Is cutting a sin?

Question

I know that cutting is viewed as wrong and taboo in today's society, but is it a sin in term of the Christian Bible? How about other religions? Can you give specific examples from the Bible or other scriptures that point one way or the other? I think it's an interesting questions because some religious sects actually use self-mutilation as a form of repentence or as a way of feeling the pain that Jesus went through to save us from our sins. So what do you think, and what is the basis behind your thinking?

First of all, I do not cut. I cut for a long time, but no longer do, so you don't have to worry about that. This was merely a philosophical question.

Second, would somebody please tell me WHERE in the Bible it says that your body is your temple. So many people have said it that it most likely comes from SOMEWHERE, but I would like someone to tell me where it is.

Third, I would argue that for many young girls it IS a form of repentence because many of them do it because they are angry at themselves or because they feel guilty. Would this not be similar to mutilating oneself as religious repentence? How is it different?

Thanks to all those who gave specific religious explanations.

Answer 1

Anything that furthers your own suffering increases the suffering of others. That's a tenet of Buddhism.

Answer 2

Merciful heavens......more than a sin, cutting is a tragedy, and an indication of deep problems in need of counseling, and I sure do hope you get some. Most who indulge in cutting (mostly young girls) are not really motivated to a form of repentence, this problem is way deeper than that, and not generally offered as a sacrifice. But since you ask for a biblical example, cutting is a sin, defined under the commandment thou shalt not kill if that is what it will take to motivate you to go get some help. Self flagelation and other practices of the sort are intentionally offered as a form of sacrifice, but I would also question the sanity of that, and I doubt that most girls who cut themselves up that way are doing so at the church altar as an offering to God. Please get some help.

Edit: JTS, I am glad to hear that you aren't cutting anymore. As for the "repentence" part of it, my impression of it is that it is not so much about atonement to God, but more about misplaced guilt or anger that has gotten blown all out of proportion, and a desire to "destroy" the guilt, by destroying the body it resides in. It's a destructive self anger turned inward, not an offering or sacrifice to God. But if you are a former cutter, I would think that you would know better than anyone present, what motivated you to do it, and on what basis you came to a conclusion that it was the wrong thing to do to yourself...
Here's one from a non Christian religion for you: I am Pagan, and subscribe to the rede "An it harm none, do as you will" Cutting is definitely against the rede, because you are harming yourself, if all life is interconnected, then in harming yourself, you are harming the rest of the world as well, if for no other reason than that you are making your body less able to get out there and do things it should be doing to make the world a better place, and all the pain and worry caused to those around you watching you do that to yourself...
I do know a young man who resorted to cutting, but it wasn't because of looking to atone to a God, it was more about that he hit rock bottom as an alchoholic, and his feelings were such a mess that the pain was the only thing he could feel clearly....

Answer 3

Cutting has nothing to do with "sin". It has to do with a profound and dangerous mental disability and should be treated as such. The prattle about "sin" is merely a distractor and a trained counselor will ignore it and help you focus on the task of overcoming the urge to cut. Though some religions have accepted self-mutilation as a means of public repentance, it is nothing of the kind. When "penitents" do this, it is nothing more than a grotesque and repulsive quest for attention.

Answer 4

I think that it's the result of underlying psychological pain... and that people should get help for it. From a Buddhist perspective, we're all a composite of the causes and conditions that make up our lives, changing and so on... so that's why I never judge anyone based on anything... the self-mutilation based on religious beliefs is a whole other set of cultural "stuff" (I'll call it for simplicity's sake).

If you're suffering like that... try to get help. In today's world with MRSA now easier to get (sorry, it's a bad medication-resistant staph infection, in which they have to use liver bashing antibiotics, therefore you have to be hospitalized, to kill it) you don't want to be doing any more to yourself to expose the body to all the wild *&^%^ out there.

Hang in and stay cool... wishing you peace.

_()_

Answer 5

Jaines - For a minute I will step away from Religion and Spirituality and into my own profession. Cutting is a symptom of psycological or neurological disorders for everything from severe depression, borderline personality, bi-polar disorder to brain tumors and bleeds. Though its been a "hidden" symptom, its hardly new at all...its gone on for many years in secret.

Oh couse God would not want you hurting yourself or hurting with something that would cause you to do this...but no, I do not think its a sin. Please get help if you are cutting. It is dangerous (infections, scars, etc.) and self-destructive...and in the end, it does not stop the pain.
FRAN

Answer 6

I think that cutting is indicative of sin, I am really not sure if it's a blatant sin. But that's beside the point, we are sinners. So let's say that cutting is not a sin. It doesn't mean that you are not a sinner. We are saved from even the nature of being sinners, which will be taken away from us at the resurrection.

Answer 7

The Bible says treat your body as a temple unto the lord cutting the Body God gave is that treating it as if it was Gods. I believe it is a sin.

Answer 8

Cutting isn't a mentally healthy activity. If its difficult for you to see it as such, try this thought experiment. What would you do if your dog purposefully hurt himself? Or if you were to care for a small child and every time he didn't finish his dinner, he hurled himself out of the high chair and onto the floor?

The christian bible tells parents to kill their own children if they disobey. I wouldn't use it as a guide to whether or not it is ok to cut yourself. Use your own mind, common sense and think of how "natural" it would feel to watch a 5 year-old cut himself if he messed up on his ABCs.

Answer 9

Ever heard of the scripture that talks about our bodies being temples? Yeah, doing anything, i.e. tattoos, cutting, etc...is actually wrong. Why would you wanna cut yourself anyways?

Answer 10

I think we, as human beings, should respect our bodies and treat them well. That having been said, I would say that cutting is less of a sin and more a sign of deep emotional disturbance.