Scythe & Natural Death

Summary

The video script explores the concept of human dignity from a Catholic perspective, contrasting it with the dystopian world depicted in the book 'Scythe.' It emphasizes that every human life is sacred and made in the image of God, a belief that is non-negotiable in Catholic teaching. The discussion delves into the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, rejecting practices like abortion and euthanasia. It also touches on the importance of human freedom as a gift from God, the challenges of a culture of death, and the responsibility to promote a culture of life, including the treatment of the elderly and the homeless. The script concludes with reflections on the Catholic stance against the death penalty, even for the guilty, as their inherent dignity remains inviolable.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The discussion centers on respecting human dignity from a Catholic perspective, using the book 'Scythe' as a backdrop to explore these themes.
• 🌐 The book 'Scythe' presents a dystopian world that has abandoned the concept of God, challenging the Catholic understanding of human existence and dignity.
• 🖼️ The script uses the metaphor of a double image to illustrate the loss of humanity and how it contrasts with the Catholic belief in the inherent dignity of every person.
• 🚫 Catholic teaching is firm on the sanctity of life, opposing practices like abortion and euthanasia, as they believe in the image and likeness of God in every individual.
• 📚 The concept of 'Scythe' challenges the participants to think beyond Catholic teachings, although the Church's stance on the dignity of life remains unyielding.
• 🤔 The script encourages reflection on the meaning of life and death, and how these concepts are perceived differently in a culture of death versus a culture of life.
• 🌱 The idea of human freedom is discussed, emphasizing that while humans have some control over their lives, they are ultimately a gift from God and not solely self-created.
• 🏥 The script touches on the Catholic stance against euthanasia, suggesting that suffering can lead to growth and that life's value is not solely determined by its quality.
• 🏡 The importance of caring for the vulnerable, such as the homeless, is highlighted as a reflection of upholding human dignity and the value of life.
• ✝️ The script concludes by emphasizing that even those who have committed heinous acts retain their dignity because their life is a gift from God, and it's not for humans to take away.

Q & A

What is the main theme discussed in the video script?

The main theme discussed in the video script is respecting human dignity from a Catholic perspective, particularly in relation to the book 'Scythe' and its portrayal of a world without God.

How does the concept of a 'Godless narrative' relate to the discussion on human dignity?

In the script, a 'Godless narrative' is mentioned as a world view that has jettisoned basic Catholic understandings of existence. This narrative is contrasted with the Catholic view that every human is made in the image and likeness of God, which inherently grants them dignity.

What is the significance of the double image mentioned in the script?

The double image signifies the duality of human existence, where one side represents a human face with humanity, and the other side represents a lost or absent humanity. It is used to illustrate the importance of recognizing and preserving human dignity.

How does the script connect the concept of 'image and likeness' to the characters in 'Scythe'?

The script suggests that the concept of 'image and likeness' is a strong binding force for characters in 'Scythe', particularly in how they relate to each other and protect their own humanity, despite the dystopian setting.

What is the Catholic stance on abortion as discussed in the script?

The Catholic stance on abortion, as mentioned in the script, is that it is vehemently opposed because every life is considered a gift from God, and thus, every situation of life is to be protected.

How does the script address the concept of euthanasia from a Catholic perspective?

The script discusses euthanasia as a rejection of the gift of life from God. It emphasizes that even in suffering, the Catholic Church believes in the sanctity of life and the role of palliative care, rather than choosing death.

What does the script say about the value of human life in the context of the death penalty?

The script asserts that even the guilty do not lose their human dignity, and the Catholic Church is against the death penalty because only God, as the Giver of life, has the authority to determine the end of life.

How does the script relate the concept of human freedom to the Catholic understanding of life?

The script suggests that human freedom is a gift from God, and while individuals have some control over their lives, they did not create themselves. This understanding is used to argue against absolute control over life and death decisions.

What is the script's view on the treatment of the elderly and those with dementia?

