is this suicide justified?, 85 year old man shoots himself Options

[illumineering]

An 85 year-old man committed suicide in my town last week. His wife died about 4 years ago from cancer. His daugher-in-law died 6 years ago from cancer. His son had a heart attack and died last week. His only living relatives were his only son's 2 children. They asked him to move near them so they could be closer together. They said they would build him a house near them in Philadelphia so they could take care of him.

After he buried his son, he took his dog to the kennel the next day, returned home, and shot himself.

Was this man justified in doing this? Is this an overreaction to a difficult situation that he could have accepted over time? Was he placing his grandchildren under a more difficult situation because he was feeling sorry for himself? When his granddaughter found out, she almost miscarried her baby because she was so emotional. Doesn't the bible say suicide is a sin? (He was a Christian.)

Because he didn't want to burden anyone and had lost everyone that he was close to, was his decision acceptable? Let's face it, the best years of his life were over and he has the right to decide when and how he should leave this earth. His actions should be respected.

I'm having a hard time resolving this. Although I can respect his right to decide what he wants to do with his life, I also feel that his actions were somewhat selfish.

What do you think?

[*disco infiltrator*]

I don't agree with religion, so I don't think religion should dictate your morals. You should dictate your morals. He obviously doesn't agree with the Christian morals, and, therefore, is not a Christian at heart, so that part of the argument doesn't matter.

[illumineering]

I don't agree with religion, so I don't think religion should dictate your morals. You should dictate your morals. He obviously doesn't agree with the Christian morals, and, therefore, is not a Christian at heart, so that part of the argument doesn't matter.

I understand and respect your individual view, but isn't his Christian faith anchored by a baptism? It seems to be too easy to say that it's OK because he was unable to meet the expectations of his faith.

My greater question/point is one of consequence. If there is an existence beyond life on earth, as many people believe, is there an outcome of his action that will effect the journey of his spirit? If you don't support the belief in an afterlife, this question is pointless.

[*disco infiltrator*]

I understand and respect your individual view, but isn't his Christian faith anchored by a baptism?  It seems to be too easy to say that it's OK because he was unable to meet the expectations of his faith. 

My greater question/point is one of consequence.  If there is an existence beyond life on earth, as many people believe, is there an outcome of his action that will effect the journey of his spirit?  If you don't support the belief in an afterlife, this question is pointless.

Well, I'm atheist and unreligious. I don't believe in the afterlife.

Though some may believe that, obviously his own personal beliefs were not of this. Perhaps he was only Christian because he was brought up that way, or because it's "good". Kids can't stop their parents from baptizing them. At a young age, if their parents tell them "God is real and you should worship him!", that's what they know. However, as they get older, they might use their minds differently and think otherwise, to their own personal self. To me, this man had a good mind. His religion obviously didn't dictate his morals, he did. No one else can tell you what your moral boundaries are but you. Jesus can't, your mom can't, your dad can't, etc. Only you can decide what's right for you. The fact that he was Christian should have nothing to do with this debate. You can't back up your opinions with that. "Oh, well, suicide is wrong in the eyes of Jesus, so it's always wrong." No. Why do you personally think it's wrong?

He was 85 years old for Pete's sake. He would have died of old age soon enough. If he thought to himself that he had no reason to live anymore and wanted to die, who are we to stop him? We can't stop anyone from committing suicide if they really, truly want to. You may try to stop your friends if you see them doing it or hear them talking about it, but if that's what they really want, no one can stop them.