A Protestant Perspective on Suicide (IN: Clergy Response to Suicidal Persons and Their Family Members, edited by D C Clark)

This chapter presents 5 theological propositions about life, death & faith that set the agenda for a theological discussion regarding suicide. Pastoral response to the suicidal is to promote life carefully & realistically without denying the terror or despair that precipitated the suicidal thoughts. Pastoral effectiveness hinges in part on an ability to be empathetic. The chapter concludes noting that the risk to empathy is worth taking as people are more important than proper theology.