A legitimate question regarding suicide?

Question

A couple of notices:
1. no, I am not contemplating suicide
2. 9/11 reference below, not for the easily offended.

I've a question for Christians (Jews and Muslims as well, lost likely) regarding suicide.

It is said life is a gift from God, and it is terribly gauche to reject his gift by committing suicide.

But consider: people don't kill themselves when they feel their life is a "gift".

Consider the people who jumped to their death during 9/11. Given the choice between burning to death, and jumping to their death, they chose to jump.

They chose suicide rather than live out what little of their lives remained being burned to death.

According to Christian beliefs, those who did not choose to burn, but instead chose to leap to their deaths, committed suicide and thus are not going to heaven.

Is there no point, no situation, no set of cicumstances where life is considered so unbearable that suicide is considered a valid option?

a deliberate decision to jump knowing without doubt it will lead to death is technically "suicide"

Answer 1

I'd like to clarify a point; no where in the bible does it say or imply someone who commits suicide goes to hell. There are so many misinterpretations and people who preach without a knowledge of the bible that statements like this become common knowledge.

Someone might come to the following logic - the ten commandments says 'thou shall not kill', and therefore if the last thing you possibly did was sin this could be seen as non repentable. Actually, this is often considered a bad translation. The hebrew word means 'murder'; killing enemies and even oneself could be honorable -- for instance, Samson is seen as a hero when he took down a caslte on top of himself and enemies.
Some even make the case that Jesus is a suicide as he had foreknowledge of his own death and went through with it passively, but I find this example bogus as it seemed more God the father was pulling the strings and Jesus knew he had no choice in the matter.

Answer 2

Well, first, the people who jumped from eighty floors up certainly were not choosing to die; death was at that point a virtual inevitability, and imminent. They simply chose between one death and another one. Jumping was no more suicide than awaiting the flames. And in a state of terror, all reason was probably suspended; perhaps they thought there was some chance they'd make it. (Remember the stories of people clutching their purses or briefcases on the way down? I don't suppose that was really thought out.)

Only God knows an individual's heart, and I wouldn't presume to tell someone that their relative who's committed suicide is now burning in hell-- that's a bit presumptuous. I believe suicide is a sin, and that the worth of a person's life is only known to God. Not even the person who is suffering from end-stage cancer truly knows what tomorrow brings. To cut short their life prematurely is to assume that they know better than God. Who knows whether the whole purpose of their existence comes down to one pivotal moment, one that they would miss if they killed themselves?

Answer 3

As for those people in the towers, their lives were over and not by their own choosing. They did not voluntarily end their lives- they chose a different means of death. Death was inevitable and they knew it. People who commit suicide choose to die and then carry out that choice. Those people did not choose to die therefore they did not commit suicide. My prayers are with their families.

Not all christians believe that suicide means you go to hell. I don't believe it. If suicide was an automatic ticket to hell, then that would mean that we are saved by grace and faith (not by works)- but we can loose that salvation because of something we did (works). Doesn't really make sense.

Answer 4

I don't think that Judaism would treat suicide any different than Christianity. After all, both religions believe in eternity of soul. And suicide is the most hateful thing you can do to it. Now, historically dead through suicide were not allowed to be buried within the grounds of the cemetery and have a participation of a cleric in their funeral ceremony. This only proves their general dislike for that particular way of departure from our world.

Answer 5

That's one to ponder; I have done so many times.

Personally I don't believe that a person who is walking with Christ will commit suicide. Being suicidal is the opposite of faith, in my opinion. (irrespective of their state of belief in God).

But, let's assume that Paul the Apostle was on the top floor of the Tower and it's getting mighty hot.

Would God send him to hell for jumping? No. He was already walking with God and the word says NOTHING can seperate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus.

His fate was determined when the plane hit; the final deal isn't about whether he died by burning or jumping.


But, would he jump? I don't think so. I think he would spend his last moments trying to lead others to repentance. Because he has faith that his suffering is temporary and theirs is eternal. So, Paul the Apostle on the WTC tower is going to endure the agony.

Can I judge those who jumped? NO WAY. Their choice is between them and God. I feel horribly sad for them.

Sad either way. Very sad. I can't get the picture of them out of my head.

If they were already believers, they died a tragic death and maybe didn't live out their final moment with the courage they would liked to have.

If they were not believers, the tragedy is never ending. The means of death is irrelevent.

Answer 6

I posted this same answer in a simmilar question by mulluh.

Anyone interested in this question needs to read an award-winning Esquire Magazine article called "The Falling Man". It richly and provocatively explores the issue of the WTC jumpers and society's attitude towards suicide. It is my single favorite piece of journalism I've ever read. Powerful stuff. Anyone who likes reading non-fiction (of any faith) should check this out:

http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0903-SEP_FALLINGMAN

Here is the image upon which the article is based. It's not graphic, but it may be unsettling for some. But if you read the article, you should see the photo.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/08/31/falling31806_wideweb__470x375,0.jpg

Answer 7

Hello,

In certain cases like 911 your end is inevitable and jumping out a window rather than being roasted alive is not suicide.
Your time is nigh and there is no way out. If I am given the choice to die by a sword like Nichols or take a bullet in the head I am not commiting suicide by choosing the bullet. Similarily, according to many theologians, characters like general Rommel who were told to end their own lives with a cyanide capsul were not committing suicide, It was technically an "execution ordered by the state." Had they not carried out the state ordered execution on their own they would have died by hanging slowly and see his family suffer.

Michael

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I don't believe that suicide is an automatic ticket to the punishment for the wicked. I believe that God knows the hearts and circumstances of all and will judge each according to the life they lead, not according to a single moment in time.

Answer 9

Of course people may decide to end their lives with less suffering that drawing it out over a longer period...

For better or worse, life ends at death. There is nothing else. So there are no gods to get in the way, and the choice is up to the invidivual (if competent).

It amazes me that some people would believe in such a sadistic god that he would torture people forever for trying to escape a few minutes of sheer agony.

Of course, this is the same god that many people have already been burned alive for not believing in...

Answer 10

Well, first off, alot of christians twist the Bible to what they think it means. Thinking does not always mean knowing lol, and one of the main things implied throughout the book is that God has mercy on us. Committing suicide is horrible yes, but its not like the people do it for fun. Its just the result of an illness.