Suicide:
                     NOT an Unforgivable Sin

                        by Dr. Mark Pitstick

I discuss this topic because many have been taught by their churches that suicide is an unforgivable sin.  However, there are several indications that God loves, understands, forgives, and assists everyone—even those who take their own lives.  This is especially the case for people who suffer intractable physical pain, severe emotional distress, or mental confusion because of alcohol/drug abuse or abnormal brain chemistry. 

Consider this issue with common sense and a compassionate open heart.  Most humans understand that when others are going through difficult times, they may say or do things they don’t really mean.  They are not in their right minds when they are deeply confused, depressed, or hurting.  Given this, doesn’t it stand to reason that the ultimate Creator and Sustainer of the universe would also understand? 

Although suicide is usually not the best option, much evidence indicates that it’s not an unforgivable sin or an automatic ticket to hell.   Most spiritual teachers agree that taking ones life is a step backwards, one that requires much rest, counseling, and rehabilitation on spirit-side.  Then, when the entity is sufficiently recovered to try again, he or she must encounter the same set of circumstances—this time with the opportunity to rise above them. 

In Life After Life, Dr. Raymond Moody discussed NDEs as a result of suicide attempts: “These experiences were uniformly characterized as being unpleasant . . . the conflicts they had attempted suicide to escape were still present after they died, but with added complications.  In their disembodied state they were unable to do anything about their problems, and they also had to view the unfortunate consequences which had resulted from their acts.”  They felt a long stay in an unpleasant limbo state was “their penalty for ‘breaking the rules’ by trying to release themselves prematurely from what was, in effect, an ‘assignment’—to fulfill a certain purpose in life.” 

But, again, this is not cessation of consciousness or unending torment.  Certainly there are punishments for inappropriate actions but not eternal ones.  Eternity is a very long time.    

While assisting subjects to recall their time spent in Spirit World, Michael Newton, Ph.D., author of Journey of Souls, has found there is no punishment from an external source for suicide.  He asked a deeply hypnotized subject who committed suicide in a past life: “When a person kills himself on earth does this mean they will receive some sort of punishment as a spirit?  Subject: No, no, there is no such thing here as punishment—that’s an earth condition. . . . By choosing to die as I did means I have to come back later and deal with the same thing all over again in a different life.  I just wasted a lot of time by checking out early.” 

Newton notes, “This is the usual spiritual attitude toward suicide, but I want to add that those who escape from chronic physical pain or almost total incapacity on earth by killing themselves feel no remorse as souls.  Their guides and friends also have a more accepting view toward their motivation for suicide.”

Highly respected mediums James Van Praagh and George Anderson have a unique perspective on the subject because of their ability to convey messages from departed souls, including those who passed on as a result of suicide.  Read my book Soul Proof to learn more about their viewpoints and other information about suicide.