Why or how is suicide sinful?

[Gentoo]

We can look at the devastated friends and family and say that this was an action that hurt others. I am comfortable saying that the act itself is unquestionably wrong in any circumstance I can think of (yes, I'm leaving a loophole, I always do when it comes to morality). However, I am also willing to temper that judgment with the understanding that the person committing suicide may have been in a state where he or she could not judge right from wrong. So I am comfortable judging the act, but not the person who commits it.

In all of this I am speaking strictly in terms of human morality. Neither sin nor karma are part of my personal belief system so I can't really address those.

I was taught early on that about suicide (I wish I could find that video the school showed us..) that the pain doesn't end with the person dying, but that it's transferred to the people who loved them. I can't deny that, and would be very stupid of me to try. But I still have a lot of trouble saying that it was flat out wrong, I have trouble saying that about anything for that matter.

 

[love]

It is told in my area that you can,t ask for forgiveness once you are dead. Again, does God know your heart? Is there a good reason to leave you family and loved ones behind in a rush for paradise, or hell if you're so desperate you don't care.
To deprive your loved ones of your love, your companionship, your wisdom and experiences in this life cannot be pleasing to God

For those who believe that no one loves them, the sun never sets on all of Chirstians, Muslims, or the Jews of this world and their God (not to be confused with their religion) commands them to love their neighbor, and help them if they can.

 

[Quiddity]

This is what I think about it:

2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

 

[kiwimac]

Suicide is a decision that only the person involved can decide is wrong or right. It depends on a subjective feeling of just how awful their life is and how awful it wil continue to be.

I cannot and will not condemn suicide, people in that situation (and their families left behind) need compassion not condemnation.

 

[Quiddity]

Suicide is a decision that only the person involved can decide is wrong or right. It depends on a subjective feeling of just how awful their life is and how awful it wil continue to be.

I cannot and will not condemn suicide, people in that situation (and their families left behind) need compassion not condemnation.

I could show such compassion only if they were alive.

 

[Gentoo]

I could show such compassion only if they were alive.

But the families left behind need compassion too, and all too often they are condemned/blamed for what the victim does.

 

[Ori]

Well as someone who has thought a lot about this subject, I can understand both sides of the argument and at the end of the day, people will do what they want.

 

[Quiddity]

But the families left behind need compassion too, and all too often they are condemned/blamed for what the victim does.

They wouldn't need any compassion if the victim wouldn't kill him/herself.

 

[ch'ang]

for me, it depends upon the suicide. if you have been driven to self harming because of bullying, then any sin there is lies on the bully/bullies. i would say suicide is a more drastic form of self harm if it was caused by bullying. i'm not saying people should not take responsibility for their own actions, it's just that in this case, let's put the blame where it truly is.

self harm or suicide/attempted suicide for attention is drastic, and the person needs to seek professional help, but morally i would say that although this is selfish, and would bring the karmic repercussions that grossly selfish acts bring, it is nothing more than that.

suicide or attempted suicide where the peson believes their death is of benefit to those around them, that others will be better off without them, are not being selfish in my opinion, but are just very misguided. if they survive their attempt, hopefully they will recieve help. if they don't survive their attempt, i see no reason for them to be turned away from what i believe to be the after life, because i don't see this person as being grossly selfish.

Yes you are

 

[Mike182]

Yes you are

when i was bullied, i cried. when i was bullied again and again, i cried some more and started not eating. when i was bulled again and again and again i turned to alcohol.... i didn't go any further, but i would say that these reactions i had, although it was me doing it, a large percentage of the blame lies with the bullies. if you agree with me here, then you will also agree that if the bullying were to such an extent that a person wanted to take their own life, a large percentage of that blame lies also with the bullies.

if you disagree with me that the bullies are largly responsible for those reaction, then fair enough, but i really can't see the blame on the person being bullied myself

 

[porkchop]

I consider suicide sinful because it is against life. I am interested in religious opinion on why or how suicide is sinful, or not.

As a christian, its taking life, and that is a sin.
Personally, i think it is the most selfish act a human can do, with no regard for the people they are leaving behind, though they will always claim in a note, ( or if they failed and are here to tell the story) that they were doing it for everyone else, theyd be better without them,etc.. I dont believe it, the reason ( i think) people commit suicide is for themselves, so they dont have to feel the pain they feel, or have to live the way they are, or have peopel upset or dissapointed with them, but they forget about the amount of pain, hurt and suffering that family members, loved ones, friends, and sometimes the people who witness suicides when the person decides to not think of anyone but themselves and kill themselves publicly, go through.
Please do not think i have no sympathy for how these people feel,i would help anyone feeling suicidal, they must truly ache with pain, but please dont tell me it is not selfish, cause it truly is, there is always a way to solve problems, especially these days, and life is too important and precious.

 

[love]

Suicide is a permenant solution to a temporary problem.

