Suicide

Ancient vogue of suicide as a form of retaliation against despotic rulers eventually gave way to teachings that made life more desirable. 70:6.6 70:10.10

In pursuit of revenge, a renegade mortal betrayed his friend for thirty pieces of silver before choosing suicide as a final escape from the harsh realities of existence. 139:12.13

The Phrygian mystery cult celebrated Attis's ritual, but Amos proclaimed Yahweh as the “God of all nations” before he was stoned to death. 97:4.4

Man's capacity for the recognition of values and the comprehension of meanings testifies that such beings have emerged from the purely animal stage of existence, and that suicide among men signifies their failure to attain the artistic levels of mortal experience. 160:1.5

Those rejecting survival are committing a cosmic suicide, preventing the evolution of supreme values in their own personal experience. (117:4.4,10-11)

Widows faced great fear in some cultures, where they were blamed for their husbands' deaths and either killed or allowed to commit suicide on their spouses' graves to join them in spiritland. 82:3.12

In the Urantia Book

Examples

• * King Saul took his life on the slopes of Mount Gilboa, where Jesus later spent a day and a night in solitude. 124:6.3 134:9.5
• * Judas committed suicide after realizing the true nature of his betrayal of Jesus. 186:1
• *Pontius Pilate ultimately met his tragic end after sacrificing Jesus and losing favor with the new emperor, leading to his retirement and suicide in Lausanne. 185:1.6

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Judas' Suicide 139:12.13 — Mt 27:3-5; Acts 1:18.
• Ritual versus righteousness 97:4.4 — Am 5:21-24.
• Gilboa where Saul died 134:9.5 — 1 Ch 10:1-5; 1 Sam 31:1-4; 2 Sam 1:1-10.