Contrasting Religious Beliefs on Euthanasia

That second distinction needs care. Allowing someone to die naturally because treatment cannot restore life is not necessarily understood as euthanasia. The intention and the medical circumstances matter. Assisted suicide is also different: someone provides help, but the patient performs the final act themselves.

Why sanctity and quality of life matter

The sanctity of life is the belief that human life is sacred and precious. For many religious believers, life comes from God, so its value does not disappear when someone becomes seriously ill or dependent on others. This supports opposition to euthanasia.

Quality of life concerns a person’s wellbeing, including pain, comfort and enjoyment of life. Supporters of voluntary euthanasia may argue that someone experiencing unbearable suffering should be able to decide when their life ends. They see this as respecting personal choice and showing compassion.

These priorities are not simply ‘religion against compassion’. Opponents also want suffering relieved, but argue that the compassionate response is care rather than deliberate killing. Supporters may likewise value life while believing that prolonging it is not always the kindest choice.

Christian opposition: life belongs to God

Most Christians oppose euthanasia because they believe life is a gift from God. Genesis 1:27 teaches that human beings are made in God’s image. Christians apply this to the debate by arguing that every person has dignity, including someone who is dying or unable to care for themselves.

The commandment ‘You shall not murder’ in Exodus 20:13 provides another reason for opposition. Many Christians regard deliberately ending an innocent person’s life as breaking this commandment. They believe that humans should not take over God’s authority to determine when life ends.

Roman Catholic teaching rejects euthanasia as morally unacceptable. An incurable illness does not remove a person’s sacred value or make deliberate killing acceptable. From this perspective, a patient’s request does not by itself justify euthanasia.

Jesus’ care for the sick also offers a model for responding to suffering. Christians may support hospices and palliative care, which relieve symptoms and offer practical, emotional and spiritual support. Their aim is to help a person live their remaining life with dignity, not deliberately cause death.

Christian differences: compassion and choice

Some Christians place greater emphasis on free will and responding lovingly to the individual’s circumstances. They may argue that respecting a dying person’s informed wishes can be compassionate, especially when suffering is severe and recovery is impossible.

For example, some accept a patient’s voluntary decision not to continue treatment that merely prolongs dying. This is sometimes described as voluntary passive euthanasia. Acceptance of allowing natural death does not automatically mean support for a lethal injection.

The teaching to love one’s neighbour can therefore support different conclusions. One Christian may interpret love as protecting life and providing care; another may emphasise respecting the patient’s wishes and avoiding prolonged suffering. Both appeal to compassion, but disagree about what compassion requires.

Muslim beliefs: Allah gives life and death

Islam generally opposes deliberately ending life through euthanasia. Muslims believe that life is sacred because it is a gift from Allah. The Qur’an states, ‘It is He who gives death and life’ (53:44). This supports the belief that only Allah has ultimate authority over life and death.

Muslims also understand life as a test. Illness and suffering can be part of that test, calling for faith and perseverance rather than deliberately ending life. The teaching that ‘God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear’ (Qur’an 2:286) can encourage believers to trust Allah during hardship.

This does not mean that suffering should be left untreated. Caring for seriously ill relatives and providing pain relief are important responses. Muslims may support hospice care as an alternative to euthanasia.

Many Muslims also accept withdrawing artificial life support when it is medically certain that life cannot be restored. They distinguish allowing death to occur naturally from deliberately killing a patient. Opposition to euthanasia therefore does not require every possible treatment to continue indefinitely.

Contrasting views in contemporary society

Some humanists and other non-religious people support voluntary euthanasia because they prioritise autonomy: a person’s ability to make decisions about their own life. They may argue that a freely chosen death can prevent unbearable suffering and preserve dignity.

Others, religious or non-religious, worry that vulnerable people could feel pressured to die because they believe they are a burden. They also fear that legalisation could weaken protection for human life. Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK, but arguments about choice, compassion and protection remain part of public debate.

The clearest comparison is therefore between different reasons, not just different religious labels. Roman Catholics and Muslims commonly emphasise sacred life and divine authority. Some Christians and non-religious supporters place greater weight on the patient’s wishes and relief of suffering.

• Roman Catholics: reject euthanasia; life is sacred and deliberately killing an innocent person is wrong.
• Most Christians: God gives life; humans should care for the dying rather than deliberately end life.
• Some Christians: emphasise compassion and free will; may accept a voluntary decision to let natural death occur rather than prolong dying.
• Muslims: generally reject euthanasia; Allah gives life and death, and life is a test. Many accept withdrawing futile artificial life support.
• Some humanists: support voluntary choice because of autonomy and quality of life. Non-religious people do not all agree.

Teachings to connect to arguments

• Genesis 1:27: humans made in God’s image → dignity and sanctity of life.
• Exodus 20:13: ‘You shall not murder’ → opposition to deliberate killing.
• Love your neighbour: can support caring for the dying or an emphasis on compassion and their wishes.
• Qur’an 53:44: Allah gives death and life → divine authority over life’s end.
• Qur’an 2:286: God does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear → faith during suffering.

Essential distinctions

• Voluntary/non-voluntary: whether the patient can request euthanasia.
• Active/passive: action to cause death versus withholding or withdrawing treatment.
• Assisted suicide: the patient performs the final act.
• Withdrawing futile treatment is not necessarily euthanasia.
• For: choice, compassion, relief of suffering.
• Against: sanctity of life, divine authority, pressure on vulnerable people.
• Alternative: hospice and palliative care.