The phrase
"culture of life" is a controversial term used in
moral theologyMoral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
. It is described by its proponents as a philosophy that human life, at all stages from
conceptionConception may refer to:* Conception or fertilisation, the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism of the same species* Conception or concept, an abstract idea or a mental symbol* Conception , an album by Miles Davis...
through to natural death, is sacred. As such, a "culture of life" is claimed to be opposed to practices seen by its proponents as destructive of human life, often including embryonic stem cell research,
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
,
euthanasiaEuthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia...
, contraception,
capital punishmentCapital punishment or the death penalty, is the execution of a person by judicial process as a punishment for an offense. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences....
,
greedGreed in psychology is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.-Theology:...
,
degradationDegradation may refer to;* Biodegradation, the processes by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms* Chemical decomposition, the degradation of chemical compounds* Degradation , by the Violent Femmes...
, sadistic
humiliationHumiliation is the abasement of pride, which creates mortification or leads to a state of being humbled or reduced to lowliness or submission. It can be brought about through bullying, intimidation, physical or mental mistreatment or trickery, or by embarrassment if a person is revealed to have...
,
narcissismSee also narcissistic personality disorder and malignant narcissism.The term narcissism refers to the personality trait of self-esteem, which includes the set of character traits concerned with self-image or ego. The terms narcissism, narcissistic, and narcissist are often used as pejoratives,...
,
selfishnessSelfishness denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern. It is the act of placing one's own needs or desires above the needs or desires of others....
,
povertyPoverty is the condition of lacking basic human needs such as nutrition, clean water, health care, clothing, and shelter because of the inability to afford them. This is also referred to as absolute poverty or destitution...
and
warWar is a reciprocated, armed conflict, between two or more non-congruous entities, aimed at reorganising a subjectively designed, geo-politically desired result...
.
The phrase
"culture of life" is a controversial term used in
moral theologyMoral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
. It is described by its proponents as a philosophy that human life, at all stages from
conceptionConception may refer to:* Conception or fertilisation, the fusion of gametes to produce a new organism of the same species* Conception or concept, an abstract idea or a mental symbol* Conception , an album by Miles Davis...
through to natural death, is sacred. As such, a "culture of life" is claimed to be opposed to practices seen by its proponents as destructive of human life, often including embryonic stem cell research,
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
,
euthanasiaEuthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia...
, contraception,
capital punishmentCapital punishment or the death penalty, is the execution of a person by judicial process as a punishment for an offense. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences....
,
greedGreed in psychology is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth.-Theology:...
,
degradationDegradation may refer to;* Biodegradation, the processes by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms* Chemical decomposition, the degradation of chemical compounds* Degradation , by the Violent Femmes...
, sadistic
humiliationHumiliation is the abasement of pride, which creates mortification or leads to a state of being humbled or reduced to lowliness or submission. It can be brought about through bullying, intimidation, physical or mental mistreatment or trickery, or by embarrassment if a person is revealed to have...
,
narcissismSee also narcissistic personality disorder and malignant narcissism.The term narcissism refers to the personality trait of self-esteem, which includes the set of character traits concerned with self-image or ego. The terms narcissism, narcissistic, and narcissist are often used as pejoratives,...
,
selfishnessSelfishness denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the self, i.e., self interest or self concern. It is the act of placing one's own needs or desires above the needs or desires of others....
,
povertyPoverty is the condition of lacking basic human needs such as nutrition, clean water, health care, clothing, and shelter because of the inability to afford them. This is also referred to as absolute poverty or destitution...
and
warWar is a reciprocated, armed conflict, between two or more non-congruous entities, aimed at reorganising a subjectively designed, geo-politically desired result...
. A "culture of life" is frequently supported in
United States politicsPolitics of the United States takes place in the framework of a presidential, federal republic where the President of the United States , United States Congress, and judiciary share federal powers, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments...
by social conservatives on moral issues (although commonly excluding opposition to capital punishment) and fiscal liberals on economic ones.
Origins
The expression owes its origins to
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła served as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death almost 27 years later. His was the second-longest pontificate; only Pope Pius IX served longer...
, who first used it in a tour of the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1993. Speaking to journalists at
Stapleton International AirportStapleton International Airport was Denver, Colorado's primary airport from 1929 to 1995. At different times it served as a hub for TWA, People Express, Frontier Airlines and Western Airlines as well as a hub for Continental Airlines and United Airlines at the time of its closure. In 1995,...
near Denver,
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
, the Pope denounced abortion and euthanasia, stating that "The culture of life means respect for nature and protection of God's work of creation. In a special way, it means respect for human life from the first moment of conception until its natural end."
CardinalA cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and making themselves available...
Bernard Law reiterated the theme, urging Americans to "spread the culture of life over the culture of death".
One possible source for this philosophy is the
DidacheThe Didache is the common name of a brief early Christian treatise...
, a first century Christian document which exposes the doctrine of two ways : the way of life and the way of death. This work is part of the Church's Magisterium and has often been cited by Popes.
