by Thin Air » Sun Jun 14, 2015 9:20 am
Here's a moral dilemma that I was thinking about: Is it OK to convert someone if it will lead to their suicide? As an ex-Christian myself, I think I know how you would answer this, but I didn't come from a particularly evangelical denomination, so I'm curious about the answer.
There have been times in my life where I was suffering from some extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and just general hopelessness of my life. Being atheist, I have no expectation of anything beyond this one life that I have but there were times that I was so depressed, that if I believed in an afterlife, I would force the issue and end it all so I could just move on.
As an atheist, I obviously don't believe in a heaven, a hell, or anything like that. Therefore, knowing this life is everything I will ever have, the idea of suicide is just out of the question. I couldn't do it. Even feeling horrible means that, at the very least, I am glad that I can exist to feel it.
Would it be acceptable to try and convert someone with that mindset? If you are successful in converting them there is a very real possibility that they will embrace this new "way out" and bring about their own end shortly thereafter.
Here's a moral dilemma that I was thinking about: Is it OK to convert someone if it will lead to their suicide? As an ex-Christian myself, I think I know how you would answer this, but I didn't come from a particularly evangelical denomination, so I'm curious about the answer.
There have been times in my life where I was suffering from some extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and just general hopelessness of my life. Being atheist, I have no expectation of anything beyond this one life that I have but there were times that I was so depressed, that if I believed in an afterlife, I would force the issue and end it all so I could just move on.
As an atheist, I obviously don't believe in a heaven, a hell, or anything like that. Therefore, knowing this life is everything I will ever have, the idea of suicide is just out of the question. I couldn't do it. Even feeling horrible means that, at the very least, I am glad that I can exist to feel it.
Would it be acceptable to try and convert someone with that mindset? If you are successful in converting them there is a very real possibility that they will embrace this new "way out" and bring about their own end shortly thereafter.