Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Unnatural Death (with Richard Weikart)

Aug 27, 2024

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Richard Weikart, an esteemed historian and expert on euthanasia, delves into the ethical evolution surrounding life and death. He shares insights on ancient perspectives of suicide, the early church’s sanctity of life, and the modern resurgence of euthanasia debates. The discussion highlights the dark history of the Nazi euthanasia program and its implications for today's ethical dilemmas. Weikart also critiques the intersection of eugenics, personal autonomy, and compassion in end-of-life decisions.

37:41

Episode guests

Richard Weikart

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The transition from a biblically grounded sanctity of life to a secular acceptance of euthanasia highlights the influence of declining Christian values in society.

Contemporary euthanasia debates increasingly emphasize personal autonomy, yet they are complicated by societal pressures and ethical concerns surrounding value of life.

Deep dives

Historical Context of Euthanasia

The history of euthanasia reveals its legal status in Western societies over the centuries, primarily due to the influence of Christian thought on the value of human life. In earlier times, the sanctity of life was grounded in the belief that humans are created in the image of God, giving rise to laws that prohibited euthanasia and assisted suicide. As secular ideologies gained prominence, the traditional Judeo-Christian values began to wane, leading to increased acceptance of euthanasia. This shift illustrates how the decreasing influence of Christianity in social and legal frameworks contributed to evolving perspectives on the value and sanctity of life.

Intro

5min

Euthanasia: A Historical Perspective

10min

Eugenics, Darwinism, and Euthanasia

9min

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A Complex Debate

12min

Reflections on Unnatural Death and Philosophical Insights

2min

What can we learn from the history of euthanasia? What was the view of suicide and euthanasia in the ancient world of the Bible? How did the early church introduce a new ethic of life into that context? How did the modern euthanasia movement begin and what was the rationale for permitting it? How did the Nazi experience of euthanasia affect the movement? How has it regained traction today? We’ll answer these questions and more with our good friend and eminent historian, Dr. Richard Weikart, around his new book, Unnatural Death: Medicine’s Descent from Healing to Killing.

Dr. Richard Weikart is Emeritus Professor of History at California State University, Stanislaus. He is Senior Fellow at the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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