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Ethics in tv shows
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Religion Theme of Concern in EastEnders Soap Opera
Recently, in the hit soap opera EastEnders, the scriptwriters have
presented a religious and moral issue. The issue concerns the
controversial topic of euthanasia, and involves two main characters.
At the outset, one of the characters, Ethel, was suffering from a
terminal illness and was in severe pain. Therefore she asked one of
her best friends, Dot Cotton, to end her life. At this stage, Dot
faced a real dilemma, as she was in fact, a strictly religious
Christian, however in the end she disregarded her faith and relieved
Ethel of the pain, by providing her with a number of tablets. Ethel,
took all of them, and died of a drug overdose. This type of euthanasia
is known as voluntary euthanasia as Ethel asked Dot to help her.
This issue is both a religious and moral, initially, euthanasia is
prohibited by Christians as it is seen as ending a sacred life given
to you as a gift from God, in other words Christians believe in the
sanctity of life. This viewpoint is also shared by most of the other
religions, including Islam. The matter is also moral, as Dot knows
right from wrong, yet she believed that in that particular situation
euthanasia was the right choice. However her actions are debatable,
and some may believe she did not do the right thing.
There is only one possible solution to this problem, Dot could have
refused Ethel's request and left her to die naturally (but, in
constant pain). Dot also had the opportunity to give Ethel painkillers
to reduce the hurt, but she didn't have to help Ethel take her own
life.
The scriptwriters dealt with this issue in a very interesting way,
Dot's character is usually depicted as a very religious one, up till
the episode, which showed Dot actually assisting her friend to commit
euthanasia. After the incident Dot felt extremely un-comfortable with
herself, as she personally knew within that what she did was totally
inappropriate and immoral, not to mention criminal.
Euthanasia is defined in our ethics book as “good death”. (MacKinnon) The chapter in our ethics book actually contains quite a bit of information about assisted suicide and the Death with Dignity Act. According to the chapter, assisted suicide would be considered as physician assisted suicide because the patient’s doctor has to prescribe the patient a prescription in order for assisted suicide to take place. The physician is helping the suicide take place, but they aren’t actually administering it. Another thing that assisted suicide would be considered as is voluntary euthanasia, because the patient is making a valid decision and they are mentally stable enough to make the decision on their own. (MacKinnon) Nowadays, doctors have worked to come up with the most ethical way of helping those who are interested in assisted suicide, the lethal pill. Suicide today, not including assisted suicide, has been increasing in drastic numbers. They don’t get to say goodbye to their families. Everything is just left exactly how it ends. If patients are considering suicide anyways, someone telling them they can or cannot have an assisted suicide will not change their thoughts. It is better to die a good death surrounded with friends and family rather than a bad, and sufferable death. This is why Maynard chose the option that she did, she wanted to go when she was ready and with her
Iris Murdoch, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, was known as one of the most important novelist in English during the twentieth century. In her 26 novels, she explores interesting aspects of psychology and philosophy. In her piece Morality and Religion, she states, “the most evident bridge between morality and religion is the idea of virtue” (Murdoch 363). To some, virtue is still considered a positive idea to pursue, while to others virtue has faded, has lost its positive meaning, and it is now considered “priggishness” or “rigidity”. Murdoch is saying that “the idea” of virtue may be out dated, that it instead is now something that is self-indulging. “An idea (concept) of virtue which not be formally reflective or clarified bears some resemblance to religion, so that one might say either that it is a shadow of religion, or religion is a shadow of it” (Murdoch 363). Virtue and morality are not necessarily interchangeable, but religion and virtue both have duty in common.
The word Euthanasia comes from the Greek and means “good death” (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) and in the range of this paper, it will be called physician assisted suicide or “active” euthanasia. The definition of “active” euthanasia is ending one’s life yourself or with aid of a doctor. It can be done in various different ways; however, the most common form is with a combination of drugs, usually given by a physician. ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/hp.asp) The reason Physician Assisted Suicide (or PAS) is an important issue in this country and around the world is that there are many people out there suffering from debilitating, incurable and intensely painful diseases that would like to end their lives with dignity and without suffering. (Leo & Lein, 2010, The Value of a Planned Death)
The Theme of Religion in Angela’s Ashes Throughout the novel, religion is presented as being of extreme importance in Irish society, influencing the beliefs and actions of the characters. I will attempt to highlight the several factors which I believe make up the presentation of religion in “Angela’s Ashes”. From the beginning of the book, religion is said to make up a large part of the unhappy childhood Frank suffered. The following quote shows the extent of Frank’s sentiments: “Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood, is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood” The quote above portrays the crescendo of negative emotion, describing the worse possible scenario of a childhood, adding finally “Catholic” to signify the most terrible part of the childhood Frank suffered.
There are many social institutions that have major impacts on society. One of the trickiest social institutions would have to be, religion. Religion seems to have a huge impact on a society even if it’s directly or indirectly. Why is that? Do we need it? Does it let us live a more fulfilled life? What effects does it have on society? Is it necessary for a functioning society? According to Dalton Conley (2013:611) sociology defines religion as being a unified system of beliefs traditions, and practices around sacred things; a set of shared “stories” that guide belief and action. Religion is a way for people to make sense of the world, it keeps society in line with expected behaviors. Without religion people would subside to create their own rules and would deem to follow a path that could harm a society and come to an end. Religion is necessary for a society to function, prosper, and for someone to learn how to be a well moral contributor to society.
