Christian
The United States is home to more people of Christian faith than any other country in the world—and they are estimated to reach more than 250 million by 2020 (Pew Research Center, 2015). Protestants, followed by Catholics, make up the majority of U.S. Christians. Other large groups include Mormons, Orthodox Christians, and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Although there is no single Christian view of suicide, traditional Christian beliefs discourage suicide.
Among Catholics, suicide was traditionally considered a mortal sin—a very serious sin that destroyed one’s relationship with God. But in 1983 the Roman Catholic Church removed suicide from the list of mortal sins.
Christian religions today acknowledge that suicide is often the result of untreated depression, pain, or other suffering. People of Christian faith seek not to blame the person who dies by suicide, but to provide care to those at risk, survivors, and their families.
Resources
Below is a listing of some Christian resources. For other faith-specific resources, check out our resource library.
