Thou shalt not kill (thyself) : the morality of suicide

Abstract

Notwithstanding the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”, not a few people decide to kill themselves by suicide or assisted suicide every year. This dissertation aims to discuss this from a Christian perspective. The first chapter examines suicide in general, and then particularly when it is committed with the intention of sending out a message, such as the example of Thich Quang Durc, the elderly Mahayana monk whose self-immolation was a factor in overthrowing the Washington-backed Diem regime. The second part of the chapter thus examines different attitudes on self-immolation and how the societal environment, as in the instance of Iran, can influence self-immolation. The second chapter then focuses on physician-assisted suicide, attempting to highlight the dangers for certain social groups, such as the elderly, and the abuse that can result even in a legal scenario. The chapter notes how patients can bypass regulations, such as seeking more than one physician if the initial physician refuses to prescribe lethal drugs; the difference in price between such drugs and the price for long-term therapy; and therefore the economical element which conflicts with one’s dignity. The third chapter then focuses on a Christian response to those requesting assisted suicide. It examines the challenges faced by pastoral caregivers, seen from an Anglican and Catholic perspective,such as how their personal views and values affect their pastoral work with these people. It also examines how to address the spiritual and religious needs of people requesting assisted suicide, and how their liberty should be respected when it comes to making the decision. The conclusion then examines the claim of some that martyrdom is comparable to suicide, and how this in fact confuses the two because the theological suffering of meaning and death in the former is absent in the latter. Moreover, it tries to conclude by seeing how Christians can answer the questions raised by suffering and death by through Jesus Christ who reveals man to man himself.