MarcoPolo

I am in a lively email discussion with a Seventh Day Adventist and he just said this little gem to me:

"The logic of the athiest leads to suicide. There's no other rational, reasonable conclusion."

It's so stupid, I'm just stunned he would even resort to that. Has someone already written something up on this? Or does anyone have a good response to this? I'm sure it's come up before.

What is his 'logic' (or lack of) behind that?

Joel

I would honestly like to hear the 'logic' behind this argument. When someone throws out a ridiculous statement like that I tend to ignore it unless they can back it up with something. If they can't, then I'm afraid all you can do is laugh at them and their complete lack of thinking skills.

Bible Humper

I've heard this one before, inform him that since we don't believe in a magic paradise after death, we realise that this life is all we've got and we must make the most of it.

Ask him why, since he is on his way to magic fairy land after he dies, that he bothers with a healthy diet, personal safety, medical treatment for his ailments, etc. Suicide is one of his religion's taboos, but he is under no obligation to extend his life.

You'll probably get a more detailed and literate answer from someone else, but there ya go anyway.

sakrilege

Here's some info from a less extreme theist but interesting history & biblical references...

<a href="http://www.cmf.org.uk/pubs/booklets/euth/suicide.htm" target="_blank">Suicide down the ages, A Judeo-Christian Perspective</a>

Susan

echidna

No, not entirely ridiculous IMO. There are many interpretations of atheism which I find very nihilistic, and also those which are quite immoral.

Most common might be the interpretation that morality can be largely based on Darwinism, but others might be that morality should be based on Social Contractarianism. Lack of belief in objective right and wrong can easily leave people feeling isolated and defenceless.

Additionally, often when people “lose their faith” it is akin to their world collapsing, a very psychologically traumatic time. They suddenly find themselves without meaning or direction, potentially a very lonely and frightening place for many.

Regardless of whether it exists, I find a world with a compassionate god-thing a more pleasant place to exist than one without.

Depending on one’s personality, some people are simply incapable of existing happily without faith in a god-concept. It is not correct to expect that one’s worldview automatically suits everyone.

Now, having said all that, the SDA is most likely unaware of any positive interpretations of atheism and thus has made it an absolute statement.

oneofshibumi

The logic of the athiest leads to suicide. There's no other rational, reasonable conclusion."

Ask for a source.
The logic of the atheist leads to suicide. There's no other rational, reasonable conclusion."

If she wants to use reasoning as the person claims, she must do the following.

Define what she means by logic of the atheist.

Provide data that an atheist commits suicide at a higher level than Christians, or another group. If thousands of Christians commit suicide, and one atheists does, what point was made.

Show some study that links atheist logic with suicide. Otherwise its an opinion, a hunch, fuzzy fundi mislogic, make your own up. Christians commit more suicide and sometimes like to go into a school and take others with them.

[ August 23, 2002: Message edited by: oneofshibumi ]</p>

Albion

I wonder what rationale theists have for not committing suicide when the afterlife is so much more attractive than the present. I've heard so many conversations between born-agains who are yearning for the End Times and the Rapture and going on about "take me home, Jesus, I'm ready to go!" " I can't stand this sinful world, I'm so ready for heaven." Of course suicide would have to be a taboo because for theists looking forward to an eternity in paradise, suicide would be the logical step if it wasn't forbidden.

Unfortunately, that doesn't always stop people, as the 11 Sept and Middle East situations have shown so clearly.