culture of death

Meanings

1. In moral theology, the concept that human life can be a means to some other end and not solely an end itself.
2. In contemporary political and philosophical discourse, a culture asserted to be inconsistent with the concept of a "culture of life", such as cultures that support contraception and abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, human cloning, self-absorption, apathy or poverty.
3. A society that reveres suicide bombers as martyrs.

Etymology

Coined by John Paul II.