Suicide and Beliefs

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

Peky brought up an interesting point in another thread about suicide and how [so it would seem] theists are because of their beliefs in a god, an afterlife and their religious 'community' network support, less likely to attempt suicide, than atheists who have no such beliefs nor support from a 'community' support network as such ...

Now what's interesting is, as we all know the monotheistic organised religions are not what one could call LGBTQI friendly, so do the findings in the research that was presented also apply to LGBTQI people ? 

Now some may not feel comfortable with commenting on this thread, but it would be most appreciated if they could do the above poll attached... Their selection is 'anonymous' but please be as honest as you can with your selection ...


It would be interesting to see how things stand amongst members here a Susan's...

Remember this thread is not about 'belief' bashing !...Suicide isn't something to be taken lightly, it has had a major impact upon the lives of trans-people and their families...

I'll run the poll for 30 days...

Metta Zenda

[Nero]

Well, I've got a question before voting. Do I vote how I feel now or should this choice maybe read "I am a theist/agnostic/atheist/etc and have never thought about suicide' instead of 'and I have no desire for suicide'.

[Sarah Louise]

As a non-believer I always felt that death was final, nothing after it.  That was a comfort to me, it meant upon death all of my pain would end, death was a "safety valve" for me.

As a Believer, death holds a different meaning to me, just as safe, but for totally different reasons.

[Devlyn]

I believe you're going to have to pry my cold, dead, butt off this planet, I love life!

[~RoadToTrista~]

Not religious. I've thought about it but not seriously. Life is worth living.

[Anatta]

Well, I've got a question before voting. Do I vote how I feel now or should this choice maybe read "I am a theist/agnostic/atheist/etc and have never thought about suicide' instead of 'and I have no desire for suicide'.

Kia Ora NSFA,

I've changed the wording to 'never  thought about committing suicide' ...Plus added a few extra selections for those who might have been suicidal prior to their transition but no longer feel this way...

Metta Zenda

[bethany]

I believe in God, and have come very close to taking my own life. And I say close because I hit rock bottom and had a plan thought out. I have not attempted it thanks to a hotline and a very good friend.
Now since starting my transition I have not had a thought of ending my life.

[Shodan]

Don't believe in God and attempted suicide twice, and have constantly struggled with suicidal thoughts. Strangely, coming out of the closet has relieved some of that, so life doesn't seem quite so hopeless as it once did.

I have to admit, though, that I feel that this question is very, very leading. I understand that there's good discussion to be had but, ultimately, I'm wary that there's an ulterior motive there to prove that those with spiritual beliefs are 'better' because their beliefs and community frown on suicide.

[Anatta]

Don't believe in God and attempted suicide twice, and have constantly struggled with suicidal thoughts. Strangely, coming out of the closet has relieved some of that, so life doesn't seem quite so hopeless as it once did.

I have to admit, though, that I feel that this question is very, very leading. I understand that there's good discussion to be had but, ultimately, I'm wary that there's an ulterior motive there to prove that those with spiritual beliefs are 'better' because their beliefs and community frown on suicide.

Kia Ora Shodan,

I can assure you this is not the intention of the poll/thread...This has nothing to do with which 'belief' is 'better' to hold... It's just to see whether or not the research provided by Peky also holds true for the religious 'theist' trans-people ...

Personally I think, those who hold a belief in a god and or an afterlife of some kind-Are [because of what I had mentioned in the first post] more at risk of contemplating,and or attempting suicide...Whereas atheists on the other hand have no 'religious' pressures/beliefs forcing them to 'conform' ...

Some atheists face social/family pressures to conform, but theists not only have social and family pressures to contend with they also have the gauntlet of their religious community[often close knit religious  community] and their personal conditioned beliefs which are reinforced by their families etc...


Besides if this turns out to be true ie, theists trans-people 'are' less likely to think about or attempt suicide, I don't think atheists will be converting to theistism just to and try stop suicidal thoughts from occurring...

However thanks for your response...
Metta Zenda

[Sarah Louise]

What?  That doesn't make any sense at all.

[Nicolette]

Well, as an atheist, I know there's no afterlife. After death there is nothing. My consciousness is all I have and have only one shot at it. Suicide would be infinite oblivion. That's why my life is so precious and why I need to make the best of it. Conversely, I also believe my consciousness is just an illusion, so nothing matters anyway!

[Shodan]

That's fair enough, Kuan Yin. I just get real skittish around discussions like this because, in my experience, it really is a leading question with ulterior motives behind it. I respect people's right to follow their religion of choice, and I'm certainly not going to tell them that they're wrong, as long as they afford me the same courtesy. Some do, some don't, just like some atheists  are like me and are live and let live, and others think you're a brainwashed lunatic for following a religion and try to 'unindoctrinate' you.

But for Sarah Louise, I think what Kuan Yin is saying, is that people who are part of religious communities feel more pressure to conform to those communities than those that don't, and was implying that most of these communities aren't always that accepting of who we are, which could drive somebody to suicide because of the pressure of trying to be somebody you're not.

[Sarah Louise]

Thank you Shodan

[Anatta]

Kia Ora Sarah,

I have just removed a post and replacing it with this one...

When I have used the term 'aferlife' it is meant to imply either heaven or hell a place where a believer could possibly end up, depending upon whether or not their have followed their god's rules...

I hope this makes more sense...

* I now see Shodan, has explained what I was getting at...Thanks *

Metta Zenda  

[Sarah Louise]

No Kuan Yin, its your arguement that makes no sense and changing a word doesn't change what you said.

I don't agree with your conclusion.

[Pica Pica]

I am an atheist and I have thought about suicide, I wrote a whole novel about suicide. I have only once thought about doing it mind you.

[Shodan]

Hell, I should add that I still think about suicide, on almost a daily basis, but I'm far from the point to where I'll try anything, if that makes any sense. I think the difference, now, is that instead of dwelling on these thoughts like I used to do, I just get frustrated with myself for thinking them. Progress?

[Anatta]

No Kuan Yin, its your arguement that makes no sense and changing a word doesn't change what you said.

I don't agree with your conclusion.

Kia Ora Sarah,

Is it this part that you disagree with :" Besides if this turns out to be true ie, theists trans-people 'are' less likely to think about or attempt suicide, I don't think atheists will be converting to theistism just to and try stop suicidal thoughts from occurring !"...

If this is the case then I'll explain...The way I see things is if a person calls themselves an atheist[not an agnostic] then they have made their mind up = they don't believe in gods...

However if they  'miraculously' converts to theistism, I'm inclined to believe they were more so an agnostic who has been sitting on the fence waiting...   


Metta Zenda

[Sarah Louise]

I don't agree with your Entire statement.

[Anatta]

I don't agree with your Entire statement.

Kia Ora Sarah,

I can only say, you have every right to disagree...Even though I'm not quite sure what it is you disagree with...

Metta Zenda