“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”
 — Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) Quote attributed to Bonhoeffer

A Dark chapter in history

I recently watched a documentary produced by Descent into Darkness about the Nazi regime’s horrific attempt to play God through a policy known as Aktion T4. This program aimed to eliminate individuals deemed “unworthy of life” — those with disabilities, mental illnesses, or other conditions the Nazis considered “defective.” It was chilling to see how quickly the twisted ideology of eugenics led to systematic murder. When I hear the word “eugenics,” I think of humanity’s dangerous attempt to redefine human value. It’s a concept rooted in controlling the human gene pool to create what some consider “better” or “superior” people. But who decides what “better” means?

Aktion T4 was a secret euthanasia program initiated by Adolf Hitler in 1939. It targeted individuals deemed “incurably ill” or “unfit” to live. The name comes from the program’s Berlin address, Tiergartenstrasse 4, where administrative decisions were made. Initially framed as a compassionate response to suffering, it evolved into systematic mass murder through lethal injections, gas chambers, and starvation. Victims included children, elderly individuals, and people with mental or physical disabilities. Medical professionals, under government orders, falsified death certificates to hide the atrocities. Over 300,000 people were killed before public outcry and church resistance forced the Nazis to end the official program in 1941, though killings continued covertly until the end of World War II.

Moral lessons from history to today

History shows that eugenics has often been tied to horrific acts of discrimination, forced sterilizations, and even genocide—all based on flawed views of human worth. The Nazi eugenics program, culminating in Aktion T4, left over 300,000 innocent people dead, targeting those unable to “contribute” to society by their standards. This isn’t just history—it’s a sobering reminder of what happens when society forgets that human worth comes from God, not man.

This twisted thinking echoes loudly in today’s abortion debate. Consider how society labels unborn children with genetic abnormalities or those conceived under challenging circumstances as “unwanted” or “unworthy of life.” It’s the same lie in a modern disguise. Eugenics didn’t end with the Nazis—it’s still alive wherever life’s value is determined by convenience or perceived “quality.”

From a Biblical Christian worldview, every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This means your value isn’t determined by intelligence, appearance, or ability. You are inherently valuable because God made you and loves you. Eugenics, by contrast, reduces people to biological traits, stripping away the sacred dignity that comes from being God’s creation.

Theological insights on human value and responsibility

R.C. Sproul (1985) argues that without acknowledging God as Creator, humans risk reducing themselves to biological machines devoid of inherent meaning or purpose (The Holiness of God). This perspective is crucial because eugenics denies that divine truth, reducing humans to something to be “fixed” or discarded.

Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945), who openly opposed the Nazi regime’s inhumane policies, declared: “Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question of whether we are here concerned already with a human being is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being, and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.” (Bonhoeffer,1949/1995)

I remember a conversation with a friend struggling to accept her child’s genetic disorder. She tearfully asked, “Why would God allow this?” It’s a question many wrestle with. But I told her what I’ve learned through my struggles: suffering doesn’t diminish worth. In fact, through life’s hardest trials, I’ve seen God’s grace shine the brightest.

Think about Jesus’ ministry. He didn’t gravitate toward society’s elite or “perfect” individuals. He sought out the broken, the sick, the outcasts—those considered “less than” by the world. His life was a decisive rejection of the idea that human value is based on external qualities.

Jordan Peterson (2018) emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in bringing structure and meaning into life’s inherent chaos, transforming potential into purposeful action (12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos). His perspective resonates with the Christian call to care for the least of these (Matthew 25:40). Embracing life’s imperfections with courage becomes an act of worship and obedience.

Maybe you’ve felt pressured to fit into the world’s standards—whether in appearance, career, or success. But know this: you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). No human policy, philosophy, or scientific endeavor can change that truth.

Eugenics thrives on fear—fear of weakness, imperfection, and vulnerability. Abortion operates under this same fear, masking itself as “choice” while denying life to the most vulnerable. The Biblical Christian worldview replaces fear with hope and love. In God’s economy, there’s no such thing as a “less valuable” life. Every person matters. Including you—and every precious life yet to be born.

Reference

Bonhoeffer, D. (1949/1995). Ethics (N. H. Smith, Trans.). Simon & Schuster.
Peterson, J. B. (2018). 12 rules for life: An antidote to chaos. Random House Canada.

Thank you for reading my heart, and keep nurturing your imagination♥

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