resume reading the work of St. Augustine known as the "City of God." St. Augustine today is totally focused on suicide, which is equivalent in all murder. In fact, the very rationale behind the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" means you must not take away your life not only to others, but also to themselves! On the contrary, this commandment does not consider the animal or plant beings as they were created by God to be instrumental to man. With this, St. Augustine refutes those who argue that the man should refrain from killing animals as sentient beings: in the past few days, we talked on the Vine of the soul of its own animals and now we have confirmation that there can be absolutely equation of the human soul and the animal.
Returning to the main theme, we see how St. Augustine denounces suicide unjustifiably, presenting only a few exceptions that derive directly from God and justice:
20. And with good reason in any part of the sacred canonical books can be find that there has been ordered or allowed to kill to achieve immortality or to avoid or get rid of evil. In contrast, it must be understood that we were forbidden in that passage in which the Law says: Thou shalt not kill. To underline that does not add "your neighbor", as when prohibits false witness: Do not bear false witness against your neighbor 64. However, if someone bear false witness against himself, one can not consider immune to this crime, for he who loves himself has received from the measure of the next. It was precisely this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself 65. So it is no less guilty of perjury those who give false testimony about himself that if he did against his neighbor, although in the commandment which forbids false witness against your neighbor is banned and who does not interpret correctly it might seem that it is forbidden to stand as a false witness against himself. All the more reason therefore to be understood that it is wrong to kill, since the precept not to kill, without any addition, no one, not even the individual who is given the commandment is to be understood excluded. From what some have attempted to extend also to the commandment of wild and domestic animals, so it would be lawful to kill any 66. So why not also with herbs and all the plants that feed by attaching to the ground by the roots? Although these beings, though they have feeling, are considered alive and therefore they can also die, and thus also be killed if you use violence against them. For this reason the Apostle says, speaking of their seeds, he said: What you sow does not come alive unless it dies 67, and the psalm was written: He killed their vines with hail 68. But not for this, when you hear say Do not kill, you must understand that it is forbidden to break a twig and stupidly believe the Manichaean error. Forget these crazy theories. And when you read Do not kill, not to be understood that it was said of the fruit trees because they make no sense, nor unreasonable animals that fly, swim, walk, crawl because they are not joint we reason. It has not been given them to have it in common with us. And this absolutely right with the Creator's ordering their life and death has been subject to our benefit. It remains, therefore, that meant that the man shall not kill, so neither you nor another. Who kills a man kills himself in fact.
21. The same divine teaching has made exceptions to the law not to kill. With the exception of cases of individuals who just orders the death of God is established by law or by the express command addressed to a person temporarily. It does not kill so who needs to provide to the magistrate. It's like the sword is an instrument of its users. So do not infringe in any way the commandment which were ordered not to kill those who have gone to war for control of God or, representing the strength of public power, according to its laws, that is, by virtue of an order of right reason, have punished criminals with death . Abraham So not only did not have the stigma of cruelty but was also praised for mercy because he decided to kill his son for no crime but to obedience 69. And with good reason they are discussing whether it should be regarded as God's command for the case where Jephthah sacrificed his daughter to meet him, for he had vowed to sacrifice to God for being the first meeting after the victory had gone 70. Samson is not otherwise excused by the fact who did crush the enemies with the collapse of the house 71, as a divine inspiration, which worked wonders through him, had commanded him from within. Except for these cases, therefore, that a just law in general or in particular God, the very source of justice, command to kill, is responsible for the crime of murder who kills himself or another individual.
22. 1. Those who have been killed, though perhaps they are to be admired for greatness of soul, are not to be commended for the rectitude of legal proceedings. And if you examine closely the reason, you should not even consider greatness of mind if you kill someone because he is not able to bear the sins of others or social difficulties. Rather is judged as a weak character that can not tolerate the difficult stand in awe of their sensitivity or the foolish opinion of the vulgar. Should be considered more noble soul that can tolerate rather than to escape the hard life and to despise the clear light of conscience on trial for men and above all the mass that most often is shrouded in the mist of the error. And if this must be considered an act of courage when a man gives death, it is found that this was greatness of soul rather Teombroto 72. They say they read the book of Plato, in which he has competed in the immortality of the soul, he fell from a wall and it went from this life to what it considered best. Any case not above it true or false rumor of doom or that, not being able to bear, you should kill. To choose death and break the bonds of life's sweet enough alone greatness of soul. However, Plato himself, who had read, he could teach him that it was an act of courage that most of honesty 73. This fact certainly would have done to individual preferences and also commanded, if based on the idea of \u200b\u200bimmortality of the soul that he had not considered that you should not do, indeed, that must be prohibited.
22. 2. [23.] But, they say, many have killed themselves to avoid falling into the hands of enemies. Now we are not debating whether it happened but if he should future. The right reason must also precede the examples. It may agree with the examples, but those who are more worthy of imitation as marked religiosity. Not have made the patriarchs, no prophets, no apostles. Christ the Lord himself, when he advised the latter, if we suffer persecution, to flee from city to city 74, could advise them to kill themselves to avoid falling into the hands of persecutors. And if he has neither commanded nor advised them to come out in this way by his life, which, once gone, had promised to prepare a 75 dwells in eternity, whatever the example offering the Gentiles who do not know God, it is clear that it is permissible to follow those who worship the one true God
0 comments:
Post a Comment