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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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The Right to Die Debate and God’s Dog by Diego Marani (translated by Judith Landry)

14/7/2014

30 Comments

 
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I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that to blog about religion is a sure-fire way of losing half your followers. But what the hell! Geoff LePard has done it and seems to have survived. Paula Reed Nancarrow does it too. And, while I shy away from too much personal disclosure, I did touch on my Catholic childhood in my first bite-sized memoir.

How the belief in the Divine shapes people’s lives can make for engrossing fiction. In a later post, I hope to review Carys Bray’s debut novel, A Song for Issy Bradley about the impact on a Mormon family of the death of a child. My short stories, The Invention of Harmony, What Time It Sunset? and Four Hail Marys (unfortunately the link is no longer working for this one, unless you’d like to read it in Hungarian), all touch on religion to a greater or lesser degree. But none of these are the main reason I’m daring to post about religion today.

Voluntary euthanasia is a highly emotive topic which pits those concerned with the relief of end-of-life suffering against those who fear the vulnerable might be coerced into a premature death. It’s one type of compassion versus another; a painful debate but, in my opinion, an important one given that, with medical advances over the last century, many of us risk facing a long drawn-out death. I know where I stand, but I have sympathy for those who take a different position. What I find difficult to tolerate is when this important debate is hijacked by religion, as if the faithful are assumed to lead more moral lives than the faithless, as with the recent attempt by The Church Of England to prevent the debate on assisted suicide in the House of Lords later this week. (Apologies to readers outside the UK for the parochialism here.)

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For a fictional take on why that matters, God’s Dog by Diego Marani and translated by Judith Landry isn’t a bad place to start. In a futuristic theocratic state ruled by the Vatican, Domingo Salazar is a Dominican monk cum secret agent charged with rooting out a cell of dissidents who have infiltrated the hospitals to help people to die. Not so dreadful, some might think? But this is a society in which doctors practice prayer in preference to medicine and pain relief is withheld from the dying in order that they might “bear witness” to Christ’s suffering on the cross.

I confess that I appreciated the idea of this novel more than its actuality, there being an overemphasis of telling in the narration with too great a psychic distance from the main character for my liking. Yet it’s a chilling reminder of what can happen when religion takes precedence over reason. Depressingly, in some pockets of the world, some elements of this dystopia, such as preventing access to abortion and AIDS vaccines, along with the suppression of teaching on Darwinism, already exist.

Thanks to Eric Lane of Dedalus Books for my review copy of God’s Dog.

What’s your take on the place of religion in blogs and novels? And where do you stand on the assisted dying debate?

And, if it feels like this is all getting too heavy, my next post will be on writing technique. (Not sure if that's lighter or not?)


Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
30 Comments
Charli Mills
14/7/2014 06:31:47 am

If we remove religion from discussion, whether in blogs or in novels, we risk losing objectivity and even compassion. By its very nature, religion is public. Some groups make it more so than others. When we try to hide behind religion because a topic unsettles us, we are not acknowledging the implications of the topic. Yet, if we bash religion, we are not acknowledging the need for a spiritual life. I think we need to set aside religion to hold certain debates. I think anyone who is faithful can be a part of the debate without making it a doctrinal issue.

That said, and it is 5 a.m. in Idaho and my mind is groggy yet, one of my favorite lines (from a western series that featured the character of Wild Bill Hickok in his last, miserable days) is when he says to his friend, "Would you just let me go to hell in my own way." In this version of Hickok's death, the line sets up that he intentionally agitates his future killer because he is ready to die. You could say, when his friend backed off, he assisted Hickok in meeting his end.

Of course the modern debate is less subtle. I had my own "cancer scare" this year and quite frankly I think the scare part drives the broken health "care" system in America (another hot topic one "shouldn't" debate in blogs or novels). Once duly saddled with bills I can't afford, but decalared "not cancer" my doctor insisted that I get a mammogram. I refused. She offered a free coupon put out by some generous organization. I asked if this generous organization would pay for my treatment if I did have breast cancer and of course the answer was no. Like Hickok, I'll choose how I die. Although I won't agitate someone with a gun in a poker game. But I will refuse certain treatments based on my own personal beliefs in dignity, practicality and even faith.

The danger of discussing this is pissing off someone else. I think we need to set boundaries not on the topic, but in respecting that we may disagree today, but tomorrow we'll discuss writing process.

