Religious Viewpoints

Tuesday,February 09,2010

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Religious Viewpoints

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When considering organ/tissue donation, people often ask: “Does my religion approve of organ and tissue donation?” In fact, a Gallup poll showed that less than 10 percent of people in the United States are aware that their religious groups have doctrines regarding donation.

Specific beliefs differ from denomination to denomination, but the vast majority of religions support organ and tissue donation as one of the highest expressions of compassion and generosity. Other religions support an individual’s personal decision about donating organs and tissues.

Following is an overview of most major religions and their general views on donation:

	AME (African Methodist Episcopal) and AME Zion (African Methodist Episcopal Zion) Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation as a way of helping others.
	Amish The Amish will consent to transplantation if they believe it is for the well-being of the transplant recipient. According to John Hostetler, a world-renowned authority on the Amish religion, “The Amish believe that since God created the human body, it is God who heals. However, nothing in the Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services, including surgery, hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia, blood transfusion, or immunization.”
	Assembly of God Donation is highly supported.
	Brethren Donation is highly supportedThe church of the Brethren's Annual Conference in 1993 developed a resolution on organ and tissue donation supporting and encouraging donation.
	Baha'ism Baha'ism believes that transplants are acceptable if prescribed by medical authorities, and they are permitted to donate their bodies for research.
	Baptist In 1988, the Southern Baptist Convention passed a resolution supporting donation as a way to alleviate suffering and have compassion for the needs of others. Donation is advocated as an act of charity.
	Buddhism Buddhists believe donation is a matter of individual conscience, and they place high value on acts of compassion. The Rev. Gyomay Masao, founder of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, said, “We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives.”
	Catholicism Roman Catholics view donation as an act of charity and love. Pope John Paul II stated, “The Catholic Church would promote the fact that there is a need for organ donors and that Christians should accept this as a ‘challenge to their generosity and fraternal love’ so long as ethical principles are followed.” He also said, “One of the most powerful ways for individuals to demonstrate love for their neighbor is by making an informed decision to be an organ donor.”
	Christian Church Encourages organ and tissue donation, stating that individuals were created for God's glory and for sharing God's love. A 1985 resolution encourages Disciples of Christ to become donors and support transplant recipients.>
	Christian Science The Church of Christ Scientist does not have a specific position regarding organ and tissue donation. The question of organ and tissue donation is an individual decision. According to the First Church of Christ Science in Boston, Christ Scientists normally rely on spiritual means of healing instead of medical. They are free, however, to choose whatever form of medical treatment they desire-including a transplant.
	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) The Christian Church encourages donation, stating, “We were created for God’s glory and for sharing God’s love.” A 1985 resolution, adopted by the general assembly, encourages “members of the Christian Church to enroll as organ donors and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant.”
	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints The donation of organs and tissues is a selfless act that often results in great benefit to individuals with medical conditions. The decision to will or donate one's own body organs or tissue for medical purposes, or the decision to authorize the transplant of organs or tissue from a deceased family member, is made by the individual or the deceased member's family. The decision to receive a donated organ should be made after receiving competent medical counsel and confirmation through prayer.
	Church of Nazarene The Church encourages members who do not object personally to support donor and recipient anatomical gifts through living wills and trusts.
	Episcopal The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in 1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ, blood, and tissue donation. All Christians are encouraged to become organ, blood and tissue donors "as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave his life that we may have life in its fullness."
	Evangelical Covenant Church A resolution passed at the Church’s Annual Meeting in 1982 encouraged members to document a decision to donate. The resolution also recommended “that is becomes a policy with our pastors, teachers, and counselors to encourage awareness of organ donation in all out congregations.”
	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Church encourages its members to consider the possibility of donation and to communicate their wishes to family members, physicians and healthcare institutions.
	Greek Orthodox Donation is supported as a way to better human life through transplantation or research, leading to improvements in the treatment and prevention of disease.
	Gypsies (Roma) Gypsies are a people of different ethnic groups without a formalized religion. They share common folk beliefs and tend to be opposed to organ and tissue donation. Their opposition is connected with their beliefs about the afterlife. Traditional belief contends that for one year after death, the soul retraces its steps. Thus, the body must remain intact because the soul maintains its physical shape.
	Hinduism According to the Hindu Temple Society of North and South America, Hindus are not prohibited from donation as confirmed by religious laws. This act is an individual's decision. H. L. Trivedi, in Transplant Proceedings, stated, " Hindu mythology has stories in which the parts of the human body are used for the benefit of other humans and society. There is nothing in the Hindu religion indicating that parts of humans, dead or alive, cannot be used to alleviate the suffering of other humans."
	Islam The principle of saving lives is of utmost importance. According to A. Sachedina in Transplantation Proceedings, "The majority of the Muslim scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law have invoked the principle of priority of saving human life and have permitted the organ transplant as a necessity to procure that noble end."
	Independent Conservative Evangelical In general, Evangelicals have no opposition to donation. Each church is autonomous and leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.
	Jehovah’s Witness Jehovah's Witnesses believe donation is a matter of individual decision. Jehovah's Witnesses are often assumed to be opposed to donation because of their belief against blood transfusion. However, this merely means that all blood must be removed from the organs and tissues before being transplanted.
	Judaism All four branches of Judaism support and encourage donation. Numerous resolutions have been passed encouraging donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler, "If one is in the position to donate an organ to save another's life, it's obligatory to do so, even if the donor never knows who the beneficiary will be. The basic principle of Jewish ethics, 'the infinite worth of the human being,' also includes donation of corneas, since eyesight restoration is considered a lifesaving operation."
	Mennonite Mennonites have no formal position on donation, but are not opposed to it. They believe the decision to donate is up to the individual and/or their family
	Moravian The Moravian Church does not have an official policy addressing organ/tissue donation or transplantation. The choice to donate is left to individual church members.

	Mormon The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes the decision to donate is an individual one made in conjunction with family, medical personnel and prayer. They do not oppose donation.
	Pentecostal Pentecostals believe that the decision to donate should be left up to the individual.
	Presbyterian Encourages and supports donation. Presbyterians respect a person's right to make decisions regarding their own body.
	Salvation Army The Salvation Army finds organ donation and transplantation acceptable.
	Seventh-Day Adventist Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged. Many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California, are Seventh-Day Adventist.
	Sikh According to Dr. Indarjit Singh OBE, Director of the network of Sikh Organizations UK, “The last act of giving and helping other through organ donation is both consistent with and in the spirit of Sikh teachings.”
	Society of Friends (Quaker) The Society of Friends does not have an official position on donation. Organ and tissue donation is believed to be an individual decision.
	Southern Baptist Convention In 1988, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a resolution endorsing organ donation, praising the “selflessness stewardship, and compassion, and alleviation of suffering associated with organ donation.”
	Spiritualism Spiritual Ministers are extremely supportive of donation.
	Wesleyan The Wesleyan Church supports donation as a way of helping others.
	Unitarian Universalist Organ and tissue donation is widely supported by the church as an act of love and selfless giving.

*Biological Resource Center encourages web site visitors to help us stay current with all religion views on donation. If you have more current information on a religion or if we have left a faith off this page please send us a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .