'There is a time to be born and a time to die' (Ecclesiastes 3:2a): Jewish perspectives on euthanasia.
Reviewing the publications of prominent American rabbis who have (extensively) published on Jewish biomedical ethics, this article highlights Orthodox, Conservative and Reform opinions on a most pressing contemporary bioethical issue: euthanasia. Reviewing their opinions against the background of the halachic character of Jewish (biomedical) ethics, this article shows how from one traditional Jewish textual source diverse, even contradictory, opinions emerge through different interpretations. In this way, in the Jewish debate on euthanasia the specific methodology of Jewish (bio)ethical reasoning comes forward as well as a diversity of opinion within Judaism and its branches.
Faculty of Theology (Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion and World View), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Sint-Michielsstraat 4 bus 3101, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Goedele.Baeke@theo.kuleuven.be
Goedele
G
Baeke
Jean-Pierre
JP
Wils
Bert
B
Broeckaert
D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D028601:Euthanasia, Active; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews; D007599:Judaism; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012297:Right to Die; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life
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