Does the concept of reincarnation deter suicide ?

[wkndwrrr]

I voted Yes. One of the main concepts of Hinduism ( as far as I know) is that one should be happy with ones station in life. Also:

A rebirth is not a fresh start . You carry the karmic baggage of all pervious births before you . And a birth ending with suicide is not good baggage to carry .

My sentiments exactly, particularly the bolded part.

 

[Dr. Yoshi]

Suicide rates are not affected by belief systems, they are affected by the social climate. For example, suicide rates in the United States are higher in areas which are less densely populated and therefore more people are socially isolated.

 

[Perfection]

Suicide rates are not affected by belief systems, they are affected by the social climate. For example, suicide rates in the United States are higher in areas which are less densely populated and therefore more people are socially isolated.

How do you know they aren't effected by both?

Besides, aren't belief systems part of the social climate?

 

[Tenochtitlan]

It would be a dangerous thing if reincarnation was adopted by Islam. Then all the radical islamist will be motivated to do more suicide bombings.

Actually, I would guess it would be the same rate, if not less! And that is they get a really good deal as it is now. A martyr is instantly sent to heaven where he can do anything he wants or get anything he wishes for, that and a whole bunch of beautiful women custom made for his taste. I don't think a deal with a risk of having being re-incarnated into a pig would be appealing to these radicals.

 

[Perfection]

Actually, I would guess it would be the same rate, if not less! And that is they get a really good deal as it is now. A martyr is instantly sent to heaven where he can do anything he wants or get anything he wishes for, that and a whole bunch of beautiful women custom made for his taste. I don't think a deal with a risk of having being re-incarnated into a pig would be appealing to these radicals.

Yeah, but it could be that they'd view they get reincarnated as some sort of royal dude who gets all the chicks.

 

[Tenochtitlan]

Yeah, but it could be that they'd view they get reincarnated as some sort of royal dude who gets all the chicks.

But as it is now, they are GUARANTEED almost just that.

 

[Perfection]

But as it is now, they are GUARANTEED almost just that.

Well the Imam could garuntee that as well.

 

[Stylesjl]

Yeah, if I truly believed that there was another life after this one (be that reincarnation or heaven), and my current life sucks, and I see no way to improve it, etc, etc. Then it would be very easy to commit suicide and see where I end up next.

Kinda like if you don't like your starting position in Civ, and you start a new game.

Pretty much summed up what i was thinking

 

[Stylesjl]

I cant vote in this thread because I dont believe in reincarnation.

You don't need to. How would people react if they beleived in something? You don't need to beleive yourself.

Like how would a Roman Catholic act if they were given a question on reincarnation? Oh scratch that one

 

[Chieftess]

I cant vote in this thread because I dont believe in reincarnation.

Actually, you can. It's as much a theological question (albeit a false one) as much as it is a social one. Imagine you were in a debate. You wouldn't say, "I don't believe in that concept, so I'm not going to answer it". That's not a good way to get your point across. In fact, arguing for or against reincarnation would be off the topic of the debate. Think of it more along the lines of a what if. What if someone came up to you and had that idea?

Anyway, for me, I've actually wondered this (if people who believe in reincarnation actually think about giving up and just starting over, dispite the risks). To me, it's like saying, "Oh, I'll just try again... do over!". It's really justifying for someone that if they don't like the way things are going, they can just give up, because they can just try again.

 

[Trajan12]

People would want to die to get a new, better, life.

 

[Perfection]

Remember though Aneeshm's warning though. Your Karma follows you, so if you crap out things might not get better.

 

[aneeshm]

Why... what's wrong with suicide?

It is a violence committed on yourself by yourself .

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

I guess it will as suicide will lead to worse deal in the next life.

I wouldn't want to reborn as anything less than a human, such as radioactive monkey.

 

[GenMarshall]

It is a violence committed on yourself by yourself .

Even in my belief system (Shinto Roman Catholic), I can agree to that.

 

[Babbler]

I don't have the statistics , I haven't bothered to look them up , and I don't want anyone who has them to post them , because I want the discussion to proceed along purely hypothetical and logical lines .

What wrong with presenting statistical evidence? What is the point of having a debate about the cause of lower suicides among reincarnation believers if we don't know if the premise (lower suicides among reincarnation believers) is actually true or not?

 

[Perfection]

What wrong with presenting statistical evidence? What is the point of having a debate about the cause of lower suicides among reincarnation believers if we don't know if the premise (lower suicides among reincarnation believers) is actually true or not?

Well, I can see some logic to it, because of the tendency for statistical biases, you'd need one that counters that.

Still worth looking into in my view, though.

 

[Truronian]

It is a violence committed on yourself by yourself .

So would cutting of my own gangrenous leg be wrong?

 

[El_Machinae]

Not if you put it on life support!

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

If I believed in Karma, I wouldn't.

If I believed in some non-Karmic form or reincarnation, I might.

At any rate, how often is the decision to commit suicide a rational one?