Confused (God, suicide, Hell...) Religious Discussion

[wildchick1986]

I'm not an overly religious person or anything so don't be afraid to keep reading. LOL. I believe in God and I talk to Him every night. I also believe in Hell and I think that suicide is the ultimate sin. I'm sooo afraid of going to Hell that it's the main reason I don't think I'll ever attempt suicide.

I had a great childhood. I didn't do well in school due to my own laziness, but I had a good time. But somewhere it all crumbled for me. I've been depressed for most of my life. (I'm 28, BTW.) A few years ago I was diagnosed with Major Depression. I think I also have anxiety and OCD. Hopefully I'll be back in therapy again soon. I only went for about 6 months and that was four years ago. I'm hoping to have insurance soon.

Anyway, sorry this is so long-winded. I just wanted to share a little background info with you guys.

I think about overdosing on pills constantly. I have breakdowns every so often where I feel miserable, I cry uncontrollably, and I beg God to end my suffering. I make myself feel better by imagining ways to end it.

What's wrong with me?

 

[consciousinsane]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I share the same beliefs. I also share the same question. What's wrong with me. I ask myself that everyday. Sometimes I get so depressed though I lose my mind and actually consider suicide. Most of what I read is that when people try to suicide on Pills, they end up failing and just ruining their liver instead.

 

[InnerStrength]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Suicide isn't the ultimate sin, but it is a sin that makes an irrevocable change. Meaning that, you can't go back and do good deeds to regain God's favor, because you are dead, obviously. It seems a little unfair to me that mass murderers can repent and get into heaven, but a suicide is damned forever. It's not the nature of the sin that condemns you (suicide) but that fact that it makes an irreverisble change.

 

[thecleric]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Suicide isn't the ultimate sin, but it is a sin that makes an irrevocable change. Meaning that, you can't go back and do good deeds to regain God's favor, because you are dead, obviously. It seems a little unfair to me that mass murderers can repent and get into heaven, but a suicide is damned forever. It's not the nature of the sin that condemns you (suicide) but that fact that it makes an irreverisble change.

Indeed, suicide appears unforgivable because there's no opportunity for repentance afterward (with some methods). And of course, you can't repent of a sin you haven't yet committed and are intending to commit. As far as I can tell, that's unique. So I have no idea how God handles it.

Believing in God, even in a God who loves you, is still compatible with being deeply depressed. Just as knowing good from bad doesn't prevent you from sinning.

Wish I could be of more help.

 

[theleastofthese]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

What's wrong with you??? Some of the same things that are "wrong" with me, and with lots of others here - we can't offer ourselves the same kindness and understanding we can so easily offer to others... don't know why that is, but it's me for sure. You're depressed, that's what's "wrong": it's partly circumstantial and partly genetic, perhaps. Are you on any meds? I am, and it's the only thing - plus strong friendship and love - that keeps me from killing myself... that, and the harm I'd do to my kids' future.

love,

least

 

[Terry]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Please hun, stop thinking you will be damned. Even the church views suicide very differently from the old days and a loving God would not punish someone in torment.

You are obviously deeply depressed and as Least said try to be a bit kinder to yourself

 

[Ziggy]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I don't recall the bit in the bible where Jesus said suicide was a sin. But I haven't read it for a while. I kind of figure if it was the ultimate sin he would have mentioned it a bit more than he did. (if he did). If you want to really follow Christianity love your neighbour, love yourself.

 

[Esmeralda]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I agree with thecleric and innerstrength here. It is not that the sin is unforgivable, you just do not have the chance to be forgiven because you no longer exist to ask for it. The Bible doesn't specifically state it is a sin (as far as I know, and I'm a Catholic, so the Bible isn't really my strong suit), but I think it would fall under "Thou shalt not kill", for you are indeed killing yourself. I think any belief that keeps you from taking that final irreversible step is probably for your own good, physically and spiritually.

 

[Esmeralda]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Also, to Ziggy's point, suicide isn't exactly following the Golden Rule. If we are supposed to love ourselves, suicide would be the ultimate form of self-hatred.

 

[TheBLA]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I have recently and right now am thinking a lot about suicide and wanting God to end my suffering and feel so rotten that others my age are out living, so happy and carefree and me already thinking about ending my pathetic life, I feel so rotten. :sad: Nobody fucking cares. :sad:

 

[live]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I'm not sure why suicide is considered the "ultimate sin" in some reaches of Christianity. Maybe it does have to do with the fact that you cannot redeem yourself afterwards; however, many who commit murder do not redeem themselves either, so the point seems moot. Maybe it's that you are rejecting the gift of life given to you, or something else.
I cannot agree with this, at any rate. To kill someone else against their will is, in my opinion, more terrible than killing yourself. But that's just me, and it depends on the person and the case.

