The death of Jesus, Christian salvation, and Easter-week atrocities against Jews: A suicidological approach

Journal/Book: Omega J Death Dying. 1997; 36: 26 Austin Ave, Amityville, NY 11701. Baywood Publ Co Inc. 63-75.

Abstract: A question ignored by suicidologists is the degree to which major Christian theologians have stressed that Jesus gave up his life voluntarily as an act of salvation for mankind and that it was not taken by another. Indeed His death, in Durkheim's terms, is an ''altruistic suicide'' and is offered as a standard of love for others. Nevertheless, the Jewish people have been historically blamed for His death with many anti-Jewish persecutions occurring coincidentally with the Christian Holy Week The believing Christian can be seen as a survivor of ''altruistic suicide,'' certain New Testament passages as a suicide note, Easter Week as the anniversary date of Jesus' death, and anti-Jewish persecutions during this period as displacement of survivor guilt into aggression toward Jesus' family of origin.

Note: Article Kaplan KJ, Michael Reese Hosp & Med Ctr, Dept Psychiat, Singer Pavil, Chicago,IL 60616 USA

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