IMAGE OF GOD
Image of God
Case Study 1: Anencephalic Fetus
Dozier et al. (2020) indicate that attitudes about abortion vary from one person to another. The authors further indicate that this is an issue that religious leaders do not have a consensus about. However, I am of the opinion that the bible unequivocally discourages abortion. From a Christian perspective, no conceived human being lacks human status. By the mere virtue that the child was conceived, it is a human being regardless of its condition. This is backed up by many biblical verses and more specifically, Jeremiah 1:5 where it is written; before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. This indicates that God has a purpose for every conceived being.
Case Study 2: Malnourished Mother
In this case, I would look into the bible for guidance. There are dozens of bible verses about trusting in God in the face of adversity. For instance, in Proverbs 3: 5-6, we are called upon to trust the Lord with our heart. This particular verse also tells us that we must not be tempted to lean on our own human understanding. The repercussions of continuing the pregnancy are on this front largely founded upon our human understanding of the potential risks. According to the Becoming Christians...
With this in mind, we must accept the fact that God has the best interests of the 33-year old Christian woman as well as her children (including her unborn child) in mind. We must not intervene.Case Study : Low Sperm Count
As believing Christian, I would advise Matt and Kelly to keep trying to conceive through the natural methods as any other course of action risks running afoul of what the bible teaches....
…was largely illegal. Although there are legal technicalities from state to state on an issue of this nature, there are certain basic conditions that have to be met prior to taking such drastic measures as the removal of a feeding tube (Jaeger, 2000). In this case, it appears the patient was conscious and was NOT in a vegetative state when food and water were withdrawn. Also, it is indicated that the old man was NOT mentally incompetent (i.e. by virtue of being able to occasionally recognize family members). He was also NOT terminally ill. Thus, the questioner ought to have questioned this particular decision. I am of the opinion that she should rope in the relevant government agencies, such as law enforcement officers, into the issue. Further, she should seek forgiveness from God. In 1 John 1:9, we are told that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins…
References
Birsch, D. (2013). Introduction to Ethical Theories: A Procedural Approach. Waveland Press.
Becoming Christians (2022). 7 Most Powerful Reasons to Trust God All the Time. https://becomingchristians.com/blogs/7-most-powerful-reasons-to-trust-god-all-the-time/
Dozier, J.L., Hennink, M., Mosley, E., Narasimhan, S., Pringle, J., Clarke, L., Blevins, J., Portis, L.J., Keithan, R., Hall, K.S. & Rice, W.S. (2020). Abortion attitudes, religious and moral beliefs, and pastoral care among Protestant religious leaders in Georgia. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0235971
Jaeger, J. (2000). The Bright Misplaced Line: Persistent Vegetative State and Withdrawal of Artificial Sustenance. Marquette Elder's Advisor, 1(4), 1-15.
Mahant, V. (2020). “Right-to-Try” experimental drugs: an overview. J Transl Med., 18(253), 107-116.
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