The Pope returned to the theme in April 1995 through the encyclical
Evangelium VitaeEvangelium Vitae is the name of the encyclical written by Pope John Paul II which expresses the position of the Catholic Church regarding the value and inviolability of human life...
Gospel of Life:
- In our present social context, marked by a dramatic struggle between the culture of life and the culture of death, there is need to develop a deep critical sense capable of discerning true values and authentic needs.
Some of the issues that are included in the Catholic Church's description of the culture of life include:
- Opposition to abortion
An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
- Opposition to capital punishment
Capital punishment or the death penalty, is the execution of a person by judicial process as a punishment for an offense. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences....
- Opposition to cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing populations of genetically-identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or organisms...
- Opposition to contraception
- Opposition to embryonic stem cell
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, an early-stage embryo. Human embryos reach the blastocyst stage 4–5 days post fertilization, at which time they consist of 50–150 cells....
and fetal research, coupled with support for adult stem cellAdult stem cells are undifferentiated cells, found throughout the body after embryonic development, that multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues...
research
- Opposition to euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia...
- Opposition to unjust war
U.S. politics
Following the promulgation of the Pope's encyclical, The Culture of Life Foundation & Institute was founded in the United States to promote the concepts behind the
Evangelium Vitae. It was recognized and
blessedA blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
by the
PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
in 1997.
The "culture of life" entered the mainstream of US politics on October 3, 2000, during the U.S. presidential election. It was cited by
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000....
during a televised debate with Vice President
Al GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. is an American environmental activist and former politician who served as the 45th Vice President of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He is an author, businessperson, former U.S. Senator and former journalist...
in which Bush expressed concerns that a
newly-approved abortifacient pillMifepristone is a synthetic steroid compound used as a pharmaceutical. It is used as an abortifacient in the first two months of pregnancy, and in smaller doses as an emergency contraceptive. During early trials, it was known as RU-486, its designation at the Roussel Uclaf company, which designed...
would cause more women to have abortions, while his goal was to make abortions more rare and to "promote a culture of life." Bush went on to say:
- Surely this nation can come together to promote the value of life. Surely we can fight off these laws that will encourage doctors or allow doctors to take the lives of our seniors. Sure, we can work together to create a culture of life so some of these youngsters who feel like they can take a neighbor's life with a gun will understand that that's not the way America is meant to be.
As the media pointed out, this was a direct borrowing from Pope John Paul II's language. His invocation of the phrase was seen as an attempt to reach out to moderate Catholics who dislike abortion, while not coming out so strongly against the practice that it would alienate voters. It was, however, criticised by some Catholics for being inconsistent with Bush's strong support for the death penalty and his repeated authorisation of executions while serving as Governor of Texas. He returned to the same theme on a number of other occasions during his campaign, stating that "I think the next president must talk about a culture of life."
The "culture of life" has repeatedly been invoked by politicians during Bush's terms as
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
. Notable instances included:
- The summer of 2001, when a major political controversy occurred over the federal government's position on stem cell research and President Bush faced accusations of backtracking on his earlier "culture of life" rhetoric;
- March 2003, when the US Congress passed a bill prohibiting partial-birth abortions which proponents cited as advancing the "culture of life";
- The Unborn Victims of Violence Act
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 is a United States law which recognizes a "child in utero" as a legal victim, if he or she is injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence...
in April 2004, which defined a violent attack on a pregnant women as two distinct crimes: one against the woman, and the other against her fetus - this was promoted as improving the rights of the "unborn", hence advancing the culture of life;
- The US presidential election, 2004, when the phrase was incorporated into the platform of the Republican Party
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. In the U.S...
, referring to the party's opposition to abortion, stem cell research involving the destruction of human embryos and euthanasia.
- The Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a successful seven-year long legal effort by Michael Schiavo to have his wife, Terri Schiavo — diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state for several years — disconnected from life support...
controversy of March 2005, when the phrase was used in support of legislative and legal efforts to prolong the life of a brain-damaged womanA persistent vegetative state is a condition of patients with severe brain damage who were in a coma, but then progressed to a state of wakefulness without detectable awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome...
.
Culture of death
Often, defenders of the "culture of life" compare their opponents to the perpetrators of the
NaziNazism, known officially in German as National Socialism , is the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party or National Socialist German Workers’ Party under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.Nazism is often considered...
genocideGenocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group.While precise definition varies among genocide scholars, a legal definition is found in the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of...
, much like some pro-life advocates do. They claim their opponents share the same disregard for human life.
Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'ConnorCormac Murphy-O'Connor is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church,
[ Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster and former President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in the 2001 Consistory...]
argued, for example, that without morals, "it is the strong who decide the fate of the weak," and "Human beings therefore become instruments of other human beings. That way lies
eugenicsEugenics is the study and practice of selective breeding applied to humans, with the aim of improving the species. Widely popular in the early decades of the 20th century, after having become associated with the Holocaust, it has largely fallen into disrepute.- Overview :As a social movement...
, and we know from German history where that leads. We are already on that road: for what else is the termination of six million lives in the womb since the Abortion Act was introduced, and embryo selection on the basis of gender and genes?”