“It is science, and not religion, which has taught men that things are complex and difficult to understand”-Emile Durkheim. Understanding religion is a very difficult task, with so many views and thousands of different religions. No matter what the religion is, or where it is located they all have an importance for society. The importance religion has is establishing what is correct and what is not. Religion has been around for many years, so has the many different understanding of the purpose religion has on society. Most of all the three key factors of religion that has an impact on society are; Social support, experience, maintain social control.
Our values, opinions and beliefs depend on what culture, religion and the society we come from. People who are against view euthanasia as murder and that we must respect the value of life. Those who are in favor of euthanasia believe that doing such act eliminates the patient’s pain and suffering. Also, the right to die allows the person to die with dignity. Euthanasia may involve taking a human’s life, but not all forms of killing are wrong nor consider as murder. It depends on the underlying reasons and intentions. If you value a person’s life and the cause of death is for the patient’s benefit and not one’s personal interest, then euthanasia is permissible.
In 2001 the Dutch legalized euthanasia. In the beginning euthanasia was only permitted for people who were suffering unbearable pain and who were able to make the decision rationally. But things started to get out of hand when a group called Life-Ending Clinic opened. They were providing the service for people who had not been approved for euthanasia from their doctors. They accepted people with chronic depression and early stages of dementia. This issue has become alarming and is an example of the slippery-slope argument that religious groups and people opposed to euthanasia debate. (“The Dutch Debate Doctor-Assisted Suicide for Depression,”
The reason so is that we have no way to figure from Rachels’ argument that Maggie’s decision was based in ethics. Rachels only discusses the morality of euthanasia in his argument. We can figure from his argument that Maggie’s decision was morally acceptable. However, we can conclude from other sources like Kant, Aristotle, and Nozick, that her decision was ethically acceptable. The way Maggie’s death was executed was not ethically acceptable, based on Kant’s principles. Rachels’ argument did not provide any argument or information on whether or not euthanasia or active euthanasia is ethically permissible. “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” (Mark
Sociology in its basic most broad definition is the study of society and social behavior. Which includes all variables that govern and affect how masses act and react under different circumstances. This includes values, traditions, morals, ethnic identity and most importantly; religion. Religion has been, for as long as humans existed on this earth, the foremost perception that controls society and govern its behavior. Some would even argue that religion is the source of human morals, traditions and values.
n Britain there is an increasing number of Muslims in the community, it is now at a point where the young, British born, Muslims outnumber those who have migrated to the contry. (Anwar, 2008: 133) Yet, Muslims are often identified as being foreign, not truly British. This has a strong impact of British Muslims identity because they are not identified as British by others in the community. This is just an example of the way issues impact British Muslim Identity. Many issues hold sway over how Muslims are viewed in Britain today, they affect the perceived identity of British Muslims. This essay will look at how link between Muslims and terrorism and women being coerced affect British Muslim identity today.
I am a Religious Studies major; therefore, learning about religion is a genuine interest of mine. In addition, from my first anthropology class, Introduction to Anthropology 103, learning about different cultures and people who may or may not be different from myself became an interest. Anthropology of Religion provides me with the best of both worlds. Not only do I get the opportunity to learn about different religious practices such as Tiwah among the Ngaju but how to anthropologically examine snake handlers in the Appalachians. One issue remains concerning the definition of religion. The semester began with us using theorists and their theories to construct a definition of religion. However, due to how convoluted religion is we changed our mind. In an attempt to synthesize the work done this semester, I wish to form some sort of definition of religion base on the ethnographies we have studied.
Many countries around the world decide to ban clothes and jewelry with religious significance in public places. France, Belgium and Britain decide to ban all religious significance like veil, turban and cross in Christianity. These countries decide to ban religious significant after they provide evidence that it might affect the safety of society and it’s against human rights (Islamic veil across Europe - BBC News, 2014). But this ban is also will affect the rights of other people in the society. This ban affects people life and changes it negatively. Also, it maybe affects the society in negative way. This paper will argue that people should be free to wear clothes and jewelry with religious significant, because ban religious significant is
The right to life has been a subject of controversy for decades. We can mention it when we talk about abortion, the death penalty, and simply by a natural process we allow such as the simple act of natural birth of a baby. Whether a life is worth living? and whether to assist the act to end a life? Has been one of the most controversial subjects among the religious communities and the society. According to the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies reported on its website in the document "Physician-Assisted Suicide Survey," (accessed on Oct. 27, 2006), "Religious identity correlates with attitudes toward the ethical status of assisting in suicide. Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox Jews believe in the majority that it
Religion influences social relationships in more ways then one. Religion for many is a way of life, a lifestyle. You learn values and discipline and its something that is constantly around. Religion can promote helping and thinking (Aronson, E., Wilson, T.D., &Akert, R.M. ,2013).