Conceptualisation of Suicide in Christian Thought: A Pastoral Approach

This paper aims to conceptualise ‘suicide’ within Christian thought for 21st-century African Christianity. It explores its significance to Yoruba ontology, and its treatment within the biblical canon. Utilising a qualitative research design and employing a tripolar interpretive methods, the article underscores the widespread affirmation of the sanctity and dignity of human life within Christian traditions. It asserts that the contemplation of suicide in Christian thought across historical epochs candidly acknowledges the realities of despair and suffering in a broken world, while also presenting a redemptive vision through the person of Christ. The paper advocates for the Nigerian church, which is uniquely positioned to merge theological conviction with compassionate practice, to develop contemporary pastoral care and responses to the rising incidence of suicide in modern society.