The opposing term "culture of death" was used first by Pope John Paul II in
Evangelium Vitae and later by the Republican Party in the US political sphere.
Advocates of a "culture of life" argue that a "culture of death" results in political, economic, or eugenic murder. They point to historical events such as the Holocaust or the Great Purges in the Soviet Union as examples of devaluation of human life taken to an extreme conclusion. In the United States, the term is used by those in the pro-life movement to refer to support legalized abortion and/or euthanasia.
In some cases, the culture of life has been applied to other issues such as a
living wageLiving wage is a term used to describe the minimum hourly wage necessary for shelter and nutrition for a person for an extended period of time...
, opposition to
racismRacism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment...
and invidious
discriminationDiscrimination is a sociological term refering to treatment taken toward or against a person of a certain group that is taken in consideration based on class or category. The United Nations explains: "Discriminatory behaviours take many forms, but they all involve some form of exclusion or...
, and access to health care. On the other hand, the Catholic Church, while originating the term, regularly obstructs health care that it disapproves because it has to defend the right to life of persons from conception to natural death. This can be verified in
Humanae VitaeHumanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and promulgated on July 25, 1968. Subtitled "On the Regulation of Birth", it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Roman Catholic Church regarding abortion, contraception, and other issues pertaining to human life.Mainly because of its...
, the encyclical written during the papacy of Pope Paul VI.
Disputes surrounding the term
Like the term "
pro-lifeThe pro-life movement is a political and social movement focused chiefly around opposition to abortion, and especially support for the criminalization of abortion. Those involved in the movement generally maintain that human fetuses and embryos are persons, and that therefore they have a right to...
," the term "culture of life" is not without its critics, who argue that religious
conservativesConservatism is the diverse political and social philosophy that supports tradition and the status quo, or that calls for a return to the values and society of an earlier age, the status quo ante. However, the term has been used by politicians and political commentators with a variety of meanings...
do not have a monopoly on valuing life, or that they devalue it themselves, or that by emphasizing quantity of life they devalue
quality of lifeThe term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and political science. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of...
. Two examples commonly raised are that politicians who say they endorse the culture of life are often supportive of capital punishment and war. Even the tenets of opposition to abortion and euthanasia as part of the culture of life are not undisputed. For example,
Leonard PeikoffLeonard S. Peikoff is an American Objectivist philosopher. He is a former professor of philosophy and a former radio talk show host. He is the founder of the Ayn Rand Institute and the legal heir to Ayn Rand's estate....
argues that "Sentencing a woman to sacrifice her life to an embryo is not upholding the 'right-to-life'" Another example is
Andrew SullivanAndrew Michael Sullivan is a British blogger, author, and political commentator.Sullivan is a speaker at universities, colleges, and civic organizations in the United States, and a guest on national news and political commentary television shows in the United States and Europe...
, once a self-professed
CatholicThe word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective , meaning "universal". In the context of Christian ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages. For some, the term "Catholic Church" refers to the church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, made up of the Latin Rite and the 22...
who opposed the
religious rightThe Christian right, also known as the Religious Right and the Evangelical Bloc, is a term used predominantly in the United States of America to describe a spectrum of right-wing Christian political and social movements and organizations characterized by their strong support of conservative social...
on the issue of
euthanasiaEuthanasia refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. Many different forms of euthanasia can be distinguished, including animal euthanasia and human euthanasia, and within the latter, voluntary and involuntary euthanasia...
for
Terri SchiavoThe Terri Schiavo case was a successful seven-year long legal effort by Michael Schiavo to have his wife, Terri Schiavo — diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state for several years — disconnected from life support...
.
Culture of liberty
In 2005,
NARAL Pro-Choice AmericaNARAL Pro-Choice America is a pro-choice organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose restrictions on abortion and expand access to abortion...
responded to the "culture of life" arguments with its own "culture of freedom" campaign that championed abortion rights on the basis of personal liberty. Bioethicist Jacob Appel has taken this argument one step further, advancing a comprehensive "Culture of Liberty" that embraces "the acceptance of abortion-on-demand, physician-assisted suicide, gay marriage and diversity in sexual practices" In rejecting a "culture of life," which he compares to the modern myths of The Inquisition and The Crusades, Appel wrote, "In matters as intimate as reproduction and death, history favors freedom over the power of church and state."
External links
- White House statement on Terri Schiavo "It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected..."
- USCCB - The United States Council of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life site including many articles on the Catholic Church's varied aspects on the Culture of Life.
- The Culture of Life Foundation & Institute
- Schiavo and Republicanism: A Battle for the Soul of Conservatism by Andrew Sullivan
Andrew Michael Sullivan is a British blogger, author, and political commentator.Sullivan is a speaker at universities, colleges, and civic organizations in the United States, and a guest on national news and political commentary television shows in the United States and Europe...
- A Culture of Liberty by Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
- Bush Hails Progress Towards "Culture of Life" "President Bush told thousands of antiabortion marchers yesterday that his administration is making progress toward fostering a "culture of life" by enacting measures that limit abortion and stem cell research while expanding the legal definition of life."
- 2004 GOP Platform pg.84