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A Psychology of Hope: An Antidote to the Suicidal Pathology of Western Civilization

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This fascinating work deals with suicide and its prevention in antiquity and in our time. The approach integrates history, psychology and culture with a view to practical application. A therapy for suicide prevention that exists in the Old Testament or Tenakh is presented in the final section. The text is enhanced by illustrations and tables.

In his introduction, David Bakan expresses confidence that the implementation of this book's guidelines will save lives. He observes that there is a pressing need for a critical investigation of history for a clearer understanding of contemporary psychological afflictions, including the suicidal tendency. Such a study of history would be like an entire culture undergoing psycho­analysis.

Freud's view on the death instinct in the human being is discussed in the introduction, whilst chapter one looks at Shakespeare's Hamlet and his musings on the matter, as well as other opinions like those of Albert Camus. Chapter 2 shows how suicide pervaded Greco-Roman thought. It was considered an act of escape into freedom by the greatest thinkers of the culture like Seneca and Plato.

Well they encouraged infanticide too, like Seneca in Controversiae. Even Aristotle in his Politics condoned and justified it. Needless to say, the Hebrew Bible considered it an abomination. Suicide in Jewish and Christian Thought is discussed in the 3rd chapter, with the quote from the Almighty "You shall choose life so that you and your seed shall live."

Although certain suicidologists, like Alvarez, have argued that the Good Book contains no specific teaching against suicide, the entire body of Hebraic thought is fervently pro-life. More so than the Christian view that emphasizes the next life, Judaism encourages joy, happiness and restoration (Tikkun) in this life.

Unfortunately a strain of religious morbidity infects Christianity as revealed by William James in his classic work The Varieties of Religious Experience. Martin Luther, amongst others, suffered from it. There are also certain other impulses in the religion that very few Christians are aware of; William Nicholls has dissected the history and psychology in great depth in his masterpiece Christian Antisemitism.

The 2nd part explores suicide in Greek Tragedy, Greek versus Hebrew myth and the prevention of suicide in the Old Testament.

The deterministic Greek view offers no hope of salvation. After the evils had escaped Pandora's jar, hope (Elpis) emerged reluctantly and with hesitation. That's about it. Greek literature is of course of the highest quality but most of it, especially tragedy, is psychologically warped and even perverse what with all the family murders and castrations.

The authors compare the cases of Narcissus and Jonah. Narcissus individuates himself by suicide while The Lord as savior and therapist twice intervenes to save Jonah's life. Our Western culture seems to be heading like a runaway train in the direction of malignant narcissism, especially amongst celebrities, as claimed by Tammy Bruce in her book The Death of Right and Wrong.

Chapter 6 deals with suicide and its prevention in the Hebrew Bible, with reference to the Prophet Elijah. After Jezebel had murdered the priests of the Lord in revenge for the slaughter of the magicians of Baal on Mount Carmel, the Prophet had had enough and asked to die. God intervened and led him to Mount Horeb.

The desire to die is also expressed by figures like David, Moses and Job but in every case intervention occurs. One meaning of The Holy Name (Tetragrammaton) is "Life Giver" so The Eternal Divine protects life. The Egyptians were obsessed with death; Israelite priests were forbidden from touching a corpse or even entering a cemetery.

The 3rd part looks at family influences.

The Greek vision of the family is filled with conflict, cruelty, competition, murder, sibling rivalry and sadism: Pandora, Prometheus & Zeus; Laius & Oedipus; Clytemnestra & Electra; Uranus & Cronos versus their sons, etc.

Chapter 9: The Suicide-Preventing Structure of the Hebrew Family investigates the non-sacrifice of Isaac, Ruth of Moab who clung to Naomi and whose kindness was rewarded with kindness, the ideal of harmony between husband and wife and the promise that Elijah will come to repair relations between parents and children before the end of days.

The final part provides a complete suicide-prevention therapy. Chapter 10: A Psychology of Hope, compares the deterministic Greek view & the evil Greek pantheon with the mercy of Spirit who responds to prayer by overruling the law of cause and effect. Many passages in the Bible, the Psalms in particular, inspire, uplift and instill hope.

In Hebrew myth the rainbow is specifically given as a sign of hope. After the fall, the woman is promised that the Seed of Salvation will come through her. The parable of the Prodigal Son demonstrates the loving-kindness of God. In The Authentic Gospel of Jesus, the respected scholar Geza Vermes claims that the main message is: "Draw near to the Father in whom there is not a shadow of harshness or severity."

It is abundantly clear from the Word that Greek Heroism, its cruel restricted choices and inevitable tragic consequences are not desirable. Hubris leads to nemesis. Biblical heroism is something completely different as so lucidly explained by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach in The Private Adam: Becoming a Hero in a Selfish Age.

A Psychology of Hope is like a psychological Balm in Gilead. One problem is that many psychologists are indifferent, if not hostile, to religion. Freudians follow Freud who based his work on classical Greek models. I am however convinced that whoever uses this biblical therapy - priests, ministers, rabbis, Jewish & Christian psychologists - will witness the healing power of the Word. It concludes with a bibliography and an index.

In this scholarly work the treatment stays within the parameters of formal psychotherapy. There's also sound therapy. In my personal experience the following music is effective against anxiety & despair: Tehillim (Psalms) by Steve Reich which is sung in Hebrew, The Sacred Names by Anjani Thomas and Holy Harmony: Healing Code Tuning Forks & Ancient YHSVH Chant by Jonathan Goldman.