The script views the treatment of the elderly and those with dementia as a reflection of a culture of life, where their value and worth are recognized and cared for, despite any perceived lack of utility.

How does the script connect the idea of suicide to the broader discussion on human dignity?

The script connects suicide to the discussion on human dignity by arguing that it is not an act of freedom but often a result of mental illness. It emphasizes the importance of intervention and support, reflecting the Catholic view on the sanctity of life.

What is the script's final takeaway regarding the Catholic perspective on life issues?

The script concludes that the Catholic perspective on life issues is rooted in the belief that life is a gift from God, and thus, every aspect of life, from womb to tomb, should be respected and protected.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Exploring Human Dignity and Catholic Perspective

The speaker begins by setting the stage for a discussion on human dignity from a Catholic perspective. They introduce the concept using a visual metaphor of a double image, highlighting the loss of humanity in certain contexts. The talk emphasizes the importance of God in understanding human dignity, contrasting a Godless narrative with the Catholic belief that every human is made in the image and likeness of God. The speaker also addresses the challenges posed by the book 'Scythe,' which explores a world without God and the implications for human dignity. The conversation touches on the Catholic Church's unwavering stance on the sanctity of life and the influence of the book's themes on the understanding of human dignity.

05:00

🌐 The Culture of Death and Human Freedom

This section delves into the concept of a 'culture of death,' where the sanctity of life is not respected, contrasting it with the Catholic view that life is a gift from God. The speaker discusses various life issues, including abortion and euthanasia, and the Church's stance against them. The talk also addresses the idea of human freedom, suggesting that while individuals have some control over their lives, they are not the sole authors of their existence. The narrative in 'Scythe' is used to illustrate the challenges of living in a world where the concept of God and the sanctity of life are rejected, leading to a distorted understanding of human freedom and the meaning of life.

10:02

🛡️ Promoting a Culture of Life

The speaker emphasizes the Catholic Church's commitment to promoting a culture of life, which respects human dignity from conception to natural death. They discuss the implications of this stance on various life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, and the treatment of the elderly and homeless. The talk also touches on the concept of suicide and the Church's evolving understanding of mental health, recognizing the complexity of these issues. The speaker argues for a compassionate approach to those struggling with mental health challenges and the importance of intervention and support. The discussion concludes with a reflection on the Church's opposition to the death penalty, asserting that even those who have committed heinous crimes retain their inherent dignity as human beings.

15:03

💡 The Intersection of Faith and Contemporary Issues

In this part of the script, the speaker reflects on the intersection of Catholic teachings and contemporary societal issues. They discuss the Church's historical stance on suicide and how it has evolved to acknowledge the role of mental health. The speaker also addresses the Church's opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing that even the guilty maintain their human dignity because their life is a gift from God. The talk concludes with a call for a deeper understanding of Catholic teachings and their relevance to current debates on life issues. The speaker encourages further discussion and questions, highlighting the importance of engaging with these complex topics from a faith perspective.

20:03

📝 Conclusion and Assignment Reminder

The speaker concludes the presentation by summarizing the key points discussed and reminding the audience of an upcoming assignment related to the topic. They reiterate the importance of understanding and reflecting on the Catholic perspective on human dignity and life issues. The speaker also provides information about a math assignment, indicating that the reflection on the presentation is part of the coursework. The section ends with an open invitation for questions and further engagement with the material presented.

Keywords

💡Human Dignity

Human dignity refers to the inherent worth and value of every person, simply because they are human. In the context of the video, it is discussed from a Catholic perspective, emphasizing that every human is made in the image and likeness of God, which is why their dignity must be respected and protected in all aspects of life. The video uses the concept to critique a dystopian world presented in the book 'Scythe' where human dignity is compromised.

💡Catholic Perspective

The Catholic perspective is a worldview shaped by the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church. In the video, this perspective is used to analyze and critique the themes presented in the book 'Scythe,' particularly in relation to the sanctity of human life and the concept of human dignity. The video emphasizes that Catholic teaching is unwavering in its stance on the protection of life from conception to natural death.

