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sidetrack
Guest
I know it’s a sin but does anyone mind explaining in a lot of detail how it’s a sin?.Is it true that it’s the one sin that God doesn’t forgive?.
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bzkoss236
Guest
It is considered a mortal sin to take one’s life because one essentially “plays God” with oneself, deciding when it’s their time to die instead of living their life, even through the rough times. Suicide is a selfish act in which, like other sin, one puts his or her own will before God’s. In light of this, however, it is also believed that if suicide is brought on by a mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. that one’s culpability for their actions is reduced because they were not in complete control of their will. There might be a more theological reason for why, but I think the reason I gave is enough. If not, there’s always the catechism to look through.
Suicide is not considered an “unforgivable sin” because there is only one sin that is unforgivable, and that is blaspheming of the Holy Spirit (God). This is rejecting God (and the Holy Spirit within oneself) while in complete knowing and belief of who and what God is with no intention of repenting. So, despite their attempts, Atheists can’t really be guilty of this sin because they don’t truly believe in God. Think of the fallen angels, including Lucifer himself, who in full knowing of who God is, rejected him.
However, considering suicide (if accomplished) insinuates that one dies, there is no time to repent. If one attempts suicide and fails, they can still repent. Though, like I mentioned above, if one has less culpability for their actions, it would still be possible for someone who has committed suicide to enter Heaven, because God would know what is truly in their heart.
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bzkoss236
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I went ahead and looked it up in the catechism. It sort of reiterates what I just said, but with a little more detail.
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AKA. We are not to murder, which includes oneself.
CCC said:
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CCC said:
AKA. We are not to murder, which includes oneself.
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PaulfromIowa
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It doesn’t require a lot of detail. We have no more right to kill ourselves than we have to murder other people.
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LegoGE1947
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This may sound a bit inappropriate but have you ever heard Homer & Jethro say that some one laid down next to a sewer and died. They called it “sewer-side”!
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Delaine75
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We have to trust in God’s mercy toward those who take their own lives. We cannot automatically assume they are not forgiven. Only God knows their true hearts at the moment they leave this life, and I believe that when one chooses to take their own life, they are not thinking coherently and are in such utter sadness and despair that rational thinking goes out the window. I think that has a lot to do with whether they are knowingly committing a sin or not. Again, we just have to trust in God’s mercy concerning these people.
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NAMO
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God has created us and only he has the right to take it away. So in any way suicide is not justifiable. Life is not always bed of roses, there are difficulties, struggles in life and some times it may appear that it is difficult to overcome them. However, we need to trust God and pray to him, and also seek the help of others. In this way surely we can overcome problematic situations. But if one has already committed suicide, in no way we can label it as sin, but we need to pray that God in his mercy may forgive him or her.
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runningdude
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Thou shall not kill.
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classica87
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Growing up, I was always taught that you went to Hell if you committed suicide, end discussion. (Former Protestant) However, as many others have said here, we cannot truly know if it would send someone to Hell, because only one sin is forgivable. It is true that suicide its a moral sin, and a person’s level of accountability for suicide cannot change the fact that it is a mortal sin, though the gravity is diminished if a person is not in control of themselves.
We are called not to judge others. Only God is the true judge, and we cannot take his place. We can pray that God will have mercy on that person; God, knowing someone’s true heart, will judge them rightly. That much we can be sure of. Whatever judgement a person receives, it is just and good–in that we have hope for all people.
Someone once told me that since we do not judge others, the Catholic Church makes no claim of whether or not people are destined to Hell. Rather, we rejoice in those who have gone to Heaven.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a merciful God, and we can hope always in Him?
We are called not to judge others. Only God is the true judge, and we cannot take his place. We can pray that God will have mercy on that person; God, knowing someone’s true heart, will judge them rightly. That much we can be sure of. Whatever judgement a person receives, it is just and good–in that we have hope for all people.
Someone once told me that since we do not judge others, the Catholic Church makes no claim of whether or not people are destined to Hell. Rather, we rejoice in those who have gone to Heaven.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a merciful God, and we can hope always in Him?
