Augustine on the problem of suicide is a focused response to Christians who were victims of rape during the sack of Rome. In effect to the act of violation, they may be contemplating of ending their own life in order to preserve their sense of ‘honor’. Whereas some argue (those against Christianity) that there are acts of suicide that are justifiable, such as martyrdom, for martyr’s foresees their coming death and allow it. Augustine in effect responds in throughout Book 1 of “The City of God” (Dyson edition) that suicide differs greatly from martyrdom, because the two individuals possessed different intentions when their death was brought about. For suicide victims intend their own death, whereas martyrs foresee theirs yet had no actions
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Augustine asserts that there is no justifiable reason to bring about one’s own death, regardless the reason. Because the actions and intention of ending our lives condemns the individual to sin, even if it were to avoid sin or attain immortality (Chapter, 27). For the action of suicide is an act of homicide against oneself (Chapter, 21). Augustine elaborates this principle comes from one of the ten commandments, “thou shalt not kill”. For this commandment applies that no person should bring harm upon another, which includes themselves. This is the problem Augustine focuses on where people are killing themselves in order to escape their belief that in being raped, they have committed adultery, whereas Augustine is explaining that the victims are misguided. For he clarifies that the individuals who were raped did not whatsoever perform an act of adultery, rather they were forced into a situation they did not want to participate in (Chapter 18, pp28). For the act of was done against their own will or intentions, and because they did consent to the action they remain chaste in mind and soul, regardless of their physical state (Chapter 18). This explaining the only sin that is committed is the action of suicide, not adultery. Yet even though the individual …show more content…
For the victims of rape chose suicide as their only option after the event because how they viewed themselves negatively. This signifies that their concept of chastity is incorrect. This conceptual idea is understood through the actions of Lucretia. Augustine explains Lucretia is a victim who killed herself because she was raped, yet only did so because she believed her adulterated body has become an object of shame. So in effect she killed herself because out of the loss of her pride and honor (Chapter 19 pp31). This becomes the equivalent concept for the victims that have lost their chasteness and killed themselves because they perceive their physical body as an object shame, because it was violated and ‘lost’ its chastity. Which means the victims of rape who killed themselves only did so because they lost a material aspect of their body. In which, these victims perceive the concept of purity as an earthly possession that is achieved only through the physicality of the body, rather one that is found in the goodness of the soul (chapter 18, pp28). For Augustine is explaining that chastity is kept through the intentions of the soul and mind, rather the physical. For the victims of suicide are understandingly killing themselves out of the loss of their pride and honor. This in my belief is the critical point Augustine is making in distinguishing the Martyrs from
Augustine asserts that there is no justifiable reason to bring about one’s own death, regardless the reason. Because the actions and intention of ending our lives condemns the individual to sin, even if it were to avoid sin or attain immortality (Chapter, 27). For the action of suicide is an act of homicide against oneself (Chapter, 21). Augustine elaborates this principle comes from one of the ten commandments, “thou shalt not kill”. For this commandment applies that no person should bring harm upon another, which includes themselves. This is the problem Augustine focuses on where people are killing themselves in order to escape their belief that in being raped, they have committed adultery, whereas Augustine is explaining that the victims are misguided. For he clarifies that the individuals who were raped did not whatsoever perform an act of adultery, rather they were forced into a situation they did not want to participate in (Chapter 18, pp28). For the act of was done against their own will or intentions, and because they did consent to the action they remain chaste in mind and soul, regardless of their physical state (Chapter 18). This explaining the only sin that is committed is the action of suicide, not adultery. Yet even though the individual …show more content…
For the victims of rape chose suicide as their only option after the event because how they viewed themselves negatively. This signifies that their concept of chastity is incorrect. This conceptual idea is understood through the actions of Lucretia. Augustine explains Lucretia is a victim who killed herself because she was raped, yet only did so because she believed her adulterated body has become an object of shame. So in effect she killed herself because out of the loss of her pride and honor (Chapter 19 pp31). This becomes the equivalent concept for the victims that have lost their chasteness and killed themselves because they perceive their physical body as an object shame, because it was violated and ‘lost’ its chastity. Which means the victims of rape who killed themselves only did so because they lost a material aspect of their body. In which, these victims perceive the concept of purity as an earthly possession that is achieved only through the physicality of the body, rather one that is found in the goodness of the soul (chapter 18, pp28). For Augustine is explaining that chastity is kept through the intentions of the soul and mind, rather the physical. For the victims of suicide are understandingly killing themselves out of the loss of their pride and honor. This in my belief is the critical point Augustine is making in distinguishing the Martyrs from