Healthy and Unhealthy Reactions

Healthy and Unhealthy Reactions

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staring death in the face staring death in the face

TV & media bring us face to face with death

causes us to view real suffering as fiction

Desire for a thrill, comes from us being desensitized

TV & media bring us face to face with death

causes us to view real suffering as fiction

Desire for a thrill, comes from us being desensitized

question: question:

What are your feelings when you hear about suffering and death on the nightly news?

What are your feelings when you hear about suffering and death on the nightly news?

Attitude survey Respond I agree I disagree not sure

Attitude survey Respond I agree I disagree not sure

High-risk activities make life more interesting

We can only approach death realistically if we accept that there is nothing beyond life

Sacrificing your life for an ideal is stupid Suicide is sometimes justified Jesus conquered death, his followers will

share his victory

High-risk activities make life more interesting

We can only approach death realistically if we accept that there is nothing beyond life

Sacrificing your life for an ideal is stupid Suicide is sometimes justified Jesus conquered death, his followers will

share his victory

Response one: Death is Final

Response one: Death is Final

There is no life after death Some believe in God and think this

others do not

There is no life after death Some believe in God and think this

others do not

Socrates Socrates did not claim to know what happened

after death Believed in “Since there is God, no

evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death”

Administered his own death in prison rather than taking an opportunity to escape his sentence

An example of Ars Moriendi- the art of dying

did not claim to know what happened after death

Believed in “Since there is God, no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death”

Administered his own death in prison rather than taking an opportunity to escape his sentence

An example of Ars Moriendi- the art of dying

Martin HeideggerMartin Heidegger German philosopher Face death as final and take possession

of it Advance towards death taking charge of

our lives and seizing each moment as an opportunity to fulfill ourselves as much a possible

We are ultimately responsible for finding meaning and purpose in our lives

German philosopher Face death as final and take possession

of it Advance towards death taking charge of

our lives and seizing each moment as an opportunity to fulfill ourselves as much a possible

We are ultimately responsible for finding meaning and purpose in our lives

Jean-Paul Sarte Jean-Paul Sarte

French philosopher Death is absurd The soul is not immortal, after

death there is only non-being “I am free to make meaning out of

my life despite my mortality”

French philosopher Death is absurd The soul is not immortal, after

death there is only non-being “I am free to make meaning out of

my life despite my mortality”

Karl JaspersKarl Jaspers

German Philosopher Death = the fulfillment of human life Human life belongs to larger cycle of

birth, growth, decline, and death. Part of the cosmic process. No based on a belief in God or an

afterlife but rather on an understanding of the nature of the material universe.

German Philosopher Death = the fulfillment of human life Human life belongs to larger cycle of

birth, growth, decline, and death. Part of the cosmic process. No based on a belief in God or an

afterlife but rather on an understanding of the nature of the material universe.

Response 2: Death as a way out

Response 2: Death as a way out

An end to suffering An escape from problems

An end to suffering An escape from problems

Suicide-Suicide- Some cultures, an honorable way to die These are an exception OT-violation of the commandment “you

shall not kill” St. Thomas Aquinas

It violates the instinct to love oneself and to preserve one’s own life

It is an offense against society sine it deprives the community of one of its rightful members and contributors

It is s crime against God, who alone has the power to give and take away life

Some cultures, an honorable way to die These are an exception OT-violation of the commandment “you

shall not kill” St. Thomas Aquinas

It violates the instinct to love oneself and to preserve one’s own life

It is an offense against society sine it deprives the community of one of its rightful members and contributors

It is s crime against God, who alone has the power to give and take away life

Suicide stereotypes:Suicide stereotypes:1. Only the very rich or very poor commit

suicide2. Suicide tends to run in families3. People who commit suicide are mentally

ill4. Most suicides occur around Christmas5. Suicidal people want to die and there is

little that can be done about it6. People who talk about suicide will not

commit it

1. Only the very rich or very poor commit suicide

2. Suicide tends to run in families3. People who commit suicide are mentally

ill4. Most suicides occur around Christmas5. Suicidal people want to die and there is

little that can be done about it6. People who talk about suicide will not

commit it

factsfacts1. People of every economic and racial group

commit suicide2. There is no suicide gene, people who have had

a family member commit suicide are more likely to commit suicide themselves (survivor’s guilt, similar chemical imbalance issues)

