Sallekhanā Is Not Suicide

Halbfass, Wilhelm; Tukol, T. K.; Shah, Nagin J.

doi:10.2307/602493

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…34 Arguably the best known custom is called sallekhana or santhara, which is embedded in Jainism 35 -a belief system that is among the oldest in India. 36 Considered a 'wise voluntary' death (p. 193) 37 that is a supreme act of nonviolence, 38 which counters 'the violent impulses of suicide' (p. 211), 37 this option is available 'in such cases where a normal and dignified life is no longer possible' (p. 537); 39,40 'when death is imminent because of disease or when one is unable to function self-sufficiently' ... 'at the close of a normal life span' (p. 196). 35 A Jain scholar and judge, expressly defends the practice in a book entitled 'Sallekhana Is Not Suicide', 40 since 'ordinary suicide' (p. 354) is violent self-destruction, motivated by negative emotions and mental infirmity, which leaves loved ones with unresolved grief.…”

Section: Religionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biathanatosrevisited: Anabaptist perspectives on voluntarily stopping eating and drinking in the face of terminal illness

Incorvaia

2022

Palliat�Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) is a legal means of hastening death through refusal of food and fluids – a topic rarely addressed in Christian Protestantism. Among this group, U.S. Mainline Protestants comprise nearly 15% of the population and are more likely to include social moderates and liberals who emphasize quality of life (over mere life) and may therefore be open to the practice. Objectives Leveraging the well-established and validated Theory of Planned Behavior – that posits a person’s intentions to carry out an action are motivated by one’s attitude, perception of subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control – this research elucidates clergy and congregants’ normative beliefs and anticipated tactical support for VSED, including their reactions to Christian-based justifications for this end-of-life option. Such reasoning includes that VSED is a “fast into eternal life” and is based on the example of Jesus Christ, who, in the face of ongoing suffering, determined the end of his own life when he stated, “It is finished,” and gave up his spirit – an insight originally argued by John Donne in Biathanatos (1647/1982). Methods This case study of one southern Anabaptist congregation employs a focus group and one-on-one interviews, capturing reactions to a vignette in which a hypothetical fellow parishioner intends to VSED in the face of ongoing suffering from a terminal illness. Results In response to the presented vignette, study participants reported their affirmation of VSED. Responses to faith-based justifications for the practice varied widely. Conclusion Individuals aiming to VSED in the face of terminal illness may have their intention affirmed by a church community, but will likely require additional caregiving support to achieve a hastened death. A nascent framework for future comparative studies of faith communities’ assessments of VSED is also proposed.

show abstract

Section: Religionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biathanatosrevisited: Anabaptist perspectives on voluntarily stopping eating and drinking in the face of terminal illness

Incorvaia

2022

Palliat�Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Sallekhanā Is Not Suicide

Cited by 1 publication

References 0 publications

Biathanatosrevisited: Anabaptist perspectives on voluntarily stopping eating and drinking in the face of terminal illness

Biathanatosrevisited: Anabaptist perspectives on voluntarily stopping eating and drinking in the face of terminal illness

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About