💡Scythe

Scythe refers to the book by Neal Shusterman, which is set in a dystopian future where death has been eradicated and 'Scythes' are the only ones allowed to kill. The video uses this narrative to explore themes of human dignity, the meaning of life, and the consequences of a society that has lost its understanding of God and the sanctity of life.

💡Image and Likeness

The term 'image and likeness' comes from the biblical creation narrative, suggesting that humans are created in the image of God, which is why they possess inherent dignity. In the video, this concept is used to argue against the book 'Scythe's' portrayal of a world where humanity's connection to a divine creator is severed, leading to a loss of understanding of human dignity.

💡Culture of Death

A culture of death is a societal mindset that devalues human life, often leading to acceptance of practices like abortion and euthanasia. The video contrasts this with a culture of life, which is a core Catholic value. The book 'Scythe' is analyzed as a representation of a culture of death, where death is controlled and administered by a select few, highlighting the dangers of such a perspective.

💡Godless Narrative

A godless narrative is a story or worldview that does not include or acknowledge the existence of a divine being. The video discusses how the book 'Scythe' presents a godless narrative, which the speaker argues leads to a loss of understanding of the meaning and value of human life, as well as the erosion of human dignity.

💡Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. The video discusses the Catholic Church's opposition to euthanasia, viewing it as a violation of the sanctity of life. It is presented as a complex issue within the book 'Scythe,' where characters grapple with the morality of ending life.

💡Abortion

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. The video emphasizes the Catholic Church's pro-life stance, which views abortion as a violation of the right to life because life is considered a gift from God. The discussion of abortion in the video is used to highlight the church's commitment to protecting life from conception.

💡Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. The video discusses the Catholic Church's view on suicide, which sees it as a tragic act that is not an exercise of human freedom but rather a result of despair or mental illness. The video also touches on the church's efforts to support those struggling with suicidal thoughts.

💡Death Penalty

The death penalty is the practice of executing a person as a punishment for a crime. The video explains the Catholic Church's opposition to the death penalty, arguing that even those who have committed heinous crimes retain their human dignity because they are made in the image of God. The church advocates for the value of life and the role of rehabilitation over retribution.

Highlights

The discussion focuses on respecting human dignity from a Catholic perspective.

The double image analogy is used to illustrate the loss of humanity in a godless narrative.

Catholic teaching emphasizes that human dignity is non-negotiable, as every human is made in the image and likeness of God.

The book 'Scythe' challenges Catholic teachings by presenting a world without God and questioning the meaning of life.

The concept of 'image and likeness' is explored as a binding force for characters in 'Scythe'.

The necessity of life having meaning through the possibility of losing it is a theme in 'Scythe'.

Threats to human dignity are discussed, including abortion and euthanasia, which the Catholic Church opposes.

The importance of promoting a culture of life from womb to tomb is emphasized.

The concept of human freedom is examined, with the understanding that humans do not have total control over their existence.

The character Rowan's struggle with the meaning of life and his attempts at suicide are analyzed.

The culture of death is contrasted with the Catholic culture of life, which values every stage of human life.

The church's stance on euthanasia is explained, rejecting the idea of choosing the time of death.

The importance of addressing homelessness as a life issue and the role of the Catholic Church in providing aid are discussed.

The church's evolving understanding of mental illness and suicide is highlighted.

The Catholic Church's opposition to the death penalty is explained, even for those who have committed heinous crimes.

