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Not everyone believes the same about suicide.

Catholics, and Protestants who believe in the theory of mortal sin, would say no, a person who commits suicide cannot go to Heaven.

According to the Holy Roman Church, a mortal sin is a grievous offense committed with full knowledge and consent of the will, and if it is not confessed and absolved the sinner will go to Hell. There is no way a person who committed suicide could confess and absolve, so he will go to Hell.

Protestant religions who claim anyone who believes on the Lord and is saved will go to Heaven, which presumably means if you're a Christian in one of those churches and you kill yourself, you're going to Heaven. To this I can only say, read Matthew 7:21.

Clarification of the Catholic beliefs on suicide:

Mortal sin

Regarding being in a state of mortal sin, the Catechism of the Catholic Church lays down three conditions - all of which must be met:

"For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."(paragraph 1857). If any one of these conditions is not fulfilled, there is no state of mortal sin. In paragraph 1860 the Catechism goes on to list some of the things which can reduce consent: feelings, passion, mental disorders and external pressure.

Most importantly, paragraph 1861 states: "Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself....However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God." In other words, although Catholicism believes that freedom means it is possible for a person to reject God's love and forgiveness, the Church refuses to say that there is anyone in Hell; that is known only to God.

Suicide

As to suicide itself the Catechism states:

"Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide." (paragraph 2282)

"We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives." (paragraph 2283)

Again, the Catholic Church places strict conditions on being truly responsible; even then the Church leaves open the possibility of Heaven.

Culpability

Bearing these things in mind, it would be argued that a person who habitually considers suicide is not in a healthy emotional state because the instinct of self preservation is one of the most basic humans possess. A depressed emotional state reduces a person's freedom and thus culpability. If mental illness is added to the scenario, then the level of responsibility (and thus freedom) is even more greatly diminished. In short, from the perspective of Catholicism (and probably most religions) a person who suffers from a mental illness (or even depression) does not have a sufficient amount of freedom for the act of suicide to be considered a sin. Therefore, it is unimaginable that God would keep such a person from entering heaven.

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