Beginning and end of life

This episode explores the limits and boundaries of human life, particularly when it comes to abortion and euthanasia. Jo and Peter use the Being Human lens as a tool to help us think faithfully and compassionately about the start and end of life, recognising these are hugely contested areas in public debate.  

They take a look at the law surrounding abortion and euthanasia as well as stories from around the world on where these debates are bubbling up across the media. The conversation touches on justice and autonomy from women, dignity in suffering, and the deeply personal dilemmas individuals face. They bring us back the story of God and his people, taking note of the role of the early church in caring for babies and the promise of hope woven throughout scripture. The episode lands on how we might navigate these conversations well in our own lives and sharing a better story through practices of hospitality, different forms of prayer and gratitude.   

Part one (00:00) 
01:24 Diving into the debate: are there limits on life? Both entry to life and exiting from life are two of the most contested areas in public debate.  
02:46 Stories of abortion and euthanasia in UK media and policy.  
06:03 The Being Human Lens: a tool for this discussion.  
07:49 Understanding statistics and the law around abortion in the UK.  
12:37 Significance and abortion: considering a woman’s autonomy over her own body and the life of a baby. 
14:05 Moving to euthanasia – why is it such a hot topic at the moment?  
16:00 Dignity and death: having compassion for those suffering and the promise of hope in the Christian story. 

Part two (21:59) 
22:00 Connection: How does the start and end of life affect our relationships with each other, with God and with our world?  
24:38 Is abortion the pinnacle of the justice for women or is it perpetuating further injustices in new forms? 
28:06 Navigating the euthanasia debate in Canada 
32:58 The early church: revisiting ancient values and practices of our forefathers. 
35:20 Presence and the recognising the cost of caring for our loved ones.  
41:03 Participation and the story of Sarah and Paul Williams. Does purpose necessitate being human?  
47:21 Practising and inhabiting a better story: hospitality, gratitude, intercession and examen prayer.  

Interested in taking this conversation further? Take a look at some resources and organisations mentioned in the episode:  

• Both Lives Matter
• Home for good 
• Safer families 
• Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian (Shaming the Strong) by Sarah Williams