The presentation concludes with a call to promote life at all stages and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Transcripts

just have a seat anywhere but I you

ready you ready to go y are you already

gone yeah okay so welcome we are going

to talk about respecting human

dignity specifically the Catholic

perspective on that but we kind of

talked about this before the taping

began if you look at this you see a

Double Image here I'm sure a lot of you

all have seen this you see that this has

a face but you also see that this has a

face here if you didn't see that there

there it is and notice this is a human

face is it is it not do you see the

human face and then is this an absent

human face is this almost like a ghost

what what is this this is a reverse

image and if you look at this human face

over here this human face it really

isn't very particular either it's it's

kind of lost its humanity and then the

other side

definitely has lost this Humanity so the

first thing we need to recognize in a

scythe world is that they have

completely jettison basic Catholic

understandings of existence so it is a

Godless narrative and that's what's

making the possibility of how do we

carve out meaning in a world without God

thankfully that's not our view because

that's not the correct view and Mr MRA

is present but he will say this some

sometimes students parents will react to

some of these summer readings and say

those don't really reflect Catholic

values we know that and he said this and

it's kind of stuck for years he said

we're not the Catholic Amish we Engage

The World We engage questions and some

of the threats to human dignity are

still very much threats to human dignity

in the world we are occupying where

belief in God is still very much the

normative understanding that out there

so human dignity is not a negotiable

Concept in Catholic understanding every

human is made in the image and likeness

of God and because God exists the

natural flow of that allows for the

understanding of that dignity to be

protected in all aspects of life and

we'll get into that in a little bit

Scythe really pushes that question

beyond the boundaries though that are

already set in Catholic teaching so

Catholic teaching is not going to budge

on

that that's wonderful that's one of the

strongest things we do is say every life

matters but scy says that world doesn't

exist anymore that's completely gone now

you have zero real understanding of God

in the book except that vague sort of

monastic stuff what's that's going on

with the tonist and that understanding

could have been assession I don't know

if anybody ever picked up on that but

the tonist it's kind of a play on the

toist and toist are people who believe

in Thomas aquinus is teaching and really

follow that so he's got a lot of that

interplay and he has not given up the

author Shusterman has not given up this

idea of image and likeness anybody got

an idea of where I see the image and

likeness being a real strong binding

Force for characters in the

book nobody has any

guesses Miss bars might she's sitting

there processing in the back I was

thinking about

sura and but I was also thinking about

Fair Day MH okay he sees himself in them

as as kids is that what and proteges I'm

thinking more biological image and like

this is that there's my

hint who is going to be blackmailed

because of his secret and his desire to

protect his image and

likeness and there's so many characters

I had to look up his name too

xenocrates so the xenocrates however you

say it uh he has the illegitimate

daughter

Esme and she they figured out that

that's his daughter and he wants to

protect her even at all he wants to

protect himself too you've got both of

those themes but you have this

understanding of that there is a

connection that still has very strong

meaning because the sites do really have

the ability to inject meaning into life

when she can't be resuscitated if she's

taken because of their ability to

install death so one of the things that

he's kind of playing on is

how do you derive meaning it has to come

from the other side or the reverse image

so in order for life to have meaning you

have to be able to lose it and I think

that's what sort of projects his whole

understanding okay so that that's really

kind of the connections with the book

that I was going for but we do want to

make sure we talk about threats to human

dignity we're just going to kind of go

through this fairly quickly make sure

any of these come up because when we

talk about these people have different

views on these life issues as they go

and why the church is resounded to these

life issues we will sometimes say that

the church supports life from womb to

tomb so what aspect of human life is not

to be respected in the any of

it all human

life what about human life that's not so

smart we still need to protect that

right yes because it has that human okay

next slide so when we think about that

we

are in a culture John Paul the second is

going to say that it's a culture of

death that we are a culture that doesn't

always do that or is it built up to that

Scythe has completely become a culture

of death and the whole thing is about

it's the people who are even doing the

power broking are the death Brokers and

that

understanding of how that's

working

is I me this is like an apocalyptic

almost Vision already happened but we

