Wikipedia Overview On Religious Views Of Suicide

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Religious views on suicide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents· 1 Abrahamic religions o 1.1 Judaism o 1.2 Christianity o 1.3 Islam · 2 Indian religions o 2.1 Hinduism o 2.2 Jainism o 2.3 Buddhism · 3 Cult suicide · 4 References · 5 External links

Abrahamic religions

Judaism

Main article: Jewish views on suicide

Suicide is generally forbidden by Jewish law. It may be an acceptable alternative if the alternative is the commission of certain cardinal sins for which one must give up one's life rather than sin.[1] Most authorities hold that it is not permissible to hasten death to avoid pain if one is dying in any event, but the Talmud is somewhat unclear on the matter.[2]

Suicides are frowned upon and buried in a separate part of a Jewish cemetery and not to receive certain mourning rights. In actual practice every means is used to excuse suicide—usually by determining either that the suicide itself proves that the perpetrator was not in his or her right mind, or that the suicide must have repented after performing the deadly act but before death took place.

Assisting in suicide and requesting such assistance (thereby creating an accomplice to a sinful act) is also forbidden, a violation of Leviticus 19:14, "Do not put a stumbling block before the blind," which is understood as prohibiting temptation to sin as well as putting up actual physical obstacles.[3]

However mass suicide has had a longstanding history in Judaism where it was acceptable to other alternatives. i.e. According to Josephus, a 1st-century CE Jewish Roman historian, Herod the Great fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE as a refuge for himself in the event of a revolt. In 66 CE, at the beginning of the First Jewish-Roman War against the Roman Empire, a group of Jewish extremists, called the Sicarii, overcame the Roman garrison of Masada. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, additional members of the Sicarii and numerous Jewish families fled Jerusalem and settled on the mountaintop, using it as a base for harassing the Romans.[4] The 960 members of the Sicarii Jewish community at Masada, collectively committed suicide in AD 73, rather than be conquered and enslaved by the Romans. Each man killed his wife and children, then the men drew lots and killed each other until the last man killed himself.[5]

Christianity

According to the theology of the Roman Catholic Church, death by suicide is considered a grave or serious sin. The chief Roman 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. However, in the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, Number 2283 states, "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." However, the catechism points out that, "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide."[6]

Conservative Protestants (Evangelicals, Charismatics, Pentecostals, and other denominations) 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 concerns the act of asking for salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior, which must be done prior to death. This is an important aspect of many Protestant denominations, and 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.

Most Fundamental Denominationalists (traditional Baptists) view suicide as any other sin. John Piper speaking at a funeral at Bethel Baptist Church in 1981 said, "No single sin, not even suicide, evicts a person from heaven into hell. One thing does: continual rejection of God's Spirit. Our friend, we believe, gave up that resistance and accepted the forgiveness of Christ. What sort of momentary weakness, what brief cloud of hopelessness caused her to take her life remains a mystery.

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 if they continue to "walk in the light"(1 John 1:7), and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" if they continue to walk according to the spirit (Romans 8:1). These Christians believe suicide to be a sin, but do not believe it is impossible to find salvation. (Romans 4:8). Judas, who committed suicide in despair, is generally believed to have been damned, for his suicide and/or for his actions which caused the death of another. Other interpretations, however, suggests Judas may have committed suicide as an act of repentance, along with returning the "blood money" (Matthew 27:3-5). Other Biblical examples of suicide (Saul and his armor-bearer in 1 Samuel 31:4-5, Samson in Judges 16:16:28-30, Ahitophel in 2 Samuel 17:23, and Zimri in 1 Kings 16:18) describe people who are considered failures in their life. The narratives, however, do not explicitly condemn them for the act of suicide.

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 (see Dance of Zalongo). They also feel that perpetrators of suicide are most likely “not in their right minds” and that God will have mercy on them. In any case the Orthodox Christians leave the fate of suicide victims up to God and avoid making judgements.[citation needed]

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, suicide is viewed as wrong, although the victim may not be considered responsible for the act depending on the circumstances.[7]

Some other denominations of Christianity may not condemn those who commit suicide per se as committing a sin, even if suicide isn't viewed favorably; factors such as motive, character, etc. are believed to be taken into account. One such example is the The New Church.[8]

Islam

See also: Istishhad

Islam, like other Abrahamic religions, views suicide as one of the greatest sins and utterly detrimental to one's spiritual journey. A verse in the Quran instructs;
"And do not kill yourselves, surely God is most Merciful to you."
— Qur'an, Sura 4(An-Nisa), ayat 29 [9]

Most Muslim scholars and clerics consider suicide forbidden and make it a point to include suicide bombing as being equally forbidden despite common misconceptions. Islamic spiritualism is not attained without maintenance and forbearance of peace. Bukhari and Muslim, two of the most renowned scholars in Islam, state: "He who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his guest, should not harm his neighbour, should speak good or keep quiet.". This provides an incentive for Muslims to preserve peace in order to attain higher status in the eyes of God. This applies to non-Muslims as well as Muslims as seen in the following quote by Prophet Muhammad: “Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud) This puts suicide bombing and suicide into proper perspective within Islamic traditions, ultimately denouncing suicide of any form.

The prohibition of suicide has also been recorded in statements of hadith, (sayings of Muhammad). For example:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "He who commits suicide by throttling shall keep on throttling himself in the Hell Fire (forever) and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hell-Fire."

