John Shelby Spong

About the author: John Shelby Spong is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, New Jersey. He is also president of the Churchman Associates.

Historically, euthanasia was rarely practiced or considered. Using relatively crude medical methods, society and, in particular, the medical field, found itself struggling to preserve life. Without the modern technologies that are commonly used today to substantially extend life, the terminally ill died quickly. In addition, Christians held strict views regarding the sanctity of life and believed that death was controlled only by God. However, this strict, traditional Christian perspective is no longer appropriate due to the advances of modern medicine. Today, many terminal patients languish in hospital rooms in a vegetative state, being kept alive only by life support systems. The sanctity of life is ultimately found not in...