you know how many saints are martyrs who sacrificed themselves to help someone else...if you sacrificed yourself tosave something that's not a person, but still valuable, is that saint-like or suicide-like? (i.e. saving a church)
2007-04-01 13:55:31 · 19 answers · asked by blahhhaha 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Martyrdom is motivated by self-interest. It is a way of making one's message more powerful through one's own death, and earning a reward in the "afterlife".
2007-04-06 21:26:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I posed a similar question this past week, about what is the deferments between 'sacrificing yourself' (like the Christ on the cross...) and suicide? Never got a decent reply yet.
If someone jumps on a hand-grenades and gets blown-up, but his body, acting as a shield, saved others...we might say that he's a hero, if we learn latter that the same person didn't do it to save others, but because of depression, then its suicide?
Same act - same results...different labels.
So what makes 'self sacrifice' holy, when scarifying your self is not?
2007-04-08 18:50:43 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no greater love than to give up your life for another. Jesus did that for all of us so that we wouldn't have to pay the price. He doesn't advocate suicide at all.
There is also dying to self (ie: sacrificing a desire or a bad habit) in order to grow closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Saint-like? Don't know. But better for our spiritual health.
2007-04-01 14:06:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a difference between saints and martyrs. Saints are extraordinary individuals who have performed miracles or who are exceptionally holy. Martyrs are people who are willing to die for a cause or for what they believe in. Suicide is the deliberate attempt to kill or harm oneself. So, to sacrifice yourself for something you believe in, like a church, is martyr-like.
2007-04-01 14:04:31 · answer #4 · answered by themysticvoodoo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the Catholic church has any authority in making the rules of, who gets to be a Saint. I think sacrificing yourself to anything God deems a worthy sacrifice is saintly.
2007-04-08 19:46:08 · answer #5 · answered by Truth7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally - I don't believe you should give control of yourself to any human. Period. Some martyrs died because they refused to allow others to control them. To dictate their beliefs, their rights and their life to them.
If the Church is true - why would you need to sacrifice yourself for it? If it is true, then it will survive the test of time. It will always remain.
You shouldn't be sacrificing yourself for things. Is that really all your life is worth?
2007-04-01 14:02:24 · answer #6 · answered by noncrazed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its no really saint like and its not suicide because suicide is when you kill yourself in order to end pain and suffering. The only time you sacrifice your own life is when someone who is not a Christian or is a younger person.
2007-04-09 07:49:14 · answer #7 · answered by Child of God* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suicide like, unless its got something to do with your religion, but still, suicide like i think. Its not suicide if u jump in front of a bullet to save a person but it would be if you did it to save a photo, or a statue, or anything inanimate.
2007-04-01 14:00:52 · answer #8 · answered by ~Kimberly~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Martyrdom may or may not include saving others.
Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith. It means bearing witness even unto death.
The martyr:
+ Bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by love.
+ Bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine.
+ Endures death through an act of fortitude.
"Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God." (St. Ignatius of Antioch who died as a martyr in the arena, Ad Rom. 4, 1: SCh 10, 110)
With love in Christ.
2007-04-06 13:27:10 · answer #9 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, sounds like you're confusing Love & Devotion with MANS TITLE of "Saint"! Many people have died silently in many wars who were totally commited through Love for their Country & Family who are "REAL" "Saints". You see, "Saints" are elected by Sinful man for their "Good Works" which is CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE! Scripture says "Your works are as filthy rags (reference here in Hebrew is to menstral rags) and shall be consumed with fire as wood, hay & stubble." Real "Saints" are humble and consistant in their devotion to God their Creator through daily intake of Bible Doctrine & Prayer thanking God for giving us Christ to pay for mandkinds Sins. Hope this clears things up for you. John
2007-04-09 12:04:36 · answer #10 · answered by moosemose 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could sacrifice yourself for something and let me know how it went, but I would think the news paper headline may include the words "insane, suicide, terrorist", but I could be wrong
2007-04-08 19:16:49 · answer #11 · answered by p_isfor_pecker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