The Death of Jesus, Christian Salvation, and Easter-Week Atrocities Against Jews: a Suicidological Approach

Kaplan states that many suicidologists ignore the degree to which major Christian theologians have stressed that Jesus gave up his life voluntarily – in Durkheimian terms, an altruistic suicide. This paper examines the theological writings on Jesus’ death & the Church’s condemnation of suicide. It is argued that Christians, like other suicide survivors, experience guilt over Jesus’ death & this has been projected into anger toward Jews. Examples of Easter Week persecutions of Jews are discussed.