyond my body's natural ability to live. My death is mandatory, but being forgotten after my death is something that is worth struggling against. In any event, with all due respect, you are not welcome to make the decision on my behalf.