Why does atheism have a suicide problem?

[EarthScienceguy]

Depression is a serious problem with in the greater atheist community and far too often, that depression has led to suicide. This is something many of my fellow atheists often dont like to admit, but it is true. I know a lot of atheists, myself included, would all like to believe that atheists are happier people than religious believers and in many ways we are. But we also have to accept the reality that in some very important ways we are not.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/atheism- ... ec613b812b

[Jagella]

Depression is a serious problem with in the greater atheist community and far too often, that depression has led to suicide. This is something many of my fellow atheists often dont like to admit, but it is true. I know a lot of atheists, myself included, would all like to believe that atheists are happier people than religious believers and in many ways we are. But we also have to accept the reality that in some very important ways we are not.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/atheism- ... ec613b812b

It does bother me that many atheists tend to be suicide advocates. They often support "the right to die" especially for the elderly and the disabled. I know many elderly and disabled people, and they seem to be too busy trying to gain the right to live rather than the right to die.

"The right to die"? Seriously? I suppose we do have the right to die seeing that we all will die some day. We need not fight for a "right" that nature has already granted us.

I recommend that atheists switch from advocating this right for the death of the disabled to the right for the disabled to live good lives free of unnecessary barriers. Better care and living conditions for them should greatly lessen any desire to die on their parts.

As for Christians and suicide, I suppose they are less likely to commit suicide because they fear going to hell. Belief in hell may prevent suicide! So it isn't a belief that's all bad.

[Jagella]

None of which provides evidence that the gods and angels and talking animals that give us REASON to become Atheists are anything more than imaginary.

I've thought of this same issue. Maybe apologists have given up on substantiating their outlandish claims in lieu of opting to say that Christianity can make people feel good, and feeling well requires a god all right!

Doesn't it?

Another issue I've thought of is that Christianity, one might think, would increase suicidal tendencies. If Christians think they're going to heaven, then you'd think they would want to get there as soon as possible. Why wait?

One apologetic is that Christians must take good care of their bodies--those bodies are "temples of the Holy Ghost," after all, and the Holy Ghost doesn't appreciate having his temple wrecked. It is very ironic. The temple of the Holy Ghost will keep you away from heaven.

[Jagella]

My unstated premise is the depression that comes from the beliefs of atheism denies the atheist of the worship that every human being was designed to need.

If the lack of worship is causing anybody to be suicidal, then they should go ahead and worship by all means. If worshiping a god isn't your thing, then try something else to worship. George Carlin says he worships the sun. He says actually being able to see his object of worship helps his faith along.

[Purple Knight]

Honestly I'm a bit miffed that it's presumed suicide is a problem.

We have an overpopulation problem. That's not really debatable. That's a problem. While developing countries keep generating more and more mouths to feed, many first world nations face the problem of an aging population that doesn't necessarily want to just import the hungry mouths who may or may not want to work to support their senescence (and I believe expecting them to is wrong anyway).

In this horrid of a world, if someone occupying a coveted first world niche is somehow miserable, and can free up a space for someone to actually succeed in life, give and receive love, raise a family, and that someone wants to just bow out, why in the world would you support forcing them to live a life they don't want?

(Opinion) In this overpopulated world, every suicide is a precious gift to the next generation.

[Jagella]

[Replying to post 4 by EarthScienceguy]

My unstated premise is the depression that comes from the beliefs of atheism denies the atheist of the worship that every human being was designed to need.

Your premise is false because we were not designed, we evolved.

Maybe we evolved to worship. Consider how subordinate male wolves "bow" to the alpha male. Humans may have evolved to show obeisance to those on a higher level in a similar fashion. Heck, modern chimps have been observed making "temples" by piling rocks around a tree. Maybe that's their version of a church.

[Jagella]

In this horrid of a world, if someone occupying a coveted first world niche is somehow miserable, and can free up a space for someone to actually succeed in life, give and receive love, raise a family, and that someone wants to just bow out, why in the world would you support forcing them to live a life they don't want?

That's a great question. We need to be careful concluding that a person truly wants to end her or his life rather than she or he merely seeking a better life. A suicidal person may actually be seeking help and sympathy. Chances are that the resources are available to help that person live a decent life.

Another problem with allowing suicide is that it is problematical on a practical level. People killing themselves can lead to significant problems as we need to clean up sidewalks they leaped upon from ten stories up. It's also a major effort to search for bodies on the riverbed below a bridge.

More than anything else, though, is that it's best to live in a society that values human life. We should never tell people that they and their lives don't matter because to do so will weaken our societies. Any person who commits suicide will leave behind grieving loved ones, and the fewer grieving people in our society, the better.

[Jagella]

Or what about current philosopher/apologists such as Ravi Zacharias or William Lane Craig and philosopher/scientist/apologist Alistair McGrath who has doctorates in both molecular biology and theology from Oxford?

Many Christians are very bright. They need to be to come up with reasons to believe what they do. I must admit that I am probably not clever enough to come up with reasons to believe a man rose from his grave and went floating up into the sky.

[Zzyzx]

.
Perhaps suicide is a reasonable and intelligent option in some circumstances.

As an extreme example, in the case of a person with terminal illness, constant severe pain, absent quality of life, unable to control bodily functions or care for themselves -- euthanasia may be a viable option.

On the personal level, I am eighty and very robust at this time; however that is subject to change as the years go by. People in my lineage tended to live comfortable and productive lives to middle or late eighties -- then expire quickly. I'll settle for that -- and will not hang around if quality of life departs. As I tell friends, "Anything I haven't accomplished by eighty-five will probably go undone."

Perhaps if I feared some supernatural entity's disapproval, I could not consider exiting by choice (if necessary) -- but I have no such fears.

[Adstar]

But what about the atheists who are alone and have no one to live for?

I fail to see how this would be an atheist specific problem. I'd advise anyone in that situation to develop new connections. To find a new purpose in life.

A theist who believed they were destined for a paradise-like afterlife filled with meaningful connections with others might decide to pull the plug and get an early start on paradise.

An atheist who wasn't convinced of an afterlife may decide to pull the plug and avoid prolonged loneliness.

Given that we have no way of knowing what happens after death, I'd advise both the theist and the atheist to avoid suicide. We do know that we are alive now. None of us knows what happens after death.

Atheists and theists alike face the same challenges loneliness and utter despair bring. Sadly, some from both groups make the irreversible decision to take their own lives.


Tcg

Well a devout Christian believes they are never alone even if they have no other human beings as friends or family.. A Christian can be ""alone"" as far as human company / relationships is concerned. But as long as they believe in God they know they are never alone and there is always someone to talk to when ever they feel the need to talk..

So a Fully convinced believer in God never faces loneliness and utter despair..

[Tcg]

So a Fully convinced believer in God never faces loneliness and utter despair..

The experience of Job contradicts that claim:

• Job 3:
  20
  Why is light given to him who is in misery,
  and life to the bitter in soul,
  21
  who long for death, but it comes not,
  and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
  22
  who rejoice exceedingly
  and are glad when they find the grave?"
  23
  Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
  whom God has hedged in?
  24
  For my sighing comes instead of[a] my bread,
  and my groanings are poured out like water.
  25
  For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
  and what I dread befalls me.
  26
  I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
  I have no rest, but trouble comes.

Tcg