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Why live?
First of all, let me explain that I'm not depressed or suicidal in any way
The reason I'm posting this question is because I've previously posted the opposite question "What is the reason behind suicides?" and that made me question this.
Life as we know it is difficult. There are ups and downs and we face with conflicts daily. Some people's lives are more difficult than others. (ex: People who live in property) But then, what is their purpose in living?
Topics:
better life
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Peter Law 50+
Like you, this has been a big question for me since my youth. The answer, I believe, is; " It all depends on your Worldview".
For my first 35 years I was ,I guess, an agnostic materialist (or something). Like most people, but much more interested in finding out. I reasoned that life was for living, but if it ever got too difficult, then suicide would be a logical choice. Death was the end, & life was, at best, a short period of activity. Evolution was as near as I could get to the mechanics of things, but I was disappointed that this was the best we could do in terms of science.
At age 35 my whole perspective changed when I became a Christian. Life is still a short period of activity; but now it is in preparation for a much more awesome life to come. This life is a learning time, & sometimes it hurts. Suicide is now something evil that I will resist with all my being. It still may come to that, but the threshold is now very much higher.
Many of my friends are now friends for eternity; that puts a whole new light on relationships. At last life makes perfect sense, & I will stretch it out as far as possible, but not be worried at the prospect of death; which is, after all, really only the beginning. How I wish you all could see it.
:-)
Rosa Park 500+
Personally speaking, I've been raised with the thought that suicide was evil (I was raised as a Christian). However as I grew up, I started questioning several things that this religion was not able to explain. And one of these questions was this.
I'm glad that you've found the thing that helps you be stable and confident! Thank you for your answer.
Obey No1kinobe 50+
Just wondering why suicide is evil, especially if terminally ill in chronic pain?
Seems like life before death is less important if it is just a trial run for eternal life after death.
Peter Law 50+
As far as I know, suicide is not mentioned in the bible. I have heard some folks say that you can't be saved if you commit suicide. I think they made that up, along with purgatory, etc etc.
I see suicide as like murder, so let's look at murder. It is a sin because it goes against the will of God. We are also told that being angry can equate to murder. The thing is that a sin is a sin, biblically there doesn't appear to be a pecking order, if we have sinned in one, we have sinned in all.
If your motive for murder is kindness, then I agree it; in my eyes, is a lesser sin than if your motive was selfish . Life is the gift of God, therefore if we take it to ourselves; we sin. However He looks on the heart ( motive ). So suicide is sin ( sin is evil ), but through Christ we are freed from the penalty.
If I personally was in such pain that I chose suicide I certainly would have no concern regarding my eternal state. All that matters really is whether we accept that we are forgiven or not.
:-)
Obey No1kinobe 50+
I always sigh at the unnecessary pain from believing good and bad is whatever supernatural entity you believe is interpreted as saying whether it is good or bad for the human condition. However, I note you apply some human differentiation to motive and outcomes.
If god whatever a god says or does is by definition holy and going against this is sin, then what happens when the rules and actions are actually evil if required by anyone else.
What if your god is immoral, like the Aztec gods requiring human sacrifice?
What if god says murder your Son?
What if god says kill adulterers, naughty children, people working on saturday?
What if your god says kill this tribe and take all their virgins?
What if your god requires you to cut the ends off little boys penises?
Do you see the problems with not questioning god given rules?
What if your god sanctions slavery as long as they don't die with 2 days of a beating?
What if your god is immoral by any reasonable standard except whatever god says is right?
What if your version of god and god given rules conflicts with rules given by other gods?
This is why I'm not opposed to people having different views but they need to have a non religious rationale if they are going to be reasonably discussed and debated with people with different views - and my god says doesn't work.
It doesn't matter if someone thinks their god says women are property or do not have equal rights or that slavery is okay etc you need a sound ethical basis divorced of the rules and interpretations of various supernatural rulers.
Suicide is nearly always sad. Calling it evil needs to be substantiated. You have via your faith, but in a way I can relate to.
Saying that whatever a god requires is automatically moral and good even if it is abhorrent is a recipe for disaster.
Mike Robinson
http://www.evilbible.com/Murder.htm (provocative website name but the quotes are verbatim)
"A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death." (Leviticus 20:27 NAB)
OK, 2 examples:
"Anyone who is captured will be run through with a sword. Their little children will be dashed to death right before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked and their wives raped by the attacking hordes. For I will stir up the Medes against Babylon, and no amount of silver or gold will buy them off. The attacking armies will shoot down the young people with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for the children." (Isaiah 13:15-18 NLT)