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bri89
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I have trouble understanding how suicide could be considered criminal or damnable. I don’t think the deed is advisable and is counter-intuitive as the the most basic instict is self-preservation, but it is true that some people have been dealt more than they have the capacity to bear, sometimes the the torments of life surpass the point of what is endurable. It’s curious how in some cases where couples who have been married for 50 years or thereabouts, after one dies the other soon follows after, and of heartfailure! which is poetic. I’ve known of a good deal of women who have committed suicide after their their child died. Another person can be part of you to such an extent that when they go you don’t even recognize yourself anymore, you become a non-entity to yourself. I feel that God should pardon most suicides. The bible does not unequivocally condemn it; the evil of it has been inferred rather than explicitly stated.
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PetrusRomanus
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It may be the sin of despair, which shows distrust and lack of faith in God.
The fifth commandment says it clear as day. Although I think another thing that factors into it is the person’s state of mind, whether they are mentally competent or not.
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SeanF1989
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It is a violation of the commandment Thou Shalt not Kill and since you can’t go to confession after suicide there is no redemption.
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thistle
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Not correct. The Church teaching is absolutely clear that nobody is predestined to go to Hell.Growing up, I was always taught that you went to Hell if you committed suicide, end discussion. (Former Protestant) However, as many others have said here, we cannot truly know if it would send someone to Hell, because only one sin is forgivable. It is true that suicide its a moral sin, and a person’s level of accountability for suicide cannot change the fact that it is a mortal sin, though the gravity is diminished if a person is not in control of themselves.
We are called not to judge others. Only God is the true judge, and we cannot take his place. We can pray that God will have mercy on that person; God, knowing someone’s true heart, will judge them rightly. That much we can be sure of. Whatever judgement a person receives, it is just and good–in that we have hope for all people.
Someone once told me that since we do not judge others,** the Catholic Church makes no claim of whether or not people are destined to Hell**. Rather, we rejoice in those who have gone to Heaven.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a merciful God, and we can hope always in Him?
CCC 1037 God predestines no one to go to Hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”:
Father, accept this offering
from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen.
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classica87
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Wow, I feel super silly right now. I am totally in agreement with the Church on this, and I’m sorry if that confused anybody at all. Sometimes I’m not very articulate. No, God does not predestine anyone to Hell, and I should pay more attention to wording in the future. Sorry if I confused the OP on this!
When in doubt, quote the Catechism! Thanks so much for clearing up my explanation, thistle!
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carmichael2359
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Classica87, i didn’t think at all you were saying Our Father God predestined anyone to go to Hell. Quite the opposite. I don’t think you misled anyone with your post! I can’t remember WHERE I read it, but it was a Catholic Bible scholar who started that, as Jesus died for our sins, we were not bound by the O.T. rules and punishments any longer. It was actually talking about Numbers 5:11-30. I realize that suicide takes place and is condemned in the N.T., but usually before the Christian community had full understanding of Jesus’ full sacrifice. If we put limits on what sins were forgiven by Calvary, then what role are we playing? Could that not fall under blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Just a thought.
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Christy_Beth
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I have been dealing with Major Depression (among other things) since the age of 7. There were times when I felt total despair. It wasn’t intentional, but it was there. Life was more than just a burden, it was, well I’m not sure how to word it exactly. I often felt like there was no God. If there was a loving God, then why all the pain? I’m in a better state of mind now, thank God. But sometimes this stuff still haunts me. I’m sorry to say that I attempted suicide three times in my life. God apparently has other plans for me. But I can now say that there is a loving, and forgiving, God. He has shown great patience with me.
As for those who have commited suicide, pray for them. If they were in a state similar to my darkest days, then I think God will forgive that. Sometimes it’s hard. Life is all dark, you feel like there is a heavy weight bearing you down, and you feel like you’re smothering. Not a good place to be.
As for those who have commited suicide, pray for them. If they were in a state similar to my darkest days, then I think God will forgive that. Sometimes it’s hard. Life is all dark, you feel like there is a heavy weight bearing you down, and you feel like you’re smothering. Not a good place to be.
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carmichael2359
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Christy Beth, I hear you and I praise God that you are feeling better now. I do understand the burden that you carried. That darkness is a smothering tide, and one would do just about anything to be rid of it. Yes, pray for all who’ve committed suicide and those with suicidal tendencies. I think that, in these days, we’ve learned more about the way the brain functions and have come to a more enlightened place. This it’s why the Church no longer denies a Christian burial to a suicide.
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kp111
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Is thinking about suicide a sin?
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