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Annecdotist
14/7/2014 11:42:09 am

Thank you, Charli, you're impressively articulate for 5 in the morning. No wonder you get so much done!
The US "healthcare" system is terrifying, but I'm sure ours will be joining you down that track before too long. Over here, we are offered mammograms every three years or so after the age of 50 and, of course, whatever follow-up treatments might be needed. Some opt out because of the risk of false positives, others welcome the reassurance. Did you read Lionel Shriver's novel So Much for That which is about what happens to someone with cancer when they no longer have insurance.
A lovely summing up, let's take each post as it comes and agree or disagree but start afresh next time. What would life be if we didn't have different perspectives?

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Charli Mills
14/7/2014 01:44:46 pm

That's dreadful to think the "healthcare" here would be a model for anyone elsewhere. But the insurance companies rake in the wealth! Just looked up Shriver's novel, read the synopsis and placed it on my Amazon wishlist. And life would be stale without different spices from different perspectives.

Annecdotist
15/7/2014 01:34:15 am

Where you lead, our anti-socialist governments will follow!

geoff link
14/7/2014 03:53:31 pm

Ah religion. Like in Monty Python's Big Blue Book 'the difficult one' - well actually it wasn't religion but he point ins the same, a topic that must not bear its name. Charli does make a very fine, articulate point which is entirely correct. We must be able to debate, to acknowledge different positions and not allow those of faith or of no faith to feel excluded. The current position of the Anglican Church on this debate rather sums up the confusion it find in its ranks over women bishops, gay marriage and the potential for schism. On one side Carey and, today, Tutu come out n favour while Welby is dead against. If you have read his sword of Damocles article in the papers then do; he makes some neat points but loses me when he accuses his opponents of using arguments likely to lead to their failing a GCSE RE exam. The limited and heavily circumscribed entitlement tat the draft legislation proposes doesn't seem to lots of people to be difficult to accept, unless you follow a thin end of the wedge mentality. And one is naturally suspicious of our political masters who are famous for taking an inch and soon squeezing out a mile (one of my many gripes with Blair's regime was the way they eroded habeas corpus on the grounds that they had loads of evidence of evil but couldn't show it to a court - yeah, like they filled in their expense honestly so we should just trust them). Sorry, off on one. It is a difficult decision for a lot of people who genuinely worry about the way the right will be interpreted and those who do have a view that life is sacred and we should never interfere with it, but I look at those few cases where we see real harm done by keeping people alive and I know on which side of the line I stand. The issue of someone wanting to go when terminally ill is black and white. The idea that someone else, who is also terminally ill but is forced to sign whatever form is terrifying but it doesn't happen else where either at all or hardly at all. So lets move on. This deserves to be part of the law of this country. And if anyone want to argue against it, then of course do so, but please, declare your hand - admit your opposition stems from your sincerely held views rather than, pace Welby, pretending you have some logical reason to oppose based on a clunky definition of what compassion means. It reads badly and does the Church no favours in the eyes of those who want to see its role in British society diminished.

Reply
Annecdotist
15/7/2014 05:59:14 am

Wow, Geoff, I'm bowled over by your erudite and detailed comment – enough for a blog post in itself. Not much I can disagree with here, but startled that Welby should be so crass as to count proficiency in RE as a criteria for entering into the debate. I'm afraid I've just skimmed the reports on this as, as far as I'm concerned, the 6 months thing isn't nearly enough. What about the people facing years of mental and physical torment? But I'm interested to see how things will turn out on Friday.

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Gargi link
15/7/2014 01:40:39 am

Well, as Karl Marx said – Religion is the opium of the masses. And yes, this is all too heavy for me. A post on writing will surely be light in comparison!

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Annecdotist
15/7/2014 06:01:06 am

Thanks, Gargi, Marx seems to have been a pretty sensible chap, it's just the implementation of his ideas that have proved difficult. Sorry about the heaviness but thanks for sharing. Hope to see you back on Thursday!

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Derbhile Dromey link
15/7/2014 01:47:11 am

Greetings, fellow survivor of writing about religion (though in my case, it was just articles and a blog). Religion is a rich seam for writers to mine. It breeds conflict, which is the essence of story. A fictional account in particular can help you gain an insight into what it's really like to practise that religion. Disobedience by Naomi Alderman was a particularly good example of that.

