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Post by eachallberg on Jun 28, 2013 15:45:31 GMT -5
It seemed to be a very hot topic among are ancestors, what are your thoughts on martyrdom and religious suicide?
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Post by Soulgazer on Jun 28, 2013 15:54:51 GMT -5
I'm going to agree with the author of the "Tesimony of Truth" that these "things"are not resolved in this manner. I am pretty sure he was talking about aquiring salvation.
Still, a refusal to give up a life of pacifism under threat of death is surely a noble act.
I am going to say that it depends entirely on motivation, but I am eager to read others insights.
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Post by waywardwanderer on Jun 30, 2013 10:48:14 GMT -5
I think motivation is key. This is just my feeling on the subject but it seems to me that in some circles of early Christianity martyrdom was seen as a sort of shortcut to Christ, if that makes sense.
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Post by phantasman on Jun 30, 2013 11:19:37 GMT -5
Perhaps it is a belief that the body is not the best place for the spirit. Didn't Jesus say we must hate our life, meaning what we put into physical importance? I think it was in Secret James that Jesus said if we fear death we won't see the Kingdom of Heaven. Maybe a true believer looks forward to death as the beginning and not the end, as is evident in Thomas. Not suicide as much as just welcoming death.
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Post by waywardwanderer on Jul 1, 2013 13:14:34 GMT -5
I think that could be true as well. I just get the feeling from some of the reading I have done that in certain circles of early Christianity there was an eagerness for martyrdom, and that is something I am more than a bit wary of. Not fearing death and rushing to throw your life away are too different things. I have also so wondered how often death is meant literally in both canonical and non canonical scriptures and how often it is a metaphor or allegory.
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Post by xpistissopheiax on Jul 1, 2013 23:53:17 GMT -5
The picture of the Buddhist monk that lit himself on fire is one that always stands out to me...
On one hand I think it is a noble act, but on the other hand I think we can't restore the world simply by protesting it.
I don't think I could ever advocate suicide, but realistically I'm sure there a lot worse things you could do.
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Post by rmcdra on Jul 10, 2013 15:54:54 GMT -5
I'm going to have to agree with Soulgazer. I think it would depend largely on intent of the person committing the act. I do not see suicide as a "sure way" to salvation.
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