[xorfish]

I didn't say that illness makes the life not worth living. I said an illness that makes the life not worth living. What that is is a very personal decision and should be an option that a person can have. Note that it is pretty easy to safeguard such a system from impulse decision that are often caused by mental illness.

> Many Christian perspectives (and, I expect those of many faiths) will hold that there is tremendous value in living and enduring discomfort and suffering.

This is such a toxic part of christianity that causes so much suffering worldwide.

Voluntary giving is no substitute for state programs that give a guaranteed safety net.

[pbhjpbhj]

Suffering is a part of life.

Do you think it's better if people just die to avoid suffering rather than learn to live the best they can despite that pain?

Why do you say "causes"?

Agreed on the last point, but also having to beg others to get enough food/shelter to survive ... if you want that then you need to take a look at your ego.

[filoleg]

A lot of people think this way, until they are forced to deal with the real and visceral physical suffering themselves.

Just look at Mother Theresa. She was refusing administration of painkillers to people dying in agonizing pain at her hospitals (hospices?), because she believed that experiencing suffering in this way was a part of being a true christian and virtuous person (yes, that was her actual stated reasoning). All of this was immediately cast aside as soon as she herself got debilitated with painful suffering due to illnesses, however.

I do believe there is value in suffering, but there are different kinds of suffering, and what’s being talked about here (physical) isn’t the kind that has much value.