Evaluation of Suicide in the Biblical-Christian Tradition

The paper reflects the classification of suicide in the context of the biblical-Christian tradition. It shows that the ultimate condemnation of suicide does not occur in the Bible. It presents the condemnation/ denunciation of suicide by Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. Finally it deals with ecclesiastic-Christian praxis towards suicide, where taboo and pre-Christian elements are quoted. But recently there has been an evident tendency to a more differentiated and humane attitude towards the classification of suicide or more precisely those who commit it and their environment.

Keywords: Suicide; Christian tradition; Bible; Augustine; Thomas Aquinas