 

[Anti-World]

As people grow older and mature some of us realize that the pain and hurt that we feel is something that will follow us around for the rest of our lives. This is true, any knowledgable psychologist will tell you this. If you've got some unbearable pain you can cover it, bury it, or live with it, but you can *never* get rid of it. People that commit suicide know this. They know that they have to make the choice of living with a dagger in their heart for the rest of their lives or die. Many people can't understand what they are going through and therefore you say it's selfish and possibly cruel for a person to commit suicide but is torture more merciful than death? Honestly ask yourself that question and you'll learn alot about the viewpoint of someone that attempts suicide. Imagine feeling like your own mother, father, or closest person in your life just died. Try to grasp that feeling. Now imagine that you felt like that every day. It never got better, in never dulled, it's just an ongoing pain. Many of you who don't or havn't felt this way are optimistic and say that this can be overcome but, honestly, it can't. Welcome to the real world. We have people in pain every day to which there is no cure and the only solution is to die.

The only advice that I give to suicidal people is to focus on something that is important to you, like your family, kids, wife, etc and don't pay attention to the pain. Bury it. Because if you let it control you it will only get worse.

 

[porkchop]

As people grow older and mature some of us realize that the pain and hurt that we feel is something that will follow us around for the rest of our lives. This is true, anyknowledgable psychologist will tell you this.

Are psychologists knowledgeable were you live???

If you've got some unbearable pain you can cover it, bury it, or live with it, but you can *never* get rid of it. People that commit suicide know this. They know that they have to make the choice of living with a dagger in their heart for the rest of their lives or die. Many people can't understand what they are going through and therefore you say it's selfish and possibly cruel for a person to commit suicide but is torture more merciful than death?

I value life, and i do think that this kind of 'torture' you refer to is liveable, but you can also get rid of it too. I understand that if its coping with the loss of someone, their heart must be breaking and feel like theyre never going to get over it, but there is always help for people, and my advice, of course, is Jesus.

Honestly ask yourself that question and you'll learn alot about the viewpoint of someone that attempts suicide.

I feel i know enough from the viewpoint of a suicidal person to talk on this debate.

Imagine feeling like your own mother, father, or closest person in your life just died. Try to grasp that feeling. Now imagine that you felt like that every day. It never got better, in never dulled, it's just an ongoing pain. Many of you who don't or havn't felt this way are optimistic and say that this can be overcome but, honestly, it can't. Welcome to the real world. We have people in pain every day to which there is no cure and the only solution is to die.

My grandad passed away two weeks ago, so, yeah, i know what your on about. Thankfully i have Jesus to get me through it, and i feel for those who dont.
The pain will go away in time, you may always miss them, but it doesnt mean you should take your life because someone you love died. Its like saying you are worthless without someone else, i get that it may feel this way, but its not true.
I do believe anyone can overcome anything with the right help/frame of mind/ and definately with God by their side, its not being optomistic to say that, its true if your willing to try, and not only think about yourself.
Death is never the solution to any problem.

 

[Tigress]

Suicide is a subject that hits close to home for me. I've considered it numerous times--I've even attempted it, so pardon any bias on my part.

I suppose suicide could be considered a sin--it is the taking of a life, after all. Nevertheless, it's different than taking the life of another, as unless you believe that your life belongs to some higher purpose, it's yours to take. As for being selfish, I suppose suicide could also be considered selfish, but so could asking a person to live, especially if it's so that you don't have to feel the pain of loss. Thus, the selfishness is inescapable.

This thread reveals a couple of things. It reveals those that have been at the brink, and those that haven't. It reveals those that have a shoulder to cry on, should they find themselves in such a situation. Often times people forget that not everybody has someone--a place to call home--means--and that not everyone is going to give that kind of someone a chance. It's a sad thing, but it's a real thing--to feel like you're falling. Sometimes no matter the tides, death is the only peace.

Sometimes the point is to hurt those close to you, and sometimes that 'temporary problem' isn't so temporary.

 

[joshua3886]

I think it's horrible to persecute somebody that is in so much pain that they want life to end.
Shame on you people who punish the suicidal. Depression, schizophrenia and other mental disorders are difficult enough without other people constantly judging.
To answer your religious question: the bible has a few examples of God condoning suicide anyhow. Like the story of Samson. I think it's just another hate topic to get people's blood boiling and bring in more people to church.

 

[serenee19]

One thing that Jesus brought was the teaching of the Sanctity of Human Life. As they sent missionaries throughout the world, they stopped the genocide of girl children and human sacrifice. So it seems logical that this would extend to suicide being sinful as well.
The belief that God is the only on that can take a human life Is an essential teaching in Christianity.
.

 

[Estro Felino]

Technically it is not sinful. Because there is sin only when you hurt the others.
By the way you can hurt your family by killing yourself, so it can be considered a sin, especially if it is unmotivated.

but if someone kills themselves out of psychological pain or desperation, it is not a sin. Or better, it is a quite forgivable sin. God will forgive

I think that the person who induced you -either directly or indirectly- to commit suicide...well....that person will difficultly go to Heaven. God won't forgive