live in a culture where this is still

being fought out and the Catholic

position is very clear Catholics will

not accept abortion they'll not accept

euthanasia because natural

death is the only real understood way

that one can go and that is related to

that understanding that God

is the Arbiter of all of this existence

Point next

slide when we're talking about this this

also moves into this and this is another

play that's in the book this idea of

human freedom I have total control of my

life now is that true to a degree to a

degree I have some control but anybody

in this room create himself or

herself you didn't have control over

over that you are in a

contributor that's not a word but you

know what I'm saying a contributed

existence point that someone else gave

you the means through which now parents

will also say this kid of mine like

where did this come from this is not me

you have also become a actor on your own

accord which showcases more than just

your DNA so one of the things that I

think Scythe becomes very interesting in

as it rejects it is this mystery of the

human person and this notion of the

value that comes from who the human

person is and that

that's that's one of the great questions

that we're trying to answer the meaning

of this participation okay next

slide uh when we look at this this

distorted view

of

control we have a sense then that we can

make some choices about our our El and

about others that are not going to

necessarily be true that we are going to

be able to do

things that are not going to be

allowable and we need to recognize that

human freedom is a gift from The Giver

who gave all of that existence there are

couples who try to have children myself

being one of them and they we

biologically it wasn't

happening did the kids come into

existence yes but did they come into

existence way later than my wife and I

wanted them to also yes because do I

have total control no but did they show

up yes but I I don't have an absolute

right to kids in that sense because the

understanding of that they are gift

can't ever be forgotten and that

understanding of life that you have the

character and I I I'm bad with the names

and there are so many of them but the

opposite of Citra what's his name Rowan

is that his name Rowan he wants to kill

himself and he like makes a game of

trying to kill himself because he's

already intuited what's the point of any

of this if this is just but we would

would say the point what's the point of

life for

Catholics to become the saint yeah well

and that means to love right so we can

say it in a variety of ways but love

love is what's supposed to do that and

love is both a binding force and a

freeing force and we could go back to

the very first picture that we saw of

the reverse image okay keep going now

this culture of death then means we

often times take the easiest way out the

easiest way out is lot a lot of times

not the best choice okay it is often

times one of those things where I'm just

sort of you know nominally engaged next

slide we are called to promote a culture

of life and this is womb to tomb now

we've got built-in partner discussions

you can do these on your own because

let's let's all move along right

everybody's ready to go I figured but

when we're thinking about this is

abortion a life issue yes but also

quality of life factors into that

understanding of Life issue how are

people supposed to be treated in life

itself so womb to tomb is not womb and

tomb womb to to life issues affect how

Grandma and Grandpa are existing too

Grandma and Grandpa aren't useful

anymore get rid of them no that's not

right even if they have Dementia or

something like that they still have

value and Worth right next slide

the first issue is roie Wade roie Wade

was passed in 1973 which is the access

to abortion that you Pro I mean we're

not going to spend a bunch of time on

this because this one is kind of Beat to

Death you've heard this before but the

church is vehemently prolife the church

is vehemently understanding that every

situation of life is to be be protected

because what did I say about life life

is a gift not a right okay and that

understanding of it's a gift first moves

it into a right because who gave the

gift God so humans can't take away the

right if it's god-given so the right is

not what the state has when we think of

Rights we think of this is what's gifted

To Us by the state no we're gifted the

right to life by being made in the image

and likeness of God now if God is

removed from the equation like in

sight it's all up for grabs and that's

what you see okay and they're trying to

carve out meaning in a world where the

meaning has been evacuated thank

goodness we don't have that problem we

have a centering point which is the

faith next slide we're moving into

euthanasia as the so womb to tomb

abortion is the womb issue tomb issue is

the right to die with dignity but not

the right to die of I'm going to choose

when I go because now we're moving into

suicide assisted suicide if this is a

gift and I say I don't want the gift I'm

also rejecting The Giver who gave me the

gift and I'm saying that the experience

that lays before me well what if it's

suffering any of you all ever suffered

and come out the other side and it was

better and you had a different view as a

result of if you go to the gym don't

tell me you don't

