I was thinking today about Easter and what people really celebrate.

Well Christ died on the cross and he chose to do this. He chose his death, even though it was for the greater good ( think Spock for all my jewish friends).

Christian history is also filled with martyrs who basically have chosen to die for their cause.

So how do you think this is all that different than suicide and euthanasia? Chris signed up for suffering, no doubt, but even he knew that there would be an end. I'm sure that many who committ suicide are in terrible pain and really are just trying to end that pain. Euthanasia is kinda like chosing death over prolonging a painful life, and in some cases to save family the expense emotionally and monetarily.

I'm not real sure and I'm also not really looking for the "proper answer" more of everyone's thoughts. I'm sure there is a Jesus Approved answer out there somewhere.

I think you have to either believe, or try to understand that a lot of people believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Otherwise you really have no other choice but to look at His crucifixion as a very obscure sadist event in history. The Roman government of that time crucified hundreds, if not thousands of men guilty of "crimes" far less serious than what Christ was charged with. The obvious difference being that Christ could have ran, and willingly accept His death, for the betterment of others and obviously the creation of the Christian religion.

I agree

I am wondering though; current Christian thought seems to have taken the actual act of living and raised it to a moral good. I'm not sure if it was always that way or if it is just a reflection of a culture obsessed with the physical?

Methinks current christians would be quick to point out that Jesus did nothing to kill himself, the Romans did that all for him, and he died when he was 'supposed to' die. Assisted suicide however, is actively killing yourself. That methinks, is a big difference (not that I'm staunchly opposed to it). Another question on euthanasia/assisted suicide: Why is physical suffering any more legitimate than mental and or emotional anguish? And if its really that bad you can demand more morphine... even if it kills ya. (at least in the US)

I can't really articulate this properly, but it has something to do with assuming or PRESUMING you (as a person who commits suicide or participates in assisted suicide) are as holy or as without guilt as Jesus Christ supposedly was.
Jesus Christ (I'd guess, in accordance with basic Christian doctrine) was a mortal without sin, as well as The Lord, the physical manifestation of God the Creator here on Earth. As such, he's incapable of doing wrong even as a mortal.
He didn't "commit suicide" as a release from this "mortal coil", he GAVE UP his life for the sins of others. In an effort to clear a path towards heaven for the rest of the world.
So if you commit suicide, you are commiting a crime against God's will or God's design because you are taking your life in your own hands (which is something supposedly only God can do). when Jesus died, it was to give 'us sinners' a chance to hand ourselves over to God. (The Lord is my sheppard, I shall not want, etc etc)

I just read this thread title.

Yeah, and we've been duped.

You tweed! I have a friend going on a mission trip to Asia, and I was already to have an opinion on this thread!

as a Christian, i can say that pretty much sums it up

Isn't what Jesus did more like giving or risking your life to save another? You can hardly call it suicide. Plus, it's arguable whether he could have even done anything to stop his death. If someone shot a gun and you jumped in front of the bullet to save someone, that wouldn't be suicide. Hell, we expect the Secret Service to do it.

Plus, if you're a Christian, you believe that Christ is God, so his death wasn't really akin to our death.

I guess I'm just not getting the parallels between Christ's death and euthanasia.

you're just playing word games. If you know death is certain and do nothing to prevent it, are you committing suicide. I mean Christ coulda used his divine side and willed his way outta death, but nope, he dies. Same as walking into a sword or off a cliff.

Sorry, but I disagree completely. And I'm most certainly not playing word games.
I explained it as simply and succinctly as I was able to, if you had trouble with gleening some valid explanation from it, that's not within my power to help you.
And not for nothing, but death is the only certainty. The difference between commiting suicide and what Jesus Christ is claimed to have done is INTENT. Does a person committing suicide do it because it's some selfless act they're performing for others benefits? No, the person who commits suicide does it to supposedly relieve THEIR OWN suffering. They are the ones who again supposedly will benefit from killing themselves, not their friends and family not the society around them and not the supposed immortal souls that people are believed to possess.
You disagree with that, that's on you.
You wanted explanation, I gave you one.

you're an angry poster

OK so if it's intent that you THINK makes the difference, what ABOUT people who committ suicide like the infamous picture of the Budhist monk on fire?

good intentions but same result

Obviously not familiar with Ali G

I can't think of a single human doctor that would abide by that request. No human doctor, without worrying about lawsuits/loss of licensing, is going to give you enough morphine to kill the pain and you at the same time. Did you just recently watch "Saving Private Ryan"?

Nope... something I picked up whilst doing a 10 grade biology project. Infinitely better, I know. But then of course, one can die by dehydration, or the withholding of other treatment. That doesn't seem nearly as pleasant as drifting away on morphine, however.

Hey, I'm all for human euthanasia, but I can't percieve of a single human doctor I've interacted with that wouldn't worry about the consequences. They get caught, guess what, there goes that education and they're likely facing jail time.

Not disagreeing with you there. I wouldn't think too many doctors would be okay with legalized euthanasia either.

I disagree. I think many human doctors would be in support of euthanasia. Veterinary medicine not only supports it, but suggests it when it is deemed necessary. Many people view their pets as part of the family and prefer it to letting their animal/family member suffer more than it needs to. Why this is so frowned upon with humans, I just can't relate to When you see anyone suffering with no positive outcome in the future, why is euthanasia so wrong?

and you're an irritating one who isn't paying any attention, what's your point?
you seem pretty set on telling me what I'm doing anyway. If you bothered reading my first post correctly you wouldn't have made some stupid assumption that I was playing word games, I'm sure I don't need you to make judgement calls on the mood of my commentary but keep going since that seems to be your thing.



Is he the Son of God? As in the guy they talk about in the bible sense of the word Son?
The people who believe in Christianity believe Jesus Christ was/is. Therefore, Christ was the only 'mortal' who had holy writ to die on the cross willingly and with full knowledge beforehand of the event. That was his apparent purpose for being on earth.
And if you're thinking of telling me I'm allowing my own beliefs interfere with my process of deduction, let me be the first to let you know I don't follow Christianity nor any organized religion, but I was raised Catholic, and I am fully cognizant of the stated differences of what that religion thinks of as Jesus Christ and what they think of the rest of humanity. Jesus was God. Therefore God does as God sees fit because it is His will.

According to Christian doctrine, anyone who kills themselves, including that monk, is presuming an entitlement to be able to take or end their own life. That's the sin against God part, which you fluffed off as word play last time around...

What'd I score on the gogol mood-o-meter with this post?