Posted by cav on March 27, 2005 at 05:28:36:
In Reply to: Re: Personal experience, ethical sensibilites, and the bias of medical science posted by giveawayboy on March 26, 2005 at 14:30:41:
We're getting into very personal beliefs here and that is always a dangerous place to be, thus I know what Marcos was concerned about...However, I know that the advantage of message boards as forums to discuss such stuff is that we can remain at least visibly dettatched (which can also be a negative in some cases). And I know everyone here, at least the regular posters, are used to differing opinions. So that said, I'm going to run on a little further.
I recognize PS's position and PJ's. I also support life in most cases where there is doubt, and I also tend to beleive that while medical science is a very good thing, it can overstep its bounds. But let me put that opinion in a different perspective. Namely, where do we draw the line? If it is playing God to disconnect a person from life support, then isn't it also playing God to connect them in the first place? After all, couldn't one argue that if the person was wounded such that they would die without explicit mechanical equipment to sustain their vital functions artificially (I'm not talking about treating wounds, etc. I'm talking about actual mechanical life support.) that to prolong that life is to assume the responsibility that this person should live longer? I mean this is really dangerous territory regarding predestination and God's purpose in negative events. Everyone really has to form their own opinion in these matters. And I completely believe that it doesn't have to be an either/or position. In this case situationality is a vital consideration.
Anyway, let's all just pray that we never have to make such decisions or be the ones that others must decide for. I think we can never judge what another person decides in such cases, either to condemn it or to support it. The best we can do is pray that they will do the right thing. And as always, let's remember that nothing can happen outside of God's allowance, so though the situation may look horrible, he is still in control. In these cases, I think we are best to simply pray that God's will be done...Of course at the same time, I think that if God lays something on our hearts so severely, as with PS's friend and PJ's burden, then maybe there is a reason for that as well, and who knows how God will demonstrate his power, both in the miraculous and the tragic.
I'm going to leave this thread alone now.
: : In conclusion, it is not faith in an unprecedented miracle that is needed; such recoveries are not unprecedented. What is needed is simply an unbiased consideration of all relevant cases. It is the bias against the acknowledgement of God's intervention that precludes the consideration of anomalous recoveries not effected by medical procedure. "We have never healed such a person, so she cannot be healed. Therefore we will declare her to be dead, and treat her accordingly."
: Steve, This is great! Lately I've read two books by Wendell Berry, LIFE IS A MIRACLE and WHAT ARE PEOPLE FOR? and now I'm reading one by Wes Jackson, BECOMING NATIVE TO THIS PLACE. Although primarily concerned with agriculture, the plight of farmers in the modern age, and the environment, these writers both talk about modern man being 'puffed up' w his own worship of empirical knowledge. He takes a sort of muscular approach toward nature, not truly observing the parts in relation to the whole, but using her or ignoring her at every turn, without respect to the whole of existence. Science too has gone down that path. Especially when funds with personal interests behind them come into the picture.