Thought I'd ask the big question.  Several years ago I was on the brink, but fear of damnation held me back.

After 8 years of living under the Bush regime Satan will have nothing in which to frighten or torture us with.

Reoes Suicide=automatic damnation?

Let me ask you: if you had a son who killed himself, would you feel grief and wish you could have helped him deal with his pain, or would you want to torture and punish him?  If you believe in the angry old man of the Old Testament, you will probably figure He will punish.  If you believe in the Christ of the New Testament, you will probably feel that He will mourn and comfort his son.

I find it sad that you, like so many people, expect anger and punitive judgment from a God that we are told "loves us".  Where I live there are many older people who, when they develop major health problems, wonder what it was they did to "earn" their punishment.  Has it occurred to you that maybe you should not have committed suicide because God loved you too much to see you destroy yourself?

any of the other "sins" that are mentioned in the Bible...

God is judge over the heart, not over our particular behaviors... A "sin" is not just the act commited, it is more the condition of the heart prior to commiting the act...

Jesus refered to "white-washed tombs", which appeared white and spotless on the exterior, but were full of dry bones on the inside... Such is the condition of many religious-leaders of today... They assume their actions and appearances will "save" them, but infact it only makes them pompus... "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and "While we were yet sinners, Christ died that we might be saved"... Nobody is saved by their actions, since that would deny the free gift of salvation...

Somebody should slap that big fuckin' hat off from the pope's head and knock some sense into him! That church has been in denial of truth for well over 1000 years and has elevated a mortal man to the position of god by claiming that a priest has some special ability to forgive sins and assign penents... Completely opposite to what the Bible teaches, but then most people only know of the Bible what they were taught in confirmation-class... No wonder they blindly follow....

lol!  I agree with your assessment of the whole "organized religion" thing.  

Best way to feel good... be honest and try to help.  You are not rewarded for much else... internally.

This life is all that we have. You have all eternity to be nothing. Why rush it?

Reoes Suicide=automatic damnation?

According to the vast majority of Christian churches, yes.

Of course, you'll have to actually _believe_ what they're saying for it to have any effect.

What stopped me from suicide when I was emotionally ill, was what it would do to my family and how much it would insult everyone who ever loved me.

That was confirmed when my nephew committed suicide.  

Since I am an atheist, I don't believe people are damned, and we all have the choice live or die.  However, in no way does it take away your emotional agony; it simply passes it to your friends and family.

Tell it like it is brother!

Reoes Suicide=automatic damnation?

hey man Jesus Loves you and me the sin would be ares for not shareing that with you so you would know the hope of a new day!

I ultimately came down on the side of eternal security (once saved always saved).  What stopped me was the impact on others.

many describe suicide as a selfish act, because of the impact on loved ones. however does this mean that one should continue to live on in neverending suffering and misery, so that their loved ones will not be devastated by a suicide? would these "loved ones" rather the object of their affection die and finally achieve some peace, or live and suffer?

in a state of mortal sin and not in a state of grace.

That's why we get deja vu experiences sometimes.  Some fragment of memory of our past corporeal existence as really bad Martians returns to us, and ooh, for a moment, we feel really creeped out.

So, that makes me wonder some more.  Are all of us bad Martians, or do real earthlings coexist with the souls, in corporeal form, of dead Martians?

Reoes Suicide=automatic damnation?

Well, you're not alone -- I'd say I've considered it at least several dozen times per day since I was an adolescent.

The traditional Roman Catholic annswer wes/[is?] a RESOUNDING YES!  It's a technical catch-22 point.  Suicide is the only unforgiveable sin because, if the sinner commits the sin successfully, is not in a position to seek forgiveness and absolution. Hence, death in a state of sin sends one to hell. I think that's one of the reasons why suicides for centuries were denied burial in consecrated ground.

Happy to see that you had the stength to turn away from the brink.

Me, it's just a matter of logistics.  I don't want to inconvenience anyone finding the body.

Re:Your inquiry should be presented to Tom Cruise.. (eom)

Should i send TC a letter or email, or will he know somehow to come over and proselytize me?

I very much want to get this procotol right.

But I've experienced a very close relative committing suicide, and it's hell.  

It would be much easier if they had a fatal or physically painful condition instead of depression.  For one thing, depression is cyclical.  You will have better days and you're throwing those away.  

Nothing feels worse to anyone but to robbed of time.  When my nephew died, I felt robbed of 60-70 years.

quite a thought.

Yeah, me neither, when I mention my suicidal feelings to my goofball sisters they get all weepy and fake-concerned and say how much they'll miss me, how hurt they'll be, etc...blah, blah, blah.

I respond, matter-of-fatly, that they'll get over it [my logic here appears beyond question to me].

They get very angry and accuse me of being selfish beyond belief.

And i retort, i'm suppossed to continue to exist for X more years in varying states of emotional, psychlogical, and physical pain because they don't want to cry a little and mourn for a handful of days?  I never saw how I was the selfish one here.

I'm glad someoneelse understands this.