 

[TheBLA]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I hope suicide is not a sin, one already goes though so much emotional and perhaps physical torment before commiting suicide, I'm already suffering in a hell on Earth, I don't need to go to actually Hell afterwards.

 

[Suckstobeme]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Personally, I think religion is all bullshit. The whole idea of an afterlife just seems so Toothfairyesque to me. However, there's always that miniscule chance that I could be wrong. Might as well drudge it out for the next 60 years or so, right? Death will come soon enough.

 

[Aquariamethystea]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Oh goodness. Here it goes again. Another religious discussion on the suicide forum, well, at least this topic thread hasn't been preachy, so far, and many of you made some very good statements about the issue regarding suicides being punished by God. I do not believe suicides go to hell. I believe that they are forgiven and loved by God just as much as anyone else who would be, and if there is a heaven, I believe suicides will be there.

 

[nicesinging1]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

As a Christian, I hope God has compassion for people who commit suicide. I dont think many people commit suicide over not being rich or famous enough.
Most people commit suicide over not being able to lead normal, productive, happy life and constant emotional tortures resulting from it everyday.
I think we can only try so much. When things don't get better no matter how hard I try, I cant stop myself from thinking about that last resort, suicide.
Still knowing suicide is a sin in christianity, I really wish God would rather kill me in sleep or let me get hit by a drunk driver.

 

[Ziggy]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

This "being able to redeem yourself" is problematic.
What happens to elderly people who are going senile?
What happens if you sin and then are killed in an accident?
What about children who are too young to understand the faith?
I think God would tend to judge people on an individual basis.

My bible says "You shall not murder" as a commandment not "You shall not kill" but this really isn't the point. Religion shouldn't be about fear, the central message should be one of love and hope. If this is a central part of the religion than ignoring this is a bigger sin than suicide I think. After all when Jesus talked about how to get into heaven he tended to talk in terms of how people actually lived their lives.

Jesus really did want to change the way that people lived their lives, the whole purpose of forgiving and healing etc. was to enable people to live better lives, and I would have thought that if people had experienced God and loved God they would have a desire to know God better and experience God more fully in the way they live their lives? (And for the non-Christians out there I would add that my own personal belief is to replace the word 'God' with 'Life'. People should change their lives to experience, embrace and love life more fully, even if it seems to be in a tiny, seemingly insignificant way, it's not easy but to me even the thought of it seems a step in the right direction.)

 

[smackh2o]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Religion shouldn't be about fear, the central message should be one of love and hope.

Hit the nail on the head!

 

[wildchick1986]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

I don't read the Bible or go to church, so maybe my beliefs are mixed up. But, as I said, I'm confused. I hurt so much. To answer a question from another post, I'm not on meds at the moment but I've been taking Amoryn since last winter. I think it helps a little. (I hope it's ok that I posted the link in case anyone wants to check it out.)

 

[Multiple Man]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

People always tell me Jesus died for our sins. In a way that is a form of suicide. But being Jesus I guess the rules dont apply to him.

My best friend committed suicide in september after she had a miscarriage. She went into a closet of her parents home and shot herself with a shotgun. She was bipolar and manic depressive. She also cut herself. I have nightmares about her. What happened to her, or where she may be. If God could ever forgive her. She was the sweetest person I ever knew. The most real person I knew. Who cared about everyone around her. But her misery outweight her ability to cope. It says that God never allow anyone to go through more than they can bear. Well if people are takign their own lives I think theyre trying to tell God something. That they cant bear with their misery any longer.

Imagine holding on to the edge of a cliff for dear life. You try pullign yourself up but you dont have the strength and you cant hold on much longer. Thats what suicide is to me. People holding on for their life until they have nothing left and ultimately fall to yoru demise.

I cant imagine my friend being any place described as hell. She made a choice. But suicide is not a black and white issue. I dont think God follows a rule book. How can the ultimate sin be to save oneself from persecution and misery. In my mind its more of a sin to sit and watch your creation suffer tremendously, and punish them if they want to take their hand off of the hot stove. Id rather be brutalized and hung on a cross knowing ill be dead in 7 days, than to live out the remainding years of my life with no hope in sight. Im definitely not a stranger to beign brutalized and abused.

I dont know if there is a heaven or hell or where my friends fate is in the afterlife. If there was ever a exception to be made, it should be for her.

 

[consciousinsane]

Re: Confused (God, suicide, Hell...)

Very well spoken Multiple Man.