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

[emazing]

Well, I dunno. You mentioned that Catholicism/Christianity doesn't allow a person to commit suicide.
I agree with that rule, because when you're killing yourself, you are doing something to your body that only God would be able to do.
There's a good time for everything.

[sadolakced acid]

^

right... only god can kill people...

which is why the word murder is in our vocabulary...

[illumineering]

Well, I dunno. You mentioned that Catholicism/Christianity doesn't allow a person to commit suicide.
I agree with that rule, because when you're killing yourself, you are doing something to your body that only God would be able to do.
There's a good time for everything.

Every time we put food into our mouths, something with a spirit has been killed in order for us to live. Does that make us God?

[deadendgirl]

Illumineering, did the man have any previous history of serious illness himself? What I was wondering is, maybe he found out he had cancer or some other sort of serious illness and decided he didn't want to put his family through that sort of pain again and that the financial burden would be too much.

But when you get down to it, the right to decide whether we live or die should belong to us. Considering how it is our body, regardless of who made us/what made us, it should be our decision. Another thing, being baptized doesn't necessarily mean you have to accept the beliefs of that religion for the rest of your life. I was baptized when I was little, but I don't believe in Christianity right now. I know of plenty of people who live in very religious families, and even I go to church occasionally, but it doesn't mean we accept the beliefs. We could never really justify whether what he did was right or wrong, because we never will know why he did it. I can see where most think its selfish, especially seeing as the pain it caused his family and others, but his feelings and reasoning should be accounted for too. Isn't when someone is suffering and dying that we say after their dead that atleast their not suffering anymore? I mean living with the painful memories of his loved ones deaths was probably something he just didn't want to think about anymore. So he didn't want to continue suffering until he died of natural causes.

Well I'm beginning to ramble a lot and I don't know really whether I've made much sense. I found this site though, that I think was an interesting read. I figured that I'd give the link for everyone else to see, because it in a way has some points and good reasoning. Is Suicide a Sin?

[illumineering]

Illumineering, did the man have any previous history of serious illness himself?  What I was wondering is, maybe he found out he had cancer or some other sort of serious illness and decided he didn't want to put his family through that sort of pain again and that the financial burden would be too much. 

Other than a general loss of mobility due to aging, he was not diagnosed with any illness.

[ThePrincessofTKD]

suicide is a choice. if someone decides to do suicide, then it`s their loss. you can try to persuade them not to, but what more can you do?

[sadolakced acid]

^ set a death penalty for suicide.

[CHiiCKENBUTT]

in christian beliefs [from what i was taught] suicide is murder because even though you are killing yourself and it's your choice you're still murdering a person [which in his case would have been himself].

[NoSex]

in christian beliefs [from what i was taught] suicide is murder because even though you are killing yourself and it's your choice you're still murdering a person [which in his case would have been himself].

That's an argument from authority. It's a logical fallacy. It in no way supports a conclusion for the given ethical and moral question. You have to make an argument stating exactly why it is wrong. "Murder" can be justified. Note also, the act of murdering someone is commonly recognized as wrong because it goes against another person's rights and will. However, when someone commits suicide, in most cases, it is in accordance with their rights and will.

[TeeNage_WasTeLan...]

Sure it's justified. I think what you are asking is it RIGHT just because it was justified. Then you have to look at your position on suicide. If you think its wrong, it shouldn't make a difference. This old guy is a coward, just like anyone who suicides themselves. Life isn't fair? Whoever said that is a goddamn loser.

[Dragonfly_babe]

Aww that poor man. I think that everyone should be happy in their last years because it's better to die happily. I think it was a little selfish for him to kill himself though because like it said he still had 2 children left! And I'm sure they didn't want him to kill himself especially after their mother died. Now they have no parents left whatsoever.

I understand that he though he might have been a "burden" to them but helping out someone you love is never a burden! And senior citizens get social security benifits and his children were going to BUILD him a house next to theirs. If he wanted to die to be with his wife and son in heaven when he gets there they're going to be pretty pissed off at him for offing himself.

Every time we put food into our mouths, something with a spirit has been killed in order for us to live. Does that make us God?

Hmm that's an interesting thought.... but that's different we eat animals to live we don't kill them for the fun of it. Even animals eat other animals to live. I'm not religious but I think it mentions in the bible something about how humans are only allowed to eat animals for the food and not allowed to eat certain animals on certain days. Like on fridays you're not supposed to eat meat or on lent?

[colleen92]

God should be the only person to choose when someone dies. so suicide and murder are pretty much the same thing. no suicide is justified. it's just giving up on yourself, when you could pick up the pieces and go on.

