Joan of Bark

Although I've read the Bible a couple of times (NIV and RSV), I don't recall seeing any mention of the morality of suicide (beyond the 6th commandment). Can someone provide scripture references?

Malachi151

I don't think that there are any scriptural sources on this. I think that the Church had to take the position that suicide was immoral because otherwise, accordting to their theology, everyone should commit suicide.

I mean basically the idea behind Christianity is that "the afterlife" is better than this life, so if that is true then we should all kill ourselves now. In order to counteract this obvious problem, the Church developed the dogma of the immorality of suicide.

I don't think that suicide is immoral at all, I mean that doesn't even make sense IMO.

It's your life, you can end it whenever you damn well please, and in many cases, as in terminal illness, suicide can be a good solution.

Suicide has been seen as a moral good in many societies, from the Asian societies to many of the tribal societies.

I think that once you reach a certian age where you can't function anymore and you are in pretty constant pain and need of care, suicide is a good way to go. Why prolong the suffering, why not go out on your own terms? In these cases in many of the traditional societies suidice was seen as a moral good because it was for the good of the tribe for the extremely elderly to kill themsleves so that they would no longer be a burden on the group, so suicide of the elders was encourged as a moral good.

PyramidHead

I've never thought of it that way, good point. It also makes me consider what the moral implications of abortion ought to be, since the doctrine of "limbo" as a place for unbaptized infants who die has been repealed recently. Do all fetuses go to heaven? If so, isn't it a rather decent fate to be relieved of the pressure of trying to impress God, and just get a free ticket to Him before even being born? It would seem that whoever granted someone this trip would be doing them a great deed, but of course that can't be true, because it would mean that everyone who murders a good Christian is ultimately benevolent, since the victim enters eternal bliss after dying. What a strange book.

Draconis

I wonder exactly when during gestation the soul gets inserted into the foetus?

Malachi151

Acording to the Bible your soul is breathed into you when you take your first breath... which completely undermines the whole aborition issue for Christians, but nevermind that.

PyramidHead

Got a verse reference, Malachi151? I'd love to sic that one on a few people I know.

fta

What about the story of Samson? Is it OK to kill yourself if you take a few of God's enemies with you?

mountainman

The morality of suicide was dealt with in the Pythagorean aphorisms,
such as that presented by Iamblichus. Hellenic philosophy, and its
oracles were present in the world, and dominated the traditional belief
systems of the Roman empire for the first 3 centuries, until Nicaea.


Pete Brown
http://www.mountainman.com.au/essene..._aphorisms.htm

Nourish a cock, but sacrifice it not;
for it is sacred to the sun and moon.

Two great lessons are concealed in this aphorism.
The first is a warning against the sacrifice
of living things to the gods,
because life is sacred
and man should not destroy it
even as an offering to the Deity.
The second warns man that the human body
here referred to as a cock is sacred
to the sun (God) and the moon (Nature),
and should be guarded and preserved
as man's most precious medium of expression.
Pythagoras also warned his disciples against suicide.

flintknapper

Which makes what the "Heavens Gate" cult did seem more like what all Christians should strive for, theologically.:grin:

Islam sure seems to think so...19 did in 3000.