The christian Thought from Fritz Jahr and the environmental responsability ... (abstract)

HOSS, Geni Maria. Fritz Jahr's bioethical conception: What are the challenges for christians today? In: MUZUR, Amir; SASS, Hans-Martin (Eds.). Fritz Jahr and the Foundations of Global Bioethics. Berlin: LIT, 2012, p. 325ss.

The human being: looking toward oneself In an integral view of the relations of the human being with life, it is necessary, even if briefly, to highlight the relation of the human being with his/her own life. Jahr’s work has as its hue his beliefs and convictions about human life in the light of his Christian faith. That is why he bases his reflection, frequently, on the Sacred Bible. He accentuates, therefore, the dignity of the human being, affirmed in biblical passages, which distinguishes his work from the current bioethical tendencies, which relate human dignity, especially, with autonomy and liberty, without presenting secure references to practice. In this way, there is no answer to issues such as: Is it possible to be free in a time and space where there are so many external determinations and appellations? Is it possible to be autonomous, that is, to make secure decisions, in this turmoil of possibilities, promises, uncertainties, especially with regard to boundary issues of life? 13 Jahr’s reading of the 5th commandment with respect to human life extends itself to all forms of care. The same precepts which define fraternal relationships are also valid for oneself. The body, in the Christian perspective, is sacred and as such, one cannot attack it. Jahr deduces the respect for one’s own life, including through a healthy life style, from Holy Scriptures: “Do you not realize that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you?” (1 Cor 3:16). This means, the commandment is not reduced to the act of killing, but also has to do with practical issues which interfere in some way with life, exemplified thus by Jahr: “By not taking one’s own life, by not shortening it, by not harming or endangering it, by not weakening one’s own health by unchastity, excesses in eating and drinking, heavy anger, frivolous foolhardiness and claredevilry, etc.” (8:24) The concepts as well as their practical application dealt with by Jahr in the context of the 5th commandment, still guide the Christian communities today when dealing with the human life. Except for small differences between the various Christian denominations, the essence remains the same and is defended when the Christians participate in public debates. They are provocations for the society as a whole since it demands overcoming a utilitarian view of the person. For the Christians “every human life, (...) is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God” (4:603) Respect living beings, that is, all of the divine creation, become indignant faced with all types of destructive power exerted over other living beings, prophetically denounce such acts and take on, with responsibility, the commitment in favor of all life forms on the planet, constitutes the noble task which makes the presence of Christians significant for the whole planet.