Question about suicide and mortal sin

[andrewk]

The Catholic Church's view on suicide is that it is a mortal sin, and maybe some other Christian denominations have a similar view.

In the 1970s movie Towering Inferno I seem to recall a scene where a person was trapped in a hotel room with the fire coming across the room towards them. In the end they broke the window and jumped to their death rather than be certainly burned.

I wondered whether the Catholic view, or indeed that of any other Christian denomination, would be that that person died in a state of mortal sin, and hence would be consigned to an eternity in hell. Are there any factors that would change that assessment? For example if they waited until the fire had reached them and had ignited parts of their clothing before jumping would it still be a mortal sin?

[Wootah]

I've got the view that suicide is just another sin and if you have accepted Jesus as lord then you might still be saved. It seems that the circumstances count.

[Ernestalice]

Unfortunately, I haven't watched the movie yet, so I don't know if there wasn't really any other way to live out of the fire. But, basically, suicide is "not good" (sin) because it's the same as murder, and it will cut all good possibilities of the person's life. And if a murderer, a bomber, did a suicide, they would lost the chance to atone their sins in their life. But, again, I don't believe in hell. Even the most unforgivable person in the world, I believe s/he will be given the chance to be forgiven or atone their sins in afterlife, without going to hell.

[McCulloch]

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Since the OP asks for the position of the Roman Catholic Church or that of any other Christian denomination, personal opinions regarding this issue are irrelevant to debate. Please address the questions posed.

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[dianaiad]

The Catholic Church's view on suicide is that it is a mortal sin, and maybe some other Christian denominations have a similar view.

In the 1970s movie Towering Inferno I seem to recall a scene where a person was trapped in a hotel room with the fire coming across the room towards them. In the end they broke the window and jumped to their death rather than be certainly burned.

I wondered whether the Catholic view, or indeed that of any other Christian denomination, would be that that person died in a state of mortal sin, and hence would be consigned to an eternity in hell. Are there any factors that would change that assessment? For example if they waited until the fire had reached them and had ignited parts of their clothing before jumping would it still be a mortal sin?

According to the catechism of the Catholic Church, the following things apply to suicide:

"Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide."
"We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives."

I think that 'hardship or torture' would cover the "about to be burned alive and the only choice possible is between that and instant/painless death in about 30 seconds or so."

That might just be me, interpreting things my way, however.

Most Christian belief systems have similar qualifications regarding suicide, if not spelled out quite that specifically.

My own seems to come from the idea that all suicides are under the label "grave psychological disturbances' unless proven otherwise. Mentally and emotionally healthy people who don't face the 'burn alive or jump' scenario simply don't commit suicide, as a general rule.

[Slopeshoulder]

I think as a religion the catholics do a good job on this thorny issue. On the one hand they emphasize relious themes like the goodness of creation, the gift of life, the providence of God, the need for faith, etc. For a safe and soundminded person to throw it all away is rightly considered gravely sinful in a catholic worldview, a type of violent nihilism towards god's crowning creation, a sin agianst the holy spirit.

But on the other they exercise compassion for the actual human condition. That seems like a good and thoughtful balance of aspiration and principle with pragmatism and honesty, which tends to characterize catholicism at its best. I say well done.