Lina El-Kassem

SUICIDE

What is the Definition of Suicide?

Suicide is the act of one who causes his own death, either by positively destroying his own life, as by inflicting on himself a mortal wound or injury, or by omitting to do what is necessary to escape death, as by refusing to leave a burning house(Catholic Encyclopedia).

Suicide (Latin, suicidium, from sui caedere, "to kill oneself") is the act of a human being intentionally causing his or her own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair, or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse. Financial difficulties, troubles with interpersonal relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role (Wikipedia).

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens in Canada and third leading cause of death in the US.

Suicide and attempted suicide has increased 300% in the last thirty years.

Teen/youth suicide rates have tripled since 1970.

Nine out of ten suicides take place in the home.

For every completed suicide there are an estimated 30 to 50 attempts.

70% of suicides occur between the hours of 3 p.m. to midnight (when they could be saved).

Males complete suicide 4 times more often than females.

Females account for 75% of the attempted suicides (mainly with drug overdoses).

Approximately one-third of teens who die by suicide have made a previous suicide attempt.

Males use more violent means, e.g. guns, hanging.

Direct and Indirect SuicideSuicide is direct when a man has the intention of

causing his own death, whether as an end to be attained, or as a means to another end, as when a man kills himself to escape condemnation, disgrace, ruin etc.

It is indirect , and not usually called by this name when a man does not desire it, either as an end or as a means, but when he nevertheless commits an act which in effect involves death, as when he devotes himself to the care of the plague-stricken knowing that he will succumb under the task.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.

2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law. Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or

torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide. 2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their

own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.

Continued... According to the theology of the Catholic Church, death by suicide is

considered a grave or serious sin. The chief Catholic Christian argument is that one's life is the property of God, and a gift to the world, and to destroy that life is to wrongly assert dominion over what is God's and is a tragic loss of hope.

The 1997 Catechism of the Catholic Church indicated that the person who committed suicide may not always be fully right in their mind; and thus not one-hundred-percent morally culpable: "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide." The Catholic Church prays for those who have committed suicide, knowing that Christ shall judge the deceased fairly and justly. The Church also prays for the close relations of the deceased, that the loving and healing touch of God will comfort those torn apart by the impact of the suicide.

Other Views... There were seven suicides in the Bible, most notably in Matthew 27:3-5, the

suicide of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. Eastern Orthodoxy, on the other hand, has never made any absolute statement

about people who commit suicide. There have been those in the history of the Church that have killed themselves rather than be tortured and demoralized by invaders. They also feel that suicides are most likely “not in their right minds” and that God will have mercy on them. In any case the Orthodox leave the fate of suicides up to God and avoid making judgments.

Conservative Protestants (Evangelicals, Charismatics and Pentecostals) have often argued that because suicide involves self-murder, then anyone who commits it is sinning and is the same as if the person murdered another human being.

An additional view is that asking for salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior has to be done prior to death. The problem with suicide is that once dead the individual is unable to accept salvation. The unpardonable sin then becomes, not the suicide itself, but rather the refusal of the gift of salvation.

The view of scripture on the topic is such that, once a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, every sin they will ever commit is paid for (1 John 1;7), and "there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8;1. These Christians believe suicide to be a sin, but do not believe it is impossible to find salvation. (Romans 4;8). However, Judas, who committed suicide in despair, is generally believed to have been damned.

Assisted Suicide

Euthanasia- “Thou Shalt Not Kill”Violating the 5th Commandment

Respect for Human Life-Especially If It’s Your OwnSuicide, or the murder of one's self, is the next common

application of the commandment. It is understood that God has placed the soul within an earthen vessel that needs to be taken care of. This would suggest that the human body does not simply belong to the person, but rather that the soul which houses the body belongs to God. Catholicism prohibits any kind of mutilation of the body. It has been widely known that until recently Roman Catholics had the lowest incidence of suicide, based on the admonition not to commit such an act.

The Other Side of the Coin: When is Suicide Justifiable?

Martyrs-Dying in God’s nameAssisted Suicide (Euthanasia)-Is okay when

someone is suffering and the case is terminalSuicide being illegal or immoral stems from

religious origins (not everyone’s religious)Personal choice/freedom of decisionHaving the right over your own bodyDying to save someone else

Suicide Quotes in the Bible 1 Corinthians 10:31 reveal that the Holy Spirit dwells in those who are

saved. It is our responsibility to treat Him with respect, and suicide is not appropriate.

Genesis 1:26,27 (and similar verses) reveal that we are made in the image of God. This is one of the reasons we are not allowed to murder (Genesis 9:6,7), so again suicide would be a bad thing.

The Bible teaches us to trust, depend on, and believe in God throughout its length. (Romans 8:28 is one example.) To take your own life would show no faith in God. Notice that although the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ were persecuted, tortured, and put to death; they did not commit suicide for an “easy out.” They “fought the good fight” to the end (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Famous Suicide Quotes

Mahatma Gandhi said: "If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide."

(Psychiatrist and Academic) Thomas S. Szasz said: "Suicide is a fundamental human right. This does not mean that it is morally desirable. It only means that society does not have the moral right to interfere."

Think About It... Why would anyone wish to end his/her life if God created him/her in

the first place to live? God created every person with a purpose in life and it is our job to fulfill that purpose.

No one has the right to take your life but God. Although we have total control of our lives, we don’t have the right to choose whether or not we want to live anymore. Simply choosing to commit suicide is taking the easy way out. We are all on earth to endure struggle and show patience in return. Having faith in God is perhaps the best solution. When you remember God, God will remember you.

Suicide IS NOT the only way out!!!

Discussion Questions

Is Suicide the same as Murder?

Is committing Suicide a selfish act? Why or why not?

Do you believe that people who commit Suicide can still go to Heaven?

Possible Answers...• Bible strictly forbids murdering anyone. Therefore, some

people have stated that people who commit suicide will be judged as murderers (of themselves) and therefore could not reasonably expect to go to heaven. However, the Bible reveals that people can not “murder” themselves.

• People do not make it to heaven, regardless of how they died, if they had not yet accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. That is, suicide is not the issue regarding whether a person goes to heaven. Getting right with God is the issue.