You have taken a physical sign and added an assumption without verification. If any argument is based upon false premise then the argument itself is false. (Professor Dan Showalter
Mesa College @1980) Unless you can show what they were praying for as they committed suicide— your argument is false.
Never assume anything ! it only makes an ass/ of u/ and me.
Dan Showalter same class same school.In my experience suicide -my own mothers -and an uncles-and my own attempts in another time —Those I was witness to as an Army Medic were most often a product of -what the Army called situational reaction. They were the extreme and irrational response of an individual in time of extreme stress.If the
suicide attempt failed— if the external pressure relieved
that individual could go on to a long and productive life.
Perhaps your suicides were praying for forgiveness-rather than as you suppose strength?
“Perhaps your suicides were praying for forgiveness-rather than...strength?
I believe this is the more likely reason. In fact, I’m sure of it.
(Hope you don’t mind me adding my two cents) Merry Christmas.
Suicides praying with a rosary before committing the act are much more likely praying for forgiveness. You are spot on. But the passage referring to those perishing perceiving the Gospel as foolishness comes to mind with the poster, so I no longer reply/post to that one.
The professor is right.
Note, however, that I contradicted that argument anyway, so I didn't need to be rigorous in that step. It was largely rhetorical, emphasizing the fact that
Perhaps your suicides were praying for forgiveness-rather than as you suppose strength?
You are exactly, 100% right. My friend Victoria was doing that, according to the note she left me. She found no success in fighting the temptation to end her life, despite fervent extended prayer. Still, she prayed as she died, for forgiveness of her sins.
It wasn't a short-term thing. She bought a .357 Magnum as a last resort, but didn't want to leave a mess. She kept it by her at all times in case someone found out about her plans and called the cops to stop her. She extracted nicotine from a mess (literally) of cigarettes, but decided against it. She tried to obtain secobarbital from an overseas pharmacy, but Customs or the DEA or somebody stopped it. She then settled for another, more painful method.
Considering the year+ she held off, this was not some sort of knee-jerk, irrational action.
But let's go back to some points...
They were the extreme and irrational response of an individual in time of extreme stress.
Irrational?
Suicide relieves the situation quite effectively. Anytime I start to get upset at Victoria's success, I remind myself that she achieved what she wanted--she no longer has to endure the pain of living an existence she didn't want. She chose rationally, and it's hardly extreme. Even psych professionals admit that medications and therapy can't help a large portion of patients.
To me, it seems the irrational part is to ask for forgiveness after acknowledging that the promise of I Corinthians 10:13 has not been fulfilled.