The City of God · Chapter
XXV explained
Augustine argues against the idea that suicide is a permissible way to avoid future sin, particularly the sin of consenting to sexual violation.
What happens
Augustine argues against the idea that suicide is a permissible way to avoid future sin, particularly the sin of consenting to sexual violation. He asserts that a soul guided by God will not consent to lustful desires, and that committing murder (suicide) to prevent a possible future adultery is a greater and irreparable sin compared to one that can be healed by penitence.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This chapter is the dramatic climax because it marks the irreversible psychological and spiritual turning poin…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Sin, Grace, and Redemption
Discusses the hierarchy of sins and the possibility of penitence for some sins versus the irreparable nature of suicide.
- Morality and Virtue vs. Pagan Corruption
Contrasts pagan reasoning that might justify suicide with Christian moral reasoning that trusts in God's aid and rejects self-murder.
Characters to notice
- Augustine
Author and primary voice arguing against suicide as a means to prevent sin.
Key passages
“But, we are told, there is ground to fear that, when the body is subjected to the enemy’s lust, the insidious pleasure of sense may entice the soul to consent to the sin, and steps must be taken to prevent so disastrous a result.”
Some argue that when one's body is violated, the deceptive pleasure of the senses might tempt the soul to agree to the sin, so action must be taken to avoid such a catastrophe.
Augustine presents the opposing view that suicide might prevent consent to sin.
“If we are so controlled by iniquity that innocence is out of the question, and we can at best but make a choice of sins, is not a future and uncertain adultery preferable to a present and certain murder?”
If we are so dominated by evil that we cannot be innocent and must choose between sins, isn't a possible future adultery better than a definite murder now?
Augustine uses a rhetorical question to argue that suicide (murder) is worse than a potential sin of adultery.
