by AgentR11 » Sat 08 Oct 2011, 01:16:07
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PhebaAndThePilgrim', 'G')ood day all: I think what EOTWAWKI is trying to say is that their is a sense of schizophrenia to modern Christian thinking. On the one hand they fight to the death (no pun intended) to stay alive, but the religion teaches that heaven is a better place, and the ultimate goal of existence is to go to heaven.
I think you have modern/ancient mixed up. Prohibition against suicide, as well as acceptance (or offering up) of one's own suffering in life, are very old Christian thoughts, with modern times resulting in less of this pattern, rather than more.
All you have to do is look to the stories of the early saints to see it in play. A phrase that embodies this and comes to mind, St Paul referred to “making up for what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, that is, the Church" (Col. 1:24).
Being of this faith myself, the way I look at it, is that I certainly may not take my own life, nor will I turn my face away from what is to come; but there is also no need to fear, nor any obligation to pursue heroic means to extend my own life past its natural end.