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Annecdotist
15/7/2014 06:07:02 am

Thanks, Derbhile, with my Catholic childhood the survivor narrative feels totally appropriate. Don't know who said it but there's an idea that we tend to write from our formative years, so how can we avoid religion? I hadn't really thought about it firing fiction because of that essential conflict – makes it seem more reassuring!
I enjoyed Disobedience. There's also a more recent novel, The Liars Gospel which I wrote about here
http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdotal/ideas-that-blow-your-mind

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Lisa Reiter link
15/7/2014 12:54:56 pm

Ah the 'sticky one'. I totally agree with this fantastic discussion. It's not 5am for me but my brain has all but dried up for the day. However, in answer to your question Anne - I'm 'for' euthanasia - having born witness to a couple of particularly disturbing deaths, I cannot see how humanity can argue against it in the right situations. I think the debate is a necessary part of ensuring power remains with those who are doing the dying as any loopholes allowing abuse are as equally disturbing as a distressing death.
As for the religion angle - I'm a closet atheist. I don't find I'm often afforded equality of respect with my views so tend to keep them to myself and would be afraid to blog about them!

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Annecdotist
16/7/2014 12:25:07 pm

Thanks, Lisa, I like your term "doing the dying".
I do feel somewhat a closet atheist at my choir. It is open to all but we rehearse in a church hall and many people feel comfortable singing publicly because they've done it all their lives at church. So some do make assumptions but everyone is very tolerant of difference. And I've kind of got used to singing God's praises because that's where my favourite choral music is located!

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Lisa Reiter link
17/7/2014 01:45:22 pm

Yes, 'doing the dying' not by accident as a lot of the discussion is about people in the 3rd person or almost as bad, patronisingly consulted as 'patients'. Sorry if I seem a bit cynical about that, I know there are many well-intended folk - However, I always sense the loss of power having a medial label of disease conveys and it irks me - as if your other senses or intelligence desert you as soon as you have a diagnosis. (As soon as I was proclaimed 'terminal' the doctors started ringing my husband instead of me.)

On the other point, I'm in total understanding about your choral preferences. There's so much fantastic music written in praise of Gods! I never had singing lessons as such but could hit the high descant notes for the honoured part of adding the highlights to Christmas Carols for the school church service and I loved it.
As Max sings we attend all sorts of services and concerts in chapel and do appreciate the beautiful setting and acoustics!

Annecdotist
18/7/2014 11:04:06 am

Thanks for popping back, Lisa, and nice to know you also love those godly songs – sounds like you didn't need singing lessons if you could hit the descant, it adds so much to the overall sound, doesn't it?
Yeah, healthcare is a pretty complex enterprise emotionally whichever side we find ourselves on – and when we see both it gets even more confusing – and good intentions aren't always enough to provide caring care. Psychoanalysts have been researching this since the late 1950s but, while things often do improve on the surface, the underlying pressures don't change. Basically, I think it's everyone trying to defend themselves against the terror evoked by the knowledge of impending death. Can make it especially hard to make rational decisions.

Kate Evans link
15/7/2014 01:20:58 pm

I know I want the option for 'assisted dying' and I believe it is possible to create a system which would allow this without putting other vulnerable people in danger. I am not convinced by arguments that say 'assisted dying' somehow cheapens our society's view of life. That doesn't wash while we maintain an arms industry which makes money from creating ever more sophisticated killing machines. I believe medical science has somehow galloped ahead without us having much of a chance to discuss the thorny issues of what we mean by a dignified life and a dignified death. As to religion, absolutely it should come into fiction and be part of a writer's repertoire. Surely nothing can be off-limits? Personally, I am exploring paganism in my series of crime novels. One problem with your blogs Anne is that they keep adding to my book wish-list. I'm not sure if I should thank you for that!

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Annecdotist
16/7/2014 12:28:02 pm

Thanks, Kate, you're absolutely right about the hypocrisy around this issue when there's so much killing of people who don't want to die in wars right across the world. Hadn't really thought of that. And paganism is a really interesting topic for your novels. Good luck!

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Diane link
15/7/2014 05:06:05 pm

In my opinion, if a blogger choses to express their views on a topic that can become quite heated (and religion tends to bring that out in some people), then the post, comments and responses to comments needs to be handled respectfully (as you have done, Anne). Where it gets messy is when people turn it into an “I’m-right-you’re-wrong”.

As for my views on assisted dying? Not too long ago, I went to a Death Café (where death, dying, assisted dying – the whole gamut – was discussed in small groups). Our table had this amazing, open discussion about dying with dignity. There were varying views, but each could articulate how they came to their viewpoint. No one got stuck in simplistic “black and white” thinking, so we were able to delve into the "grey" and have a fascinating (and enlightening) discussion.