[xklipse]

Nope,...without saying anything religious. I think most of people who kill themselves are punishing their love ones rather than themselves. If you die, its over, but the people around you are the one that are suffering. So, it is not justified.

[flc]

To any true Christian, for no matter what the reason, suicide will NEVER be acceptable.

But to me..it's acceptable..the man had lost so many people already. Why force him to stay alive and be miserable? Sure, he could have lived and tried to accept it, but how long do you think that would take? He was already at the end of his life, pretty much..

[AngelinaTaylor]

You know what, my grandfather was 72 when he died, and he died only a week after he buried his SON, who had cancer for almost a year. He (my grandfather) had a heart attack (mind you, he didn't smoke), because it was so hard for him to take it. So for all of you who say it's wrong - you don't even know how it feels to bury your child. Don't place your pathetic blames based on some "holy" book that, by the way, is found to be FULL with flaws and incorrect information. I know it's not the same thing (the 85 year old man committed suicide), but you could never understand how it feels.. never.

Taylor``

[flc]

So for all of you who say it's wrong - you don't even know how it feels to bury your child. Don't place your pathetic blames based on some "holy" book that, by the way, is found to be FULL with flaws and incorrect information. I know it's not the same thing (the 85 year old man committed suicide), but you could never understand how it feels.. never.

Really. I would like to see how these people would react if their of their closest family members died.

You really have no right to tell a person how they should react to something, especially something as tragic as this.

[AngelinaTaylor]

Really. I would like to see how these people would react if their of their closest family members died.

You really have no right to tell a person how they should react to something, especially something as tragic as this.

.. are you being sarcastic? Sorry, I guess I didn't understand whether you agree with me or now.

Taylor``

[*swtcherriipie*]

You know what if i was in his situation i would havce done the same thing. Soem people just dont work well under stress or sadadness.... Poor old man... I ♥ old people.

OLD PEOPLE SMELL WEIRD BUT THEYRE COOL.! <3

[flc]

.. are you being sarcastic? Sorry, I guess I didn't understand whether you agree with me or now.

Taylor``

Lol no hun.

I guess I should stop saying "Really." when I quote people, because they always misunderstand what I'm trying to say..

[bananapants]

i dont think u have any right to play God with our own life no matter what the situation
but anyways like i mean this guy is 85 sure he doesnt have much more to do with his life but think of the impact on his grandchildren thats really bad i have much experience wit hdeah and its hard to deal with but u have to

[jue]

=[
wow. Like many others said, no suicide can be justified. God bless that family.

[AngelinaTaylor]

i dont think u have any right to play God with our own life no matter what the situation
but anyways like i mean this guy is 85 sure he doesnt have much more to do with his life but think of the impact on his grandchildren thats really bad i have much experience wit hdeah and its hard to deal with but u have to

What? You don't think you have the right to be in control of your life? That's ridiculous. You believe someone up there is making all the decisions for you.. Think again. NO ONE can tell me when to live and when to die, and whether I should take away my own life or not.

Not even that fictious creature people call "god".

Don't be offended.. it's just what I believe.

Taylor``

[flc]

its hard to deal with but u have to

That's not fair. You don't have the right nor the power to just tell someone to deal with something as tragic as that. And don't tell me life's not fair. That man has probably lived out his life and raised his children well. If he feels it's time for him to go, then let the poor man be.

Why do you people keep on insisting that the man should have lived and be absolutely miserable?

In the end, after a while, I believe even the grandchildren will tire of taking care of a depressed old man who only wants to die.

[bananapants]

What? You don't think you have the right to be in control of your life? That's ridiculous. You believe someone up there is making all the decisions for you.. Think again. NO ONE can tell me when to live and when to die, and whether I should take away my own life or not.

Not even that fictious creature people call "god".

Don't be offended.. it's just what I believe.

Taylor``

i thnk u took what i said i lil wrong what i meant was that ending ur life affects sooo many others its wrong to be so selfish i mean think about those other ppl they had alla those people die to i mean if it was the guys kids then it was those kids prents and its really i just think its a way to want people to care about u

[AngelinaTaylor]

i thnk u took what i said i lil wrong what i meant was that ending ur life affects sooo many others its wrong to be so selfish i mean think about those other ppl they had alla those people die to i mean if it was the guys kids then it was those kids prents and its really i just think its a way to want people to care about u

Ohhh yeah.. I agree, definitely. I think suicide is incredibly selfish, and most people who do it are weak.. But in this case, it's more than justified.. The guy has lived his life.. And it's so hard to go on when the people you care pass away.

Taylor``