The value of the human person is not determined by place, time, stage of development, viability, or functional capacity. The value of the human person is rooted in his or her very existence. To be a human being is to be, to exist! From the moment of conception until natural death, a human being is a human being regardless of the stage of development. The nature of the existing being, whether at the embryonic stage or the fetal stage, is a human being. It is not a cat or dog. The new life that exists is human life. Even though some human beings can be underdeveloped for a variety of reasons (birth defects, injuries, etc...), a new human person is present and accounted for.
The current cultural trend seems to assign value to human life only when the human life is able to perform well. As if some level of functional capacity qualifies them for personhood. Such a utilitarian philosophical approach to life does not fare well with the dignity of the human person nor for the good of society. This is why the unborn and the elderly are under attack -- abortion and euthanasia. Under a utilitarian mindset, your worth is directly proportional to your utility. Human doings NOT human beings! We hear this in those that are in the world and of the world..."What's he worth?" translated..."How much money does he have?" Since this doesn't bear the truth of the human person's dignity, such a philosophical approach to human life causes much mental and emotional distress and social instability.
Human beings are more than a body. Human beings are more that what we do! We are who we are because of Who God is. Just as the value of a painting is determined by signature of the artist, so also is our value determined by the Divine Artist's signature. Each human being is of inestimable value simply because they exist. From the first instant of existence, the body and soul composite of this new human being has a value given to him or her by God.
From the first moment of conception, God infuses an immortal human soul into the new human body. From this very moment, a new human being exists! Every man and woman are therefore co-creators with God. What a privileged! Even though a newly conceived child is far from reaching his or her potential capacity, this child does not change the inestimable value of this new developing person.
The current cultural trend seems to assign value to human life only when the human life is able to perform well. As if some level of functional capacity qualifies them for personhood. Such a utilitarian philosophical approach to life does not fare well with the dignity of the human person nor for the good of society. This is why the unborn and the elderly are under attack -- abortion and euthanasia. Under a utilitarian mindset, your worth is directly proportional to your utility. Human doings NOT human beings! We hear this in those that are in the world and of the world..."What's he worth?" translated..."How much money does he have?" Since this doesn't bear the truth of the human person's dignity, such a philosophical approach to human life causes much mental and emotional distress and social instability.
Human beings are more than a body. Human beings are more that what we do! We are who we are because of Who God is. Just as the value of a painting is determined by signature of the artist, so also is our value determined by the Divine Artist's signature. Each human being is of inestimable value simply because they exist. From the first instant of existence, the body and soul composite of this new human being has a value given to him or her by God.
From the first moment of conception, God infuses an immortal human soul into the new human body. From this very moment, a new human being exists! Every man and woman are therefore co-creators with God. What a privileged! Even though a newly conceived child is far from reaching his or her potential capacity, this child does not change the inestimable value of this new developing person.
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