Reply
Annecdotist
16/7/2014 12:29:48 pm

Thanks, Diane, I've read about those Death Cafés and sounds really mature way of approaching a very difficult subject. Good to hear from someone who's actually being there – and that it worked!

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Paula link
16/7/2014 01:44:25 pm

Heavens. [Oops, maybe I better not say that.] Thanks for linking to my post, Anne. I have to say your discussion is far more complicated than mine. I was dealing with theological differences, dogma and doctrine pure and simple - whether or not there's a hell, for example - and to some degree, the issue of hypocrisy. You are dealing with those aspects of religion that define what is or isn't moral and compassionate behavior. It would be perfectly possible in this debate for both parties to believe fervently in hell, but think only the other person was going there. That said, I am thinking about this topic a great deal as I watch my mother decline by slow degrees, knowing she watched her mother do the same, knowing the odds of avoiding this fate are not in my favor. One of the reason I write memoir these days is precisely that. And that's my cue to skip over to the other post and make a comment there. ;-)

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Annecdotist
17/7/2014 10:54:55 am

Thanks for joining in, Paula, and you make an interesting distinction. I suppose the religious would argue among themselves about whether assisted suicide is consistent with their teaching, perhaps each side finding different bits of Scripture to support their views.
Oh, it's very difficult if you are facing a hereditary illness – somehow I hadn't grasped that. I have a post coming on dementia in fiction, inspired by two novels published this year, but I'm also including Scar Tissue by Michael Ignatieff in which the narrator watches his mother deteriorating and then has to face the same condition in himself. Might be a bit too close to home for you?

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Lori Schafer link
16/7/2014 11:10:10 pm

Every day, people put their pets to sleep in order to put an end to their suffering. I don't understand why there's such reluctance to do the same thing when it comes to humans, particularly when they get to choose the when and how.

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Annecdotist
17/7/2014 10:39:12 am

Good point, Lori, thanks for joining in.

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Geoff link
18/7/2014 06:31:23 am

Great debate you started Anne though the secular nature of the debate may have scared off some of faith from airing their views which is a shame. I was about to add a similar point to Lori's save with the caveat that, from having a Vet (nearly) in the family it is clear a lot of animal euthanasia is for convenience or economics as much as altruism - just the point made against the right to an assisted suicide by its opponents. And on the subject of choral and church music even an arch evangelical atheist such as Richard Dawkins admits to a fondness fir singing hymns and carols because of their cultural and social connotations while ignoring he religious themes. When my mum died (she was a card carrying atheist from way back) we asked a humanist celebrant to conduct her funeral. We (my brother and I) had real difficulty persuading her to allow Jerusalem as one of her songs because it is a hymn even if for her it spoke WI much more strongly. I think now the BHA is more enlightened but all sides have their hang ups.

Annecdotist
18/7/2014 11:43:20 am

Good points well made, Geoff. Yes, the debate is a little skewed here and I hope I haven't scared people off. But I like to delude myself that we can be more sensible here on the blog than in the debate going on right now in the House of Lords.
Funny to think of the humanists being scared to include religious music when, of course, all you'd want is music to chime with your mother as a whole person.

Norah Colvin link
21/7/2014 05:38:54 am

What an amazing discussion, Anne, and a very important one. Its importance is obvious by the great comments it has brought forth. The issue of choosing death or having death choose you is an interesting one; but deciding just when to make the choice, either for self or another could be difficult for many reasons. Knowing when to hold them and when to fold them is not as easy in a life or death situation. My grandmother suffered a stroke at age 64 and spent 22 years in hospital in bed paralyzed on one side of her body and unable to speak, but always happy. She passed away over 30 years ago when euthanasia would not have been considered for her, and not by her religious family anyway. I don't know at which stage it may have been chosen for her, though when discussing the situation recently with a nursing friend she commented that if she (my grandmother) was unable to feed herself (Nan couldn't do anything for herself) then her life should not have been sustained. I would not have liked to be asked to make that decision. I don't know when would have been appropriate. While I don't really know as she was unable to speak, she was responsive in discussions and appeared to have all mental faculties. On the other hand, my sister who passed away at age 35 from breast cancer suffered enormously, both mentally and physically, for the last four years of her life. She lived in hope of better health and would not have chosen to end her life earlier. My Mum passed away earlier this year a week or two before her 91st birthday. She was lucid and reasonably self-sufficient, enjoying life to the end. She slipped away peacefully and pain-free. I share these stories only to say that I don't think the decision is easy in many cases. I certainly don't want my life prolonged by a machine if I am brain dead and there is no chance of recovery, or resuscitation when recovery would not be complete. Aargh!

