Difference between revisions of "Suicide"
Conservative (Talk | contribs) (→Atheism and suicide) |
|||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
== Suicide and Liberalism == | == Suicide and Liberalism == | ||
| − | [[Liberal]] teachings, such as accepting [[homosexuality]] and downplaying the [[sanctity of life]], are undeniably one of the major causes of suicide. Countries such as [[France]], [[Denmark]], and [[Canada]] all have much more liberal tendencies than the US as well as higher suicide rates.<ref>http://fathersforlife.org/health/who_suicide_rates.htm</ref> | + | [[Liberal]] teachings, such as accepting [[homosexuality]] and downplaying the [[sanctity of life]], are undeniably one of the major causes of suicide.{{fact}} Countries such as [[France]], [[Denmark]], and [[Canada]] all have much more liberal tendencies than the US as well as higher suicide rates.<ref>http://fathersforlife.org/health/who_suicide_rates.htm</ref> |
== Atheism and suicide == | == Atheism and suicide == | ||
Revision as of 16:28, April 3, 2024
Suicide is the act of killing oneself and – when done purposely – a form of murder.
Unless done accidentally (e.g. shooting oneself with a loaded firearm not knowing it was loaded at the time, or accidentally taking too much of a prescribed medication), it is a sin throughout all of Judaism and Christianity, and a mortal sin in Roman Catholic teaching (thus making the deceased ineligible for a funeral mass); it is not a sin in the Islam culture if one engages in a homicide attack.
Christians should remember that they are given life to love and to serve the Lord, and during times of desperation to remember the words of Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God."
Contents
United States
In the United States suicide was – technically – a crime in a few states until the early 2000s; however assisted suicide is considered a crime in most states (often akin to homicide). Oregon,[1] Washington,[2] and Montana[3] are the only states in the United States which currently allow assisted suicide. The states enforce strict mandates on the availability and administration of the procedure.
Many advocates for assisted suicide claim that this is one of the few situations where the act itself is legal, and yet the assistance of the act is a crime.[4]
Scope of the Problem
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the world, claiming over one million lives globally in 1999. The suicide rate in the United States in 1999 was 10.7 per 100,000; the homicide rate that same year was only 6.2 per 100,000. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth 15–24 years old. White males over 85 have the highest rate of suicide, about 65 per 100,000. Suicide rates are also elevated in some ethnic groups. For example, suicide is about 1.5 times more prevalent than average among native Americans. While whites continue to have higher suicide rates than blacks, the gap seems to be narrowing in young males. Suicides in males outnumber those in females in almost all nations, including the United States. While males are more likely to complete suicide, females are more likely to attempt suicide.
Suicide in the Military
The United States Army, which has about one million soldiers, reported 99 suicides in 2006, which is less than 0.01%. About half were soldiers/officers under 25. According to Colonel Elspeth Ritchie, psychiatry consultant to Army Surgeon General Major General Gale Pollock, the primary motivation for these suicides had nothing to do with military service, and instead were due to "failed intimate relationships, failed marriages."[5]
Suicide and Liberalism
Liberal teachings, such as accepting homosexuality and downplaying the sanctity of life, are undeniably one of the major causes of suicide.[Citation Needed] Countries such as France, Denmark, and Canada all have much more liberal tendencies than the US as well as higher suicide rates.[6]
Atheism and suicide
See also: Atheism and suicide and Atheism and depression and Atheism and loneliness
As a whole, individuals who reside in religious countries and are integrated into their religious community's values are less accepting of suicide.[8][9] Compared to secular oriented countries, suicide rates are lower in countries with a state religion.[10][11] In 2008, the Gallup Organization reported: In More Religious Countries, Lower Suicide Rates
Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College in Claremont, California (which was the first secular studies university department[12]). He specialization is in the sociology of secularity.
The website Adherents.com reported concerning atheism and suicide:
| “ | Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference. These data were published in the chapter titled "Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns" in The Cambridge Companion to Atheism, ed. by Michael Martin, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK (2005). In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:
"Concerning suicide rates, this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations. According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism. It is interesting to note, however, that of the top remaining nine nations leading the world in male suicide rates, all are former Soviet/Communist nations, such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Latvia. Of the bottom ten nations with the lowest male suicide rates, all are highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism."[13] |
” |
In 2002, the People's Republic of China, which has state atheism, had the highest suicide rate (25.6 per 100,000 persons).[14]
Concerning atheism and depression, a University of Michigan study involving 19,775 individuals found that religious people are less likely than atheists to suffer depression when they are lonely.[15] See also: Atheism and loneliness
References
- ↑ http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/
- ↑ https://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/11/05/washington-passes-initiative-1000-legalizing-physician-assisted-suicide/
- ↑ https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0102/Montana-becomes-third-state-to-legalize-physician-assisted-suicide
- ↑ http://www.apa.org/pi/eol/arguments.html#1
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/16/AR2007081600266.html?sub=AR
- ↑ http://fathersforlife.org/health/who_suicide_rates.htm
- ↑ Adherents.com - suicide rates
- ↑ Norko MA, Freeman D, Phillips J, Hunter W, Lewis R, Viswanathan R (January 2017). "Can Religion Protect Against Suicide?". Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 205 (1): 9–14. doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000615. ISSN 1539-736X. PMID 27805983. S2CID 22824093
- ↑ Gearing RE, Alonzo D (December 2018). "Religion and Suicide: New Findings". Journal of Religion and Health. 57 (6): 2478–2499. doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8. ISSN 0022-4197. PMID 29736876. S2CID 13687736.
- ↑ Norko MA, Freeman D, Phillips J, Hunter W, Lewis R, Viswanathan R (January 2017). "Can Religion Protect Against Suicide?". Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease. 205 (1): 9–14. doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000615. ISSN 1539-736X. PMID 27805983. S2CID 22824093
- ↑ Gearing RE, Alonzo D (December 2018). "Religion and Suicide: New Findings". Journal of Religion and Health. 57 (6): 2478–2499. doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8. ISSN 0022-4197. PMID 29736876. S2CID 13687736.
- ↑ Phil Zuckerman, Berkley Center website
- ↑ http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html
- ↑ Bertolote JM, Fleischmann A (2002). "A Global Perspective in the Epidemiology of Suicide" (PDF).
- ↑ Lonely religious people are less depressed than atheists because they see God as a friend replacement, study finds, Daily Mail, 2018
See also
Forms of suicide
- Altruistic suicide
- Anomic suicide
- Assisted suicide
- Homosexual suicide
- Kamikaze
- Suicide bomber
- Suicide bombing
Related topics
- Euthanasia
- Abortion and suicide
- Atheism and European suicide in the 17th century
- Atheism, gender and suicide
- Atheism, marriage and suicide
- Ex-Christians, self-esteem and suicide
Further reading
- Demme, Greg, Suicide: What’s the problem? 2 April 2008 (Creation Ministries International)
- What is the Christian view of suicide? What does the Bible say about suicide?, at GotQuestions
- Why should I not commit suicide?, at GotQuestions
| ||||||||||||||
