I find myself wondering how a suicide or self murder as it is called in Scotland of a prominent church member can be addressed in our local offshoot of an American Mega Church.
The lady in question was the wife of a major supporter of the church and mother to four daughters.
The widower is a big 'fishie' in our 'wee pond' of commerce locally and a workaholic in his business and the church.
So I wonder, how do the preachers explain this event to the congregation that the wife of such a big hitter suddenly took her own life? Suicide isn't something the church encourages, yet she did it.
She was an animate businesswoman and was fairly well off - yet she did it.
She had four daughters all of an age who can see what had happened - yet she did it.
Her husband is still recovering from a stroke he suffered about three years ago - yet still she did it.
For myself, I can see there are many triggers and I pretty well know these could be. But then I know there are no gods, heaven, hell or purgatory.
I've studied these people while working alongside a client many times. Often the main preacher pretty much singled me out to let Jesus into my life, but I understand how their NAZI inspired propaganda methods work but I enjoy jousting with their limited arguments.
I do feel sorry for the church hierarchy having to explain what has happened and sad for the family.... Not just because I rather fancy the dead lady's sister in law, but because it is a terrible occurrence to happen out of the blue.
7
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Devil made her do it. It’s that simple and what the church will say
abyers1970
Level 7
June 5, 2022
2
"I find myself wondering how a suicide or self murder as it is called in Scotland of a prominent church member can be addressed in our local offshoot of an American Mega Church."
Why are you asking a faith question in a faithless forum? Go ask your church leaders. Pffffffft.
AtheistInNC
Level 7
June 5, 2022
3
Because I can. But atheism is also faith that 'they' are wrong. For myself, my god in this matter is science.
Suicidal ideation is a very specific neuro-chemical condition. I encountered it by accident and was stunned at how uncharacteristic it was, but there nonetheless. Because of this experience, I am sorry to hear about this behavior which clearly represents an imbalance that can be treated.
I had a coworker whose father killed her mother and then himself. He had been a Christian preacher, but I surmise he stopped taking an SSRI and had the same reaction as myself. I later saw her (my coworker) on a Scientology documentary denouncing psychiatric drugs.
racocn8
Level 9
June 5, 2022
3
Just out of curiosity may one enquire as your ACTUAL Qualifications, etc, as a Psychologist/Psychiatrist?
@Triphid Mine - they are college degree level at the moment, but I effectively am a field worker in psychology and member a of the British Psychological Society and American Psychological Association.
I will be attending more qualifications in forensic psychology after the summer through work.
With suicide, I have studied this mostly through sociology.
Obviously something in her life caused an overbearing depression. From my own Evangelical church daze the idea would be that to take your own life is a sin. From this we progress into ideas of was the person in their right mind. The suicide of this type is saved by the grace of god because they were not in their right mind. This is comforting to the family and seemed to solve the heaven and hell questions allowing everyone to go on from there.
DenoPenno
Level 9
June 5, 2022
2
An awkward element to this is her sister in law (the one I fancy) is a psychologist. I do find her wealth of faith disturbing (now say that with a Darth Vader voice).
Depression is a killer.
Flyingsaucesir
Level 8
June 5, 2022
10
It can be, unless the person gets help. I almost lost my sister 25 years ago, but she pulled through. She’s really never been the same since.
The reasons for a suicide can often be complex and hard to determine. One thing is probably for certain, and that is the woman no longer had any hope for things to get better in her life and she had been in emotional pain for some time before the event. Please keep us posted on how the church leaders try to explain or spin this event to the flock. That should be interesting.
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
June 5, 2022
8
I've already dismissed how churches spin anything (I'm automatically against them) and don't care about her decision so I'm done.
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