3. Not mental ill, but extremely unhappy due to depression or emotional upset

4. Most occur in February, correlation with b-day5. Most who threaten suicide, are undecided

about living or dying. 6. Threats should be taken seriously, majority of

people who give definite warnings about killing themselves will do so

1. People of every economic and racial group commit suicide

2. There is no suicide gene, people who have had a family member commit suicide are more likely to commit suicide themselves (survivor’s guilt, similar chemical imbalance issues)

3. Not mental ill, but extremely unhappy due to depression or emotional upset

4. Most occur in February, correlation with b-day5. Most who threaten suicide, are undecided

about living or dying. 6. Threats should be taken seriously, majority of

people who give definite warnings about killing themselves will do so

4. Most occur in February, correlation with b-days

5. Most who threaten suicide, are undecided about living or dying.

6. Threats should be taken seriously, majority of people who give definite warnings about killing themselves will do so

Ongoing depression

4. Most occur in February, correlation with b-days

5. Most who threaten suicide, are undecided about living or dying.

6. Threats should be taken seriously, majority of people who give definite warnings about killing themselves will do so

Ongoing depression

Response 3: death as self-sacrifice

Response 3: death as self-sacrifice

The ultimate expression of love A way to express belief in a noble

cause or ideal A way of sacrificing oneself for othersAltruistic death- a form of self-sacrifice

in which an individual gives us his of her life for a noble cause, a sense of patriotic duty or a religious ideal

The ultimate expression of love A way to express belief in a noble

cause or ideal A way of sacrificing oneself for othersAltruistic death- a form of self-sacrifice

in which an individual gives us his of her life for a noble cause, a sense of patriotic duty or a religious ideal

Maximilian Kolbe-Page 57 Jean Donovan- page 58

Maximilian Kolbe-Page 57 Jean Donovan- page 58

Response 4: death as the beginning of new life

Response 4: death as the beginning of new life

The resurrection of Jesus is the corner stone of our Catholic faith

Through baptism we enter fully into the Paschal mystery, we are baptized in the death of Jesus so we can rise with him to new life

The resurrection of Jesus is the corner stone of our Catholic faith

Through baptism we enter fully into the Paschal mystery, we are baptized in the death of Jesus so we can rise with him to new life

Where do you stand? Where do you stand?

Where do you stand in response to death? ~ how much do you really value life? ~ Do you unnecessarily put your life in danger? Are you are risk regarding suicide?

Where do you stand in response to death? ~ how much do you really value life? ~ Do you unnecessarily put your life in danger? Are you are risk regarding suicide?

To answer those questions, reflect on the items in the “have you ever”questionnaire on page 60. Quietly think about and pray over each item. After you have finished, write a short paragraph in your notebook about your philosophy of life. Do you value life highly, or are there areas at which you may need to take a close look?

To answer those questions, reflect on the items in the “have you ever”questionnaire on page 60. Quietly think about and pray over each item. After you have finished, write a short paragraph in your notebook about your philosophy of life. Do you value life highly, or are there areas at which you may need to take a close look?

Tips for building a happier and more meaningful life:Tips for building a happier and more meaningful life:

1. Take charge of your own emotions2. Commit yourself to projects that help

others3. Take initiative in developing friendships4. Don’t count on only 1 activity or friendship5. Learn to distinguish a bad situation from

feelings of self hatred6. Develop a friendship with yourself7. Never be afraid to get help

1. Take charge of your own emotions2. Commit yourself to projects that help

others3. Take initiative in developing friendships4. Don’t count on only 1 activity or friendship5. Learn to distinguish a bad situation from

feelings of self hatred6. Develop a friendship with yourself7. Never be afraid to get help