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Annecdotist
21/7/2014 11:04:03 am

Thanks for sharing these perspectives, Norah. I think your friend's response to your grandmother's condition is quite strange: surely lots of people who aren't able to speak or to feed themselves can still have a valuable life. This just emphasises how it should be down to the individual. In Britain, much of the drive for this legislation comes from people who have been severely disabled and desperate to die, perhaps closest to your sister's experience. I don't think it's so much the degree of disability but the amount of physical and mental torment that can't be ameliorated.
Your point also reminds me of a very different case in my own family of someone dying of cancer but, in some ways, hanging on too long, ie extending his own suffering because of his sense of obligation to others. Even dying without assistance, some people need permission to let go.
A very complex area which I wouldn't have delved into on my blog had it not been for this novel, but I'm so grateful for the thoughtfulness and generosity of people's comments.

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Norah Colvin link
22/7/2014 09:45:03 pm

I think that permission to let go is important; as is the right to be let go when one's time has come. I don't see this post as out of sync with your others. You are very good at delving into human nature, and death is surely something that we are all working towards. I think we Westerners (or is that just me?) still have a long way to go in accepting death as a natural part of life.

Annecdotist
24/7/2014 11:28:57 am

Good points, Norah. I suppose there was a time not so long ago when we were more acquainted with death in a sense of coffins being brought home and families preparing the deceased for burial. The downside of better nutrition and health care is perhaps not seen it around us so much which can feed into the fantasy that it's an aberration rather than, like you say, part of life. Thanks for all your support in my attempts to address these deeper issues. The post on grief will surely be along soon!!!

Irene Waters link
22/7/2014 04:01:09 pm

A wonderful discussion Anne and I look forward to hearing what the outcome is of the debate in your parliament. We had a similar debate a number of years back when the Northern Territory passed laws allowing assisted suicide. People from the southern states flocked to the NT to be given the opportunity to have the right to make their own decisions. There were stringent rules including verification that the condition was terminal and you had to be a resident of NT. The Federal Govt of the time invoked their powers over territories and the law was withdrawn. I haven't kept up with what is happening but the other day an assisted suicide was reported where the person was not terminal but had a mental illness so I guess the danger is certainly there. I think we should all be well educated so that we can sign Advance Health Directives which make our position clear on what actions we would like carried out and in what circumstances. Brain death is a straightforward (though difficult) decision which in the hospital I worked at was made by the doctors. It is not something that the family should be asked whether they want to or not. A person in a vegetative state is a very different matter and to my mind everything that is required by healthy people should be offered to them such as food, and drink and all care required that they don't get side effects as a result of their immobility. I don't think that treatment that a normal healthy person doesn't require such as antibiotics should be given. An Advance Health Directive would circumvent difficult decisions that a family may be asked to take in these circumstances.
As far as religion goes - I love singing in church also and these days I find the tunes of the old hymns and carols very emotive as it brings my Father spirit back to me. (He was a minister so I grew up in church). I think a lot depends on the denomination. I grew up Presbyterian and every year we would travel to Sydney for the Assembly. Here the ministers discussed all things regarding church and social issues and after debate (at times heated) a vote would be taken to decide what the position of the church was going to be. Democracy at work. I don't know that churches such as the Roman Catholic Church has this kind of democracy. I think without the church in Australia we would be several decades in the dark ages regarding some social issues and I'm sure our refugee treatment would be even worse than the shame it already is.
These are just my opinions and I love to debate but it should never become personal. You've done a great job Anne in bringing it forward.

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Annecdotist
24/7/2014 11:37:03 am

Thank you, Irene, for these helpful observations. I think the distinction you make between not withholding ordinary sustenance and care from people in a vegetative state but not providing additional medical interventions is a good one, and I think it's what applies here. However, there's recently been a lot of fuss in the UK from relatives not being consulted about "do not resuscitate" decisions taken by doctors. My husband was a nurse and is quite adamant that he would not want medical intervention in such a situation. I also remember that my grandfather's death was made extra distressing for (presumably) both him and my grandmother because of an unsuccessful attempt to resuscitate him at the last moment.
Regarding our legislation, this will probably run for a long time. The decision last week was for it to go for another reading and, as you can imagine, a lot of emotion in the debate:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/18/assisted-dying-legalisation-debate-house-lords
And it sounds as if your church upbringing provided a good education in democracy, certainly none of that in the Catholic church given the professed infallibility of the Pope.

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