your thoughts on suicide

Please tell me you don't really believe this. That God lets people get raped or victims of disasters so he can test their faith?

That is a cruel God. You don't have to do that to people to get their faith. My Grandma is Christian and has never had to go through things. She has always believed.

I have read the bible front to back more than once. Between this and my talking with theologists and officials of the church is that it is beyond our comprehension and God has a plan for everyone.

Unfortunately I am not satisfied with this answers. If these are tests, I need to be given more tools to be able to deal with the problems. I will never be able to comprehend how innocent individuals can go through the horrors that many of them do. That contradicts directly with the idea of a loving God in my mind.

I can accept you saying that suicide victims are helpless and not cowards. In many respects I think that is true even when the individual seeks out every possible form of help.

I guess I said that wrong :/. Nature is nature. Hurricanes,Tornadoes ect. They are going to happen. They are only natural disaters because people are there, otherwise..its just nature. These things diffreanciate earth from heaven. Its a good thing God created pain. Otherwise, we would constantly be getting hurt.

I understand that, but not the rape part.

I also agree about the helpless part for people, because that is very true. Keep in mind, this also comes from a lot of pleading with God to help, to interact, to direct, to give them the strength to help themselves. And with no answer? How do you answer that?

I've read the bible numerous times. I've went to bible studies. There were so many questions that preachers wouldn't answer. Then when I found the answers, I realized why. Because a lot of preachers don't want Christians to know the truth of what the Christian faith was based on.

I'd encourage all Christians to research that - then make their decision. Most wont'. They don't want to know the truth.

I am extremely interested in religions. Like I said I grew up in the church until I was about 16.

I found a church that was actually willing to answer all of my questions regardless of how controversial. Many of them were your typical "You must have faith" "Only God knows" answers but I did get some real answers.

What stuck with me the most though was they told me to go to heaven, you must have 100% faith in God. I questioned if this was even possible (And related to this topic, with a suicide victim this wouldnt be the case) They told me that if you lived your life according to the commandments, but at your death bed you had doubt about God, you would be sent to hell.

On the opposite side, if you lived a bad life. Murder, steal, rape, whatever... but at your death bed you accepted God you would go to heaven so long as you asked for forgiveness.

This I found shocking. I have yet to be able to get as straight forward of an answer from another church so I'm not sure how common this belief is. I can definitely see how it does apply to the suicide argument though. Obviously if you are killing yourself, you have lost faith that God will fix things or give you the strength to fix things. By this logic, you would go to Hell.


I do want to tell you I respect you saying you didn't know the answer, wannahorse. I don't know if you will come back quoting scriptures as an answer, but very rarely do you get an "I don't know" as an answer when speaking to a religious person as an agnostic.

Double post but interested in your guys opinion on this:

If suicide is a sin, do you think that this prevents some people for asking for help within the church because it labels them as a sinner (adding more weight to an already taboo subject)?

I was told the same thing. That's why I asked the preacher - well lead a bad life, have a death bed confession and no worries! Never made sense to me.

And throwing scriptures doesn't mean much to me if the person throwing doesn't understand them. That's what I dislike most about religious discussions. People will start quoting the bible to you - well what does that mean to you and I'll tell you what it means to me.

I studies a lot of religions. It is a fascinating topic and I think everyone should do it, even Christians.

I've been really surprised though, at how many people have been leaving the Christian religion. So many people I know and grew up with. I think we are going to see a big shift over the next few decades religious wise and a lot of it has to do with what we are talking about in this thread.

I think its absolutely is a factor. I had a friend that was a catholic that couldn't go to her church with her issues because she would be 'condemned'.

Back to the original topic : )

This year our senior school was gathered into the Chapel and told one of our class mates as died and nothing more. The next day we were brought back in and told he had committed suicide. I didn't personally know him but I knew of him. He was a grade up from me. Basically what happened is that he felt trapped in something and the only way out was to kill himself.

I think suicide is absolutely devastating, I have seen the effects it can have on a commuinty. But sadly I have to say it is the cowards way out.

And you think they are a coward why?