SIR – I’m fairly sure George Cowley is trolling with this, but I’ll bite.
He writes (Worcester News, September 20) that he tries to “obey the 10 commandments”, saying of the sixth Biblical commandment “Thou shalt not kill” that “there is no ambiguity about that”.
But earlier (Worcester News, September 18) he wrote on the topic of assisted suicide that “if my life becomes unbearable in the future, I would like my GP, with my permission, to put me to sleep permanently”.
Mr Cowley’s implied support for reform on assisted suicide aligns him with the majority public opinion on this sensitive topic.
I certainly agree. Those unable to end their own life in extreme circumstances who, like Tony Nicklinson, describe their life as “unbearable” should be able to ask others with all due safeguards to help end their suffering.
But this clearly shows that there is some ambiguity in the imperative not to kill.
This puts Mr Cowley at odds with the formal leadership of his religion (though not perhaps most self-described Christians in the UK).
Mr Cowley seemingly does recognise that real morality is a more delicate and complex domain than is implied by the Bible.
BOB CHURCHILL
Bishampton
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