“Donum vitae” A theological-ethical interpretation of life as gift and three exemplifications

Martin M. Lintner

Wyższa Szkołe Filozoficzno-Teologiczna w Brixen (Bressanone), Poudniowy Tyrol (Wochy)

Abstract

The concept of life as a gift is considered one of the basic theological categories of Christian interpretation of the man. The given paper, starting from the specific life experiences of donating and basing on the philosophy of a gift, particularly enriched by Emanuel Levinass thought, is to work out elementary theological expression of understanding life as a gift and check their theological-ethical implications. Interpreting life as a gift means adopting it as an expression of the original yes that God spoke to me over my life and answering to Gods yes as to prove that I accept my life as a gift fully devoting myself. Accepting life as a gift in love devotion is the particular imitation of Christ. On the base of three current issues unwanted childlessness, adopting a disabled child, as well as organ donation - the results are realized and bioethical meaning of understanding life as a gift is shown.

Keywords:

Life as gift, philosophy of gift, theology of gift, witness, childless not by choice, disabled child, organ donation