suffer because you think that go going

through that process has an endgame of

benefit and we don't know what we're

dealing with in terms of these things

but we trust The Giver that he

knows and in a culture of death we're

making the decision in a culture of life

we say this is part of the whole process

now the church is not saying suffer

suffer suffer paliative care making sure

that everybody has pain pills you're not

going to do extraordinary me means but

the understanding that there's something

bigger going on here than just my

choosing this or that is part of this

issue all right next

slide we have this homeless man here

again this is an offense against life

because he shouldn't have to live at

this connection point with Humanity

basic needs your soup kitchens in town

who largely puts those on Catholic

Church other churches because they look

upon people who are struggling and say

that's no way to live and you're

not outside of our human connection

we're going to feed you clothe you house

you as best we can now obviously people

push against that and it's a complicated

issue but the understanding of that

that's our responsibility as their

connection Point that's part of this

understanding of the human human dignity

of life and again that's that issue of

suicide we mental illness is real the

church has relaxed their understanding

of that historically you may even say

that was kind of not so great well we

come around just like scyth is talking

about we come around to advances and we

understand how Mental Health Works we

understand that suicide is probably not

an act of freedom on the part of the

person who is uh successfully doing that

but we recognize that that's an enormous

problem and we we are not encouraging it

you're you're not going to hear and

because nothing I I love those little

tattoos that are the um

semicolon it there is life after the

semicolon you all know what I'm talking

about so there people will get a

semicolon tattooed on their body as a

memory if they have you know it it it

reminds them that where I am in this

part of the

sentence a

semicolon means that there part after

that sentence that connects both of them

together and that helps sometimes and

and and works sometimes to get people

through those tough times which we all

know exist all right we're keeping going

and we're moving toward the end of the

presentation but this understanding of

suicide we intervene we want to we have

a counselor here today who can talk to

you about those kinds of things Trinity

puts those in place as a Catholic School

keep going and then the last one is the

death penalty okay

uh sister Helen pran is a big proponent

Catholic nun of anti-death penalty

legislation and activism and I've seen

her a couple of times and she said and

every time that I hear it it reminds me

of that gift portion she

said even the guilty don't lose their

dignity and why don't they lose their

dignity because we didn't give it to

them

we can't take it away because even

though they acted outside of the

parameters that we've talked about about

a culture of life even if they've done

dastardly

things their gift is from the

Creator and we don't have the agency or

authority to take that gift because we

didn't give it to

them and that includes their

parents because I told you about our to

have

children as much as my children are my

biological

Offspring they're also their own

person and that's part of what the

Catholic Church wants you to recognize

that there's connection and value and

all of that rest in the life that you've

received from The Giver who are both

your parents and God because you have a

body that certainly is from your parents

but you have a soul that's from

God and that contact Point keeps us

together so even the people who've done

the most awful things the church is very

much or they need to be re you know

brought in and and and rehabilitated as

best they can be as as it goes but it's

not your job to determine their end of

life life that's for God Alone to do so

that's basically the end of the Catholic

understandings of the different life

events if you all have questions I'll be

happy to answer them I thought Scythe

was a pretty good book uh I enjoyed it

uh and and Mr Mar's here we he asked me

about he didn't read it and he said the

premise seems awful anti-catholic I said

well there's not a shred of Catholicism

in terms of that but it does play with

the ideas of Catholicism and it does ask

the big questions of what saym is asking

it through its sort of dystopian

understanding of the future and notice

the Thunderhead is is replacing God in

the absence of God something will

replace

God all right any questions anybody hand

didn't I do the best you've ever seen

that's

what excellent job you all list if you

have questions I'll be happy to try and

take some but it's pretty

straightforward and and and we just need

to make sure we re iterate the Catholic

Viewpoint and and which is the right

Viewpoint yes can I also

say this is the math assignment if you

all don't know what it is this is the

reflection part so you've done half of

the job the other half is to complete

this and make sure you turn it into your

math does everybody understand that if

it if you this should be posted in your

um

under your math class but if it's if you

want a hard copy you can come get one on

your way out

okay and that's it