Events

Abstract: In 2014 the World Health Organization reported that every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide. In Hong Kong the highest suicide rates are amongst the elderly, but it is also a leading cause of death amongst youth. This talk is not about prevention or improving mental health. Instead, it is a theological and historical reflection on the underlying cultural values and assumptions that inform the discussion around suicide and the debate over end-of-life issues. Working from a Christian framework, this talk will explore and challenge ideas underlying the discussion about suicide, human personhood, and the nature of human flourishing.

Speaker: Dr Bethany Sollereder is an associate of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University where she lectures on science and religion. She attended Regent College, Vancouver for her Master’s work and Exeter University for her PhD. Her work concentrates on the implications of evolution for Christian belief, especially in regard to the suffering of animals. She finds that considering suffering in the (often less emotive) context of animals can sometimes contribute fresh perspectives from which to engage with human suffering. She is a theology fellow for BioLogos.

Moderator: Dr. Sylvia Kwok.