What's a life worth

If you've seen the movie Constantine, you'll probably remember that the Rachel Weisz character (Isabel I think?) has a twin sister. This twin took her own life and promptly went to Hell. According to Catholic doctrine, committing suicide is such a big sin that you're sent to Hell immediately.

What is the rationale behind this school of thought? Here, I'd like to give my take on this. I think that we are not supposed to take our own lives because our bodies are meant to be a temple to God. To wilfully destroy this temple is such sacrilege that there can be no bigger sin. Each one of us, after all, is God's creation. And we give Him praise through our actions and deeds. Killing oneself goes against all tenets of this belief.

Personally though, I don't entirely subscribe to this form of thinking. Remember that there is no 'hierarchy' of sins - sins are just sins, and if taking your life is a sin, it is no greater a sin than theft or murder is. What is so unpardonable about committing suicide that one should be condemned to eternal damnation? Even murderers on death row have a chance at redemption. Side note: it is kind of hard to redeem yourself while you're still alive if your sin is suicide, don't you think?

I do agree on one point though: we won't be alive in the first place if not for God. He's the reason we exist. Thus, we are accountable to some degree for how we've lived our lives. Our time on this Earth is but training for eternity, and it is imperative that we live it to its fullest. To take one's life is to rebuke this opportunity. It is not a short cut to the after-life - it is chickening out of a responsibility in its worst form. God will ultimately hand judgement on such individuals, be it damnation or bliss.

A reservist friend of mine said it best - there's nothing in life that is insolvable. Depression can drive us to do the unimaginable, but there is always help somewhere.

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By the way, as a Christian, I'm (more or less) of certain Judeo-Christian inclinations regarding life, death, God and the after-life. Feel free to express other views of the issue. I don't think I'm done expressing what I think though. More opinions later...