its ritual sacrifices, extended well into the Christian era.
One element of Christianity new to the pagan mind was the New
Testament emphasis that faith and belief matter in life, such as the teaching: “If
you continue in My Word, you are My disciples. Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.” (John 8: 31-32)
Becoming disciples of God may have been an attractive new concept to
some people – a new way to build a relationship with Him. It may also have
been appealing that we should love one another – to love as God loves – as a
means of forging a relationship with God.
The pagans’ gods did not die but Jesus did, which gave new emphasis to
the afterlife. This offered a whole new, powerful and compelling way to think
about God.
From our New Church perspective, Wendy said, Christianity was not
just a new religion but a new model for applying religion to life and giving it
meaning.
Dr. James de Maine
End of Life and Medical Ethics
Dr. de Maine recently retired after a 32-year career in
pulmonary and critical care, and is also emeritus clinical
professor of medicine at the University of Washington. He
attended the Academy College (now Bryn Athyn College)
for two years in the late 1950s, and earned his medical
degree from the University of Pennsylvania. When he was
in training, he said, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) did not yet exist. There have
been tremendous changes in medicine – and medical ethics – in his career. He
practiced in Seattle, Washington, where he still lives with his wife, Lourdes. He
has often been involved in end-of-life and ethical issues, and getting people to
think and talk about them. This has led to an ongoing blog, which refers to his
New Church faith: www.endoflifeblog.com Contact: [email protected].
Jim noted that throughout his career – and throughout the field of medicine
– the questions basically have stayed the same but the answers keep changing.
This is largely due to continuing advances in technology, which can prolong
life – but also prolong death. Doctors and other health care professionals need
to think beyond what they can do to what they should do: what is the best
thing to do in any given circumstance. Patients and their families are critical
to the process and need to be prepared for these tough choices.
He said that 70% of deaths in ICU occur with the withdrawal of life
support, but that families often have not had a discussion about what to do in
such circumstances. We put a lot more thought and preparation into childbirth
than death. It is always best to have end-of-life discussions before it becomes
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