Evaluate the religious responses to the issues of Organ Donation. (20 marks)
There are many issues arising on organ donation. I aim to look at the issue of immorality of the soul,
organ donation can be considered by Christians as a genuine act of love, presumed consent and
living donations.
One issue that arises from organ donation is that many Christians believe in the immorality of the
soul and therefore believe the body is not needed after death and so organs can be used to help the
living. There are some Christians who believe in the resurrection of the body. However, they believe
they will have transformed body not subject to physical needs.
“In which we will neither have nor need out earthly bodies: former things will pass away,
all things will be made new.” Revelation 21: 4-5
This quotation implies that some Christians believe that nothing that happens to our body, before or
after death, can impact on their relationship with God. However, some Christians are against using
organs from the deceased. These Christians would see the vital organs, particularly the heart, as part
of God’s creation of the individual person and so should not be used. Some Christians believe that
humans do not have the right to act like God and using the organs of a dead person to give life to
another is usurping the told of God for yourself. I believe that this view can be overcome by
accepting transplants using organs donated by living relatives because organs which can be used
from the living are not vital and so can be used to obey Jesus’ command to love your neighbour. This
would also solve the problem of playing god.
Another issue that arises form organ donation is that organ donation can be considered by Christians
as a genuine act of love. The Christian faith is based upon the revelation of God in the life of Jesus
Christ. Jesus taught people to love one another, and to embrace the needs of others.
“Giving organs is the most generous act of self-giving imaginable”
Rt Revd Dr Barry Morgan Archbishop of Wales, 2011
There are many issues arising on organ donation. I aim to look at the issue of immorality of the soul,
organ donation can be considered by Christians as a genuine act of love, presumed consent and
living donations.
One issue that arises from organ donation is that many Christians believe in the immorality of the
soul and therefore believe the body is not needed after death and so organs can be used to help the
living. There are some Christians who believe in the resurrection of the body. However, they believe
they will have transformed body not subject to physical needs.
“In which we will neither have nor need out earthly bodies: former things will pass away,
all things will be made new.” Revelation 21: 4-5
This quotation implies that some Christians believe that nothing that happens to our body, before or
after death, can impact on their relationship with God. However, some Christians are against using
organs from the deceased. These Christians would see the vital organs, particularly the heart, as part
of God’s creation of the individual person and so should not be used. Some Christians believe that
humans do not have the right to act like God and using the organs of a dead person to give life to
another is usurping the told of God for yourself. I believe that this view can be overcome by
accepting transplants using organs donated by living relatives because organs which can be used
from the living are not vital and so can be used to obey Jesus’ command to love your neighbour. This
would also solve the problem of playing god.
Another issue that arises form organ donation is that organ donation can be considered by Christians
as a genuine act of love. The Christian faith is based upon the revelation of God in the life of Jesus
Christ. Jesus taught people to love one another, and to embrace the needs of others.
“Giving organs is the most generous act of self-giving imaginable”
Rt Revd Dr Barry Morgan Archbishop of Wales, 2011
