Theological Reflections on Pain

Abstract

It is commonly believed that the Christian religion is opposed to the use of strong analgesics because suffering is good and prepares the way for us to enter Heaven. It this really true? Is Christianity opposed to the use of Heroin to alleviate the pain of the terminally ill? A careful reading of Scripture indicates that there is a great deal of ambivalence in attempting to answer these questions. The Book of Job in the Old Testament deals in part with the problem of pain. There, as well as in the New Testament, there are readings which seem to suggest that pain should be endured. However, the conclusion of this paper is that the legalization of Heroin is not contrary to religious beliefs and does not violate the tenets of Roman Catholicism.