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From the religious perspective, Suicide is complex. On the one hand, if life is to be considered a gift from God, to be given and taken in its own season, then Suicide is an invasion of divine prerogative. It is, as the Germans call it, Selbstmord (self-murder). However, when one takes into account the extreme circumstances of anguish, depression, and often horriffic pain, it becomes clear that in many cases, the Suicidal no longer have a clear vision of right and wrong, and as such, at least following the dictates of my faith, they cannot be considered wholly responsible for their actions.
Arguing from a Christian point of view, if one believes that Christ truly suffered not only the sins, but pains, afflictions and sorrows of all men so that he could be a truly empathetic advocate and judge, and if it is considered that Christ will judge all mankind individually, each according to their own understanding and experiences, then there is no excuse for the condemnation of the Suicidal on the basis of Suicide alone. One cannot know exactly what went through the mind of that poor tortured soul in the last moments of life, and as such one cannot in any sense feel justified in "throwing the first stone." Under such circumstances, one who believes is forced to admit that the condemnation or redemption of that individual is a matter between the victim and deity.
Should we have the right to take our own life? Yes. If one believes that freedom to act is God given, then that includes freedom to sin. While Suicide is hardly a victimless act (ask the loved ones left behind) it does not disrupt society in the manner which murder, theft, rape, assault or the various other crimes we prosecute do. In the end, regardless of who gave it to us, it is our life to use, or misuse according to our choices. The consequences will depend on the nature of eternity, but over such things the law of the land has no authority, and should not attempt to establish any.
I agree with you on Assisted Suicide, it is a far more complex and prickly issue. On the one hand, there are situations in which it is perfectly justifiable (Examples come to mind of "mercy killings" of mortally wounded comrades on the battlefield, who cannot be saved, but face a horrific and utterly painful death. However, in some cases, where the victim is lucid and stable, is not the act of assisted suicide a way of the victim attempting to pass off responsibility for their death to another? And in some cases, regardless of the motives of the assistant, are they not willfully taking the life of another person? That comes somewhat uncomfortably close to murder under certain circumstances. That said, where death is truly inevitable and the pain and wasting is unbearable by the patient, I can understand the practitioner who prescribes the massive dose of Morphine in order to allow the victim a peaceful passing. Our love of life should not extend to the maintenance of life to its most wretched and awful extremity. Yet such actions should be monitored and carefully considered, lest they become the province of the unscrupulous and cruel who will take pleasure from literally "getting away with murder." It should be done by professionals, and only ever with the consent of either the soon-to-be-deceased, or (as in the case of Terri Schaivo) their next of kin.
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