I want to connect with fellow believers, who are also suicidal...

[TheTwelthRootOfTwo]

TRIGGER WARNING: RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION.

So I know this is going to sound really twisted, but I can't be the only Christian on earth that also thinks about suicide. I need to know if there are others who are in this predicament. I tried posting on a Reddit subreddit, and it didn't go over very well because of Reddit's weird rules.

 

[witchcraft]

One of the best things I did this year was delete my two Reddit accounts. No help to be found there (which I guess was to be expected).

I don't know if I'm a "believer" or not. I struggle with this believing. But even if or when I do, I am still thinking about suicide.

Never fully got through the Bible. Go to church maybe once every other month but it doesn't seem to make a difference how often. A while ago, I read something that C.S. Lewis wrote to a friend who had lost his wife (Lewis had also lost his own). Paraphrasing, Lewis said one reason to "go on" is that there are no grounds to believe that death ("by that route") would reunite him with his wife. "Why should it? You might be digging an eternally unbridgeable chasm." And then he makes a more direct statement that I'd say is in keeping with the idea that suicide is a sin.

In terms of Christian writings, the best I found on this subject was some of Kierkegaard's writing. It is very challenging reading, at least in my experience, but can be rewarding. As one might expect, Kierkegaard also viewed suicide as a sin. But no, it didn't cure me. Just made me feel understood more than pretty much any other writer on the subject.

Besides that, some people have luck with stoicism, which I'd say is in many ways compatible with Christian teaching. Personally I find stoicism can be best summed up as Ida Auken's "you will own nothing and be happy." Not for me. It'd hardly be uncharitable to describe it as an ancient psy-op to placate the slaves.

 

[TheTwelthRootOfTwo]

One of the best things I did this year was delete my two Reddit accounts. No help to be found there (which I guess was to be expected).

I don't know if I'm a "believer" or not. I struggle with this believing. But even if or when I do, I am still thinking about suicide.

Never fully got through the Bible. Go to church maybe once every other month but it doesn't seem to make a difference how often. A while ago, I read something that C.S. Lewis wrote to a friend who had lost his wife (Lewis had also lost his own). Paraphrasing, Lewis said one reason to "go on" is that there are no grounds to believe that death ("by that route") would reunite him with his wife. "Why should it? You might be digging an eternally unbridgeable chasm." And then he makes a more direct statement that I'd say is in keeping with the idea that suicide is a sin.

In terms of Christian writings, the best I found on this subject was some of Kierkegaard's writing. It is very difficult, at least in my experience, but can be rewarding. As one might expect, Kierkegaard also viewed suicide as a sin. But no, it didn't cure me. Just made me feel understood.

Besides that, some people have luck with stoicism, which I'd say is in many ways compatible with Christian teaching. Personally I find stoicism can be best summed up as Ida Auken's "you will own nothing and be happy." Not for me.

I too thought of suicide as a sin, but lately I'm leaning more toward not. I know people say suicide is murder, but... In the case of murder, we're taking someone else's life without their permission, but with suicide I'm actually giving permission for my own assassination.

 

[witchcraft]

I too thought of suicide as a sin, but lately I'm leaning more toward not. I know people say suicide is murder, but... In the case of murder, we're taking someone else's life without their permission, but with suicide I'm actually giving permission for my own assassination.

I'm not saying I believe this myself, but to play "devil's" advocate here, I think the response would be something along the lines of: you do not have permission from God.

Of course, not all of Christendom shares the same view on suicide. While I doubt you'd find a view that outright condones suicide, there is the "plead insanity" kind of sentiment. As in, a person who commits suicide was not in their right mind, and that suicide is not an unforgivable sin (there is only one unforgivable sin). While in a certain sense this stance is less adversarial, some people who think about CTB might feel insulted by the implication that there is no rhyme or reason to their madness, so to speak. As if their suffering is purely delusional, self-inflicted, born of ignorance, or something similar.

Beyond that, I'm not really qualified to answer. Just speaking as a regular person who has struggled with their faith for over 10 years, and likewise the will to live.

EDIT: and I would like to clarify that I am simply sharing what I have heard or read in terms of Christianity's view on suicide. That's all, that's it. I'm not saying I agree.

 

[TheTwelthRootOfTwo]

I'm not saying I believe this myself, but to play "devil's" advocate here, I think the response would be something along the lines of: you do not have permission from God.

Of course, not all of Christendom shares the same view on suicide. While I doubt you'd find a view that outright condones suicide, there is the "plead insanity" kind of sentiment. As in, a person who commits suicide was not in their right mind, and that suicide is not an unforgivable sin (there is only one unforgivable sin). While in a certain sense this stance is less adversarial, some people who think about CTB might feel insulted by the implication that there is no rhyme or reason to their madness, so to speak. As if their suffering is purely delusional, self-inflicted, born of ignorance, or something similar.

Beyond that, I'm not really qualified to answer. Just speaking as a regular person who has struggled with their faith for over 10 years, and likewise the will to live.

EDIT: and I would like to clarify that I am simply sharing what I have heard or read in terms of Christianity's view on suicide. That's all, that's it. I'm not saying I agree.

I'm glad to hear you say there is only one unforgivable sin. In fact, I don't personally believe Judas will be in hell. He felt bad about betraying Jesus (he repented). His suicide was out of guilt.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. It's very comforting.

One of the best things I did this year was delete my two Reddit accounts. No help to be found there (which I guess was to be expected).

I don't know if I'm a "believer" or not. I struggle with this believing. But even if or when I do, I am still thinking about suicide.

Never fully got through the Bible. Go to church maybe once every other month but it doesn't seem to make a difference how often. A while ago, I read something that C.S. Lewis wrote to a friend who had lost his wife (Lewis had also lost his own). Paraphrasing, Lewis said one reason to "go on" is that there are no grounds to believe that death ("by that route") would reunite him with his wife. "Why should it? You might be digging an eternally unbridgeable chasm." And then he makes a more direct statement that I'd say is in keeping with the idea that suicide is a sin.

In terms of Christian writings, the best I found on this subject was some of Kierkegaard's writing. It is very challenging reading, at least in my experience, but can be rewarding. As one might expect, Kierkegaard also viewed suicide as a sin. But no, it didn't cure me. Just made me feel understood more than pretty much any other writer on the subject.

Besides that, some people have luck with stoicism, which I'd say is in many ways compatible with Christian teaching. Personally I find stoicism can be best summed up as Ida Auken's "you will own nothing and be happy." Not for me. It'd hardly be uncharitable to describe it as an ancient psy-op to placate the slaves.

By the way, the month and day you joined is my birthday. LOL how ironic.