—Sahih al-Bukhari, 2:23:446
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever; and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever."
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 7:71:670

Furthermore, Ja'far Al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia Imam, has said the following with regards to suicide: Abi Walad said, I heard Aba Abd Allah say: “Whoever kills himself, intentionally, he will be in the fire of hell for eternity.”

Indian religions

Hinduism

In Hinduism, there are a number of views in regard to suicide. Generally, committing suicide is considered a violation of the code of ahimsa (non-violence) and therefore equally sinful as murdering another. Some scriptures state that to die by suicide (and any type of violent death) results in becoming a ghost, wandering earth until the time one would have otherwise died, had one not committed suicide.[10] Although not prescribed by any Hindu scripture;[11] the currently defunct and proscribed practice of sati facilitated self-immolation of widows in their husband's pyre in Middle age India.
Hinduism accepts a man's right to end one's life through the non-violent practice of fasting to death, termed Prayopavesa.[12] But Prayopavesa is strictly restricted to people who have no desire or ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in this life.[12]

Jainism

Jainism is one religion that permits suicide with restrictions. Jain munis & elderly have been known to starve themselves to death, though there is no record of application of any other violent means due to heavy insistence on non-violence.[13] The practice of non-violent fasting to death which is sanctioned by Jainism is termed Santhara.

Buddhism

According to Buddhism, individuals' past acts heavily influence what they experience in the present; present acts, in turn, become the background influence for future experiences (the doctrine of karma). Intentional action by mind, body or speech have a reaction. This reaction, or repercussion, is the cause of conditions and differences one encounters in life.
Buddhism teaches that all people experience substantial suffering (dukkha), in which suffering primarily originates from past negative deeds (karma), or may result as a natural process of the cycle of birth and death (samsara). Other reasons for the prevalence of suffering concern the concepts of impermanence and illusion (maya). Since everything is in a constant state of impermanence or flux, individuals experience dissatisfaction with the fleeting events of life. To break out of samsara, Buddhism advocates the Noble Eightfold Path.

For Buddhists, since the first precept is to refrain from the destruction of life, including one's self, suicide is seen as a negative form of action. If someone commits suicide in anger, he may be reborn in a sorrowful realm due to negative final thoughts.[14][15] However, unlike Christianity and other religions, Buddhism does not condemn suicide, but rather states that the reasons for suicide are often negative and thus counteract the path to enlightenment.[16]
There is one Buddhist tale of a bhikkhu named Godhika[17] who had repeatedly attained temporary liberation of mind but was unable to gain final liberation due to illness.[17] Godhika chose to take his own life while in a state of temporary liberation to be reborn in a high realm.[17] The Buddha was quoted as saying

Such indeed is how the steadfast act: they are not attached to life; having drawn out craving at its root; and Godhika has attained final Nibbaana.[17]

There is a similar story of a bhikkhu named Vakkali who committed suicide upon becoming an arhant.[17] Ultimately, tales like these point to a Buddhist belief that suicide may be acceptable ("good") if it will lead to non-attachment. However, people who have achieved enlightenment do not commit suicide. In both above cases they were not enlightened before attempting suicide but they became enlightened during or following their deaths.[18]

In an entry in the The Encyclopedia of Religion, Marilyn J. Harran wrote the following:

“Buddhism in its various forms affirms that, while suicide as self-sacrifice may be appropriate for the person who is an arhat, one who has attained enlightenment, it is still very much the exception to the rule[19]”

The Channovàda-sutra gives yet another example of an arhant who committed suicide.[20]

Cult suicide

Main article: Cult suicide

References

1. ^ See Talmud Bavli Gittin, 57b.
2. ^ See Talmud Bavli Avoda Zara 18a
3. ^ See Talmud Bavli (B.) Pesachim 22b; B. Mo'ed Katan 5a, 17a; B. Bava Mezia 75b. and B. Nedarim 42b).
4. ^ Jewish Virtual Library - Masada
5. ^ Masada and the first Jewish revolt against Rome: Near East Tourist Industry, Steven Langfur 2003
6. ^ http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/ ... al-illness
7. ^ "Suicide". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. http://lds.org/study/topics/suicide?lang=eng.
8. ^ Odhner, John. "Reflections on Suicide". http://whatthebiblesays.info/suicide.html. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
9. ^ Quran 4:29
10. ^ Hindu Website. Hinduism and suicide
11. ^ K. N. Gupta (2002). Indian police and vigilance in the 21st century. Anmol Publications. pp. 254. ISBN 81-261-1104-6 9788126111046. http://books.google.com/books?id=9poWJfndXHQC&pg=PA254.
12. ^ a b "Hinduism - Euthanasia and Suicide". BBC. 2009-08-25. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions ... asia.shtml.
13. ^ Suicide and Jainism
14. ^ 千萬不要自殺﹗--悔恨千年剧烈痛苦!
15. ^ 珍惜生命（墮胎與自殺的真相）
16. ^ 論佛教的自殺觀
17. ^ a b c d e Suicide as A Response to Suffering
18. ^ Buddhism, euthanasia and suicide at the BBC
19. ^ Mircea Eliade. The Encyclopedia of Religion (vol 14). New York: Macmillan. pp. 129. ISBN 0-02-865733-0.
20. ^ Damien Keown. Buddhism and Suicide The Case of Channa. 3 (1996). 19–21. http://www.buddhistethics.org/3/keown.pdf. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
20. Matther, Herper, http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewherp ... t-suicide/ ; Forbes.com, 2011