Free will and Suicide

[00Sherman]

Often I have been torn inside by the vary question of my existence. Why did life force gods love and the devils hate upon my soul? Where does free will begin and the will of forces beyond our control start and end, there is so much conflict it makes me consider death itself as the release from this tension.

Why should a man that so hates the earth and all its evils be denied the ability to pass into the next realm, is taking ones life so great a sin that god would damn such a lost soul to forever torment?

God gave man life, but to what ends? For who was man created, and for what life was he destined to live.

 

[JohnDamian]

You are not suppost to murder, and suicide is the murder of ones self. Knowing this in full conscience and with full consent this would constitute a mortal sin.

We are all very blessed by the gift of life; just because sometimes we are too weak to carry on does not mean we should give up - we should look to God for strength and courage; for the struggle makes us stronger.

All life is intrinsically valuable; and to throw it away is ungrateful.

 

[00Sherman]

Indeed, but surly we all die do we not? To end your life on your own terms when you know your time is soon is not ungrateful, but an acceptance of things bound to come.

Example, in some native american cultures where people live in a resources scare regions, when a man can no longer provide for his family due to age or infirmity he will kill himself by walking off into the snow never to return, or hang himself in front of his family.

The woman and the children would then be taken into the house of a younger man to be raised and he may also have a child with the wife. All of this is done out of the practical implications. Should the man starve to death with his wife and children before he can be saved, or in a selfless act give them life?

 

[JohnDamian]

Indeed, but surly we all die do we not? To end your life on your own terms when you know your time is soon is not ungrateful, but an acceptance of things bound to come.

We do all surely die; but to bring forward ones death is no less murder than it would be for me to slay you or another at my discression of “mercy” or “acceptance”.

Example, in some native american cultures where people live in a resources scare regions, when a man can no longer provide for his family due to age or infirmity he will kill himself by walking off into the snow never to return, or hang himself in front of his family.

The woman and the children would then be taken into the house of a younger man to be raised and he may also have a child with the wife. All of this is done out of the practical implications. Should the man starve to death with his wife and children before he can be saved, or in a selfless act give them life?

This was a good example, and I shall reply thus;

Initially, I shall explain that for a person to kill themselves without a knowlege of it’s gravity would not constitute a mortal sin.

We all face trials and struggles in the world, for any man to surrender his life because he cannot face his challenges is a truly sad thing. But the man should no less slay himself for the benefits of others, than he would slay the others for the benifit of himself - either of these would be a grave act. Particularily, if, as in your analogy - there are “younger men” who may be able to provide for them.

No human’s life is worthless, a lifes value is intrinsic; be it a disabled person, an old person or even one who has made mistakes - we all have something of value to give the world; and to slay ourselves for it’s benifit is a gross fallacy.

 

[00Sherman]

Life only has value if i say it does. As i perceive the world in a fully subjective manner.

With that line of thought, I disagree that life has intrinsic value and is just a biological phenomena that can change forms based on its environment. It all has no meaning except what value I subscribe it, and my actions are only good or evil based on my own perceptions of the words.

 

[mikeghiorso]

did life exist before you did? The problem with such subjective interpretation is that it leaves everything up to your perception. Ever been wrong?