Are you more likely to commit suicide if you are atheist versus someone who practices a religion?

Question

serious question: I got money on this.

Answer 1

naa religeous people are more likely to do it

Answer 2

I haven't seen any studies that show a higher correlation of suicide amongst atheists than among theists.

According to this article: http://www.religioustolerance.org/sui_reli.htm
There is no cut and dry way of knowing how much of an affect religious services have on preventing suicide.

Additionally, the factors that cause a person to kill themselves are complicated in general. An atheist may not have a support group through church but instead have emotional support through another organization or friends and family.

This article: http://www.med.uio.no/iasp/files/papers/Bertolote.pdf

Shows that suicide rates are higher in places that do not have a prevalent national religion....like China. But, that does not include factors like the country being a communist nation nor does it include a survey of what religion those who committed suicide followed.

So, suicide is a complicated issue when trying to determine what factors lead to the person choosing to commit suicide. If you are including suicide among those who want to die with dignity once they reach a point in life when medical aid can't relieve suffering, then I would think that atheists would be more likely to do that. You also have to take into account that some religions are death cults where suicide is requested of its members.

Answer 3

I'd have to say a religious person even there are no good statistics. However there is a good historical example that probably throws the likely hood more towards religion. Because of the samuria tradition which is based in a spiritual religious context hundres of thousand of Japanese have enacted ritul suicide. Most recently during WWII when they would make suicidal charges once the battle had been lost instead of being captured plus kamikazee pilots. More recently you have islamic suicidal bombers.

Ritual suicide probably outweighs phsycological suicide in terms of numbers.

Answer 4

I think yes,
Because suicidal people decide that the life they are living brings an unbearable pain with no hope of recovery the (Zero is better than Negative)
On the other hand beleivers have always hope in a devine intervension and know that suicide is a sin and that comitting it will bring eternal suffering.
Ofcourse life is not a clean cut but the odds are with beleivers in this matter.
BTW, for all suicidal readers, suicide is never the answer and what ever your faith is, be courageous and you'll get through it and respect yourself for you courage.

Answer 5

It can happen either way. A good friend of mine has felt very suicidal several times, but refrains because she is sure she will go to hell. She is a Catholic. I have always been a theist, and when I was a Catholic, I actually attempted suicide. I feared hell, but said to myself I'd beg God for forgiveness when He judges me.

There are more factors involved as to why a person attempts suicide than only theism/atheism. Depression is a major cause of suicides, and depression is a medical illness. Both theists and atheists can suffer from it.

Answer 6

Suicide is against the creators nature, He gave you life and if you take it ,you are telling him that you are smarter than he is ,and he has a purpose for each life! Now you can be of several religions and that's not going to help you! The one true religion is a relationship with the creator through his spirit! So the person most likely to commit suicide is someone who does not have this holy spirit! And can not take the demon of suicide who torments them and they do it! Sonebody with the HOLY SPIRIT will tell that lying demon to be gone in Jesus NAME!

Answer 7

i believe so.when you dont believe in anything or anyone why is life worth living.you have no faith no hope no looking forward.i pray to god you are not talking about yourself.i am sure you must have family and friends that love you.suicide is a way of not dealing with the problem at hand.when you reach your bottom the only place to go is up.committing suicide is a great sin because your life is not your own.god gives life.your parents were the tools in making you. you are the gift.i pray in jesus name that you will think and not do this thing.if you are just asking to be curious i pray that the lord reveal his self to you,that he touch your heart and thirst for more knowledge of him.god bless you.

Answer 8

I think so because most religions are aganist suicide so if you practice religion you don't do it just because of that versus an atheist who stands by nothing but morals.

Answer 9

"Concerning suicide rates, this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations. According to the 2003 World Health Organization’s report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism. It is interesting to note, however, that of the top remaining nine nations leading the world in male suicide rates, all are former Soviet/Communist nations, such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Latvia( viii ). Of the bottom ten nations with the lowest male suicide rates, all are highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism."

Answer 10

Boy that's tricky... Atheists, duh. If things get so screwed up in their lives that they feel they can't get control again, there is absolutely nothing to prevent them from just ending the game early.

Theists, on the other hand have several things keeping them from suicide:
1. Hope in the future,
2. Concern over suicide being an "unforgivable sin,"
3. A desire to remain here on earth to do their Lord's will.

Answer 11

No official statistics but I am pretty sure that atheists knock themselves off more often..

Friends, Professors, at our local University report that too many Egg Heads are poisoning themselves intentionally.

Too many great philosophers also committed suicide.