Suicide and religion.

[c0da]

In Catholicism, it is sometimes thought that somebody who commits suicide cannot get into heaven (correct me if i'm wrong). Do you agree with this? What do you religions say on suicide (if your not a catholic)?

 

[michel]

In Catholicism, it is sometimes thought that somebody who commits suicide cannot get into heaven (correct me if i'm wrong). Do you agree with this? What do you religions say on suicide (if your not a catholic)?

I honestly don't know; having tried a few times, I hope God won't be too angry with me. It has taught me a few things though,and I believe all our experiences add to each other to make us the individuals we are.

I think it has genuinely helped me to try to help others. If life is an experience curve (and what is more if you believe in reincarnation), it has occurred to me that maybe it was something I had to go through.

 

[Buttons*]

*shrugs*

Edit: Sorry Michel i should have elaborated more....

 

[michel]

*shrugs*

What does that mean?

 

[Buttons*]

What does that mean?

My 6th grade teacher's daughter commited suicide. I believed she went to heaven (when i was still christian at age 12) because she was ill. She was depressed and anorexic, and I dont think she was thinking when she took her life. Her family did all they could to help her but they accidentailly left her by herself one day. If you're ill, i dont believe that you'd go to hell for things you could not control. That's like saying God condemns the mentally slow of the world.

It's all circumstantial.

For some, i think it's just the easy way out. And it's selfish, and those people shouldn't be rewarded for cowardice. Then again, i dont belive there is a heaven or hell... so i dont even know why i commented....

Sorry about earlier Michel

 

[Revasser]

There is actually an ancient text that addresses the issue of suicide called "The Debate Between a Man and His Ba" which you can see a translation of here. It is obvious the man is in deep despair and I find the story quite moving.

From a modern Kemetic perspective, suicide is not considered a particularly good idea. Not only because because it is hurtful to all those around you, but because it is pointless. It won't bring you relief, only carry your troubles to the next life where they will continue to hurt you. In the next life, the same sorts of choices and responsibilities a person has now will still be present, so simply taking that step from this life to the next will fix nothing for yourself and will create hurt for those who love you and even those who do not.

Also, part of the abundance of this world is the options! There are always other options, whether you feel that there are or not. Just because a person can see no possible recourse but suicide does not mean that other options do not exist. This is why it is important to seek the help of your fellow humans (and even other animals) instead of remaining in isolation, because they can help you to see the options that you cannot see for yourself.

 

[Draka]

My beliefs coincide with Revasser's a bit. Since I believe in reincarnation there is a different aspect to suicide than that of one life and heaven or hell belief. I believe that every lifetime is crucial to learn certain lessons. We go from lifetime to lifetime to gather knowledge and wisdom for the soul to grow and move forward. So if one takes their life without completing the lessons they were to learn then those lessons must be relearned. Think of it as being held back a grade in school. You fail to learn what you were supposed to, you are doomed to repeat the lessons again until you get a passing grade.

While I also identify with what Buttons said as well. When you are dealig with the sick people of the world who are either suffering beyond what they can manage or out of control of their mental faculties these are things that cannot quite be judged. For all anyone knows, people in those situations are to learn those specific lessons. I just don't think suicide is even near excusable in any other way when it comes down to it.

 

[Karl R]

In Catholicism, it is sometimes thought that somebody who commits suicide cannot get into heaven (correct me if i'm wrong). Do you agree with this? What do you religions say on suicide (if your not a catholic)?

I had been thinking about this question recently, so I went through my bible to see what I could find about suicide.

Judas hanged himself. Judas has clearly committed other grave sins.

Paul stopped a Roman guard from killing himself (in Acts 16). Paul didn't reprimand the guard for considering suicide, but showed him the path to salvation.

And perhaps the most relevant passage:
"Thou shalt not kill." which is sometimes translated as, "Thou shalt not murder."

This belief may come from the fact that someone is incapable of confessing their sins after committing suicide. Therefore, they can't be forgiven for their last sin.

This reasoning sounds shaky to me, but perhaps someone else will find biblical statements that are more convincing.

 

[Feathers in Hair]

True, though a discussion of Judas usually leads to trying to reason how he could have sinned if he was, according to some lines of thought, fulfilling a necessary step in the salvation of mankind.

I'm not sure what my religion has to say in the matter, since much of paganism is deciding what your particular path is. My own feelings on it are that it's not a sin, but can be horribly detrimental to others, which is worse. Life, even with having to deal with all the wretchedness that accompanies it, is such an incredible thing that I would think of it as throwing away a lovely present, whether one considers it a present from the gods or from one's self, or just the universe. I have great empathy for those who are going through depression, though. It's hard when your brain is working against you.