t active group of supporters are members of the Hemlock Society. These supporters are Christians and churchgoers and believe that the God theyworship is a God of understanding and love. They also believe that “as long as [theact of ‘mercy killing’] was justifiable and met the conditions of not hurting otherpeople then they feel that God would accept them into heaven” (Humphry 19).Sure, in the eyes of euthanasia supporters, even those who claim to beChristians, ‘mercy killing’ is a noble and compassionate act, but what is the 5thcommandment? You shall not kill. Those four words alone seem to eliminate allpossible suggestions in favor of euthanasia. Derek Humphry, founder of theHemlock Society, “... helped his wife, who was suffering from incurable bonecancer, to take her life by supplying her with a cup of coffee laced with a lethalmixture of secobarbital and codeine” (Worsnop 156). “Our society, basing itsviews primarily on the fundamental values of Judaism and Christianity, has alwaysforbidden the taking of innocent life and has considered that act one of the mostserious, if not the most serious, breaches of morality possible” (Bleich 41). Judeo-Christians believe that a person has no inherent right to commit suicide andthat the life of man can be reclaimed only by God Himself. They feel that sufferingis a part of God’s life plan and that human’s should accept it and learn from it. Afterall, if there were no suffering, how would humans know the value of peace andhappiness? They also believe in the importance and value of human life, that it isprecious gift and should be taken care of. David Bleich expresses the views ofthose opposed to euthanasia by stating that, “Human life is a divine mystery and man [has been] commanded to create, to nurture, to sustain, and to preserve the lifethat has been [given] to him” (40). However, not all religi...
