Review article

Suicide in the Considering of the Christian Ethics

Marijan Biškup ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The word suicide means a conscient and premeditated taking of own life. This is very often a flight before the great and heavy overcoming difficulties and result of entire despair and attempt at senseless life. A good deal in the suicide decision has also default of religious, supernatural orientation. More scientific disciplines make research into problem of suicide. Here it is word about suicide act in Christian ethics.
As starting point is the fifth command of the Decalogue: »You shall not murder« (Ex 20,13), you are not permitted to take own life or the life of others. The Bible quotes several suicides: king Saul (1 Sam 31, 3-5), David's advisor Ahithophel (2 Sam 17,23), the priest Razis (2 Mak 14,41-46), the apostle Judas Iscariot (Mt 27,5) etc. It is interesting that about some of these events the biblical writers speak with simpathy, praising the choice of suicide as something more honorable than the falling in the hands of enemies who will humiliate and at the end kill them.
The Christian ethics in the protection of life was always opposed the suicide, condemned it as the great evil, this means as heavy trasgression and sin, what after all evidence the writings of well known theologians Aurelius Augustinus, Thomas Aquinas and others as well the declarations of many ecclesiastic synods before and today (Orleans, 553d: Toledo, 693d, II. Vatican council, 1962-1965, GS 27). The Christian ethics passes sentence upon suicide with three general reasons: God created man and woman on his image and similarity (Gen 1,26-27) and He is Lord of human life and death. Human being has no right to dispose with his life because, he is only its watcher and ruler. The suicide is also further evil deed against those who depend from the suicide person like family and society where the determined should further live and collaborate on general wellbeing. As third reason against the suicide is the violation of the command of love to one's self and aspiration for fullness. The suicide deprived himself from any spiritual progress called by God (Mt 5,48). It is good to remember that the living faith and love toward the neighbour and toward God is the best protection and remedy against suicide.
The special form of widely current suicide of the new times is euthanasia. This is very heavy problem and there should be condemned the lawgiver who legalize euthanasian suicide. With the legalization of the euthanasia practice the legislator protects from judicial persecution all collaborators of the »pitying killing« of older population or uncurable sick persons. The Christian ethics condemns even this kind of suicide and animates men and women to be on guard in such practice.

Keywords

life; sense of life; suicide person; suicide; mutilation; Ecclesiastic funeral; Exclusion of ecclesiastical community

Hrčak ID:

29055

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/29055

Publication date:

21.5.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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