The psychiatric literature on suicide bombing was reviewed & compared to similar anthropological literature. A probe into the methodologies of researching suicide bombing, definitions of “war” & “terrorism” & beliefs on life, death, homicide, & suicide demonstrate that most of the psychiatric literature rflects a particular perspective which aspires towards a certain universalism. Anthropological approaches can disclose standpoints taken for granted since any interventions with respect to suicide bombing must eventually account for values which are ultimately culturally determined. (32 refs.)