[E. Pluribus Unum]

And in this country of intense religious fervor, many believe that to be a ‘jumper’ was to choose suicide rather than accept the fate of God — and suicide in whatever circumstances is considered shameful or, indeed, a sin that will send you to Hell.

Anti-religion bigotry claptrap.

They faced certain death either way.

When the flames get close enough, you're only choice is to jump.

Nobody can just stand there while their flesh is burning.

Escaping flames is not suicide, and it's not the "easy way out."

There was no "easy way out."

[ak267]

I agree. It’s NOT suicide because they didn’t have a choice.

[the OlLine Rebel]

“Intense religious fervor”? Not where I live.

These apparently a-religious Brits seem to think we’re so medieval - and apparently using such hyperbole, about on par with the jackasses of the Religion of Cruelty.

[the OlLine Rebel]

BTW, wouldn’t it have been a desperate hope that they would survive instead of burn/choke?

[One Name]

I agree completely with your take, but I am reminded of a Saint (Fox’s Book of Martyrs, read many years ago), strapped to a pole who held out his hand with which he had signed a false confession into the flames before they consumed his body, and made a remarkable last statement.

1 COR 10:13 “...but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I agree. This is the first time I have ever heard of anyone expressing shame for or passing judgment on those people who had to choose between burning to death or jumping. If I had been in that terrible situation on 9/11, I'm pretty sure that I would have taken a great big swan dive out of the towers and aimed for the street as gracefully as I could, hoping that the end would be instantaneous on impact.

Some of these people referenced in the story need to get a grip and understand that the jumpers were murdered just like those who went down inside the towers.

[RightSpirit]

It has been some time since I read City of God, but I seem to recall that St. Augustine commented that Christians who jumped out of burning buildings during the barbarian invasion of Rome were not to be regarded as suicides since they had no escape from death either way.

I have never heard any opinion in my extensive involvement with the Christian community that has ever viewed those who were forced to jump as anything less than honorable victims. They were hardly cowards.

Saying Americans want to forget them is downright false. The photos have etched too vivid a memory on our national psyche. Our local small town suburban free newspaper featured a photo this week of a victim who jumped. There is nothing to hide here. Instead we need to look terrorism full in the face and say we know what you did and you will pay for this eternally.

[Ciexyz]

The Pope declared the jumpers were victims of murder not suicides and this brought comfort to many suffering families.

[AnAmericanMother]

Agree completely.

That aspect of the article is just total B.S. - opportunistic America-bashing and religion-bashing from an almost wholly secularized country.

I used to work arson investigation.

You have no choice. No more than you have a choice when automatic reflex jerks your hand back from a hot stove. Your nervous system will not allow you to stand there and burn.

[Persevero]

“And in this country of intense religious fervor, many believe that to be a ‘jumper’ was to choose suicide rather than accept the fate of God — and suicide in whatever circumstances is considered shameful or, indeed, a sin that will send you to Hell.”

I found this statement bizarre. I am a person of intense religious fervor and it has never even OCCURRED to me that they had done something wrong.

Nor had I heard anyone mention this idea - not even any of my intense religious fervor friends and family.

What a ridiculous assertion for this writer to make.

[SuziQ]

I won’t presume to know what was going through the minds of those jumpers as they made that decision. I believe that God is merciful, so I prayed for His mercy on them as I saw them fall.

[semaj]

I will forever hate the monsters who instigated the circumstances that forced my fellow Americans to have to make such a decision. Whether it was suicide or not doesn't matter, as I know they are comforted in the arms of a loving Creator.

Suicide is not the unpardonable sin that many mistakenly believe it is. The unpardonable sin is living a life of unbelief.