DESCRIPTION

Can examining the difference between the attitude toward suicide in ancient Greek culture and the Bible provide a positive, biblical alternative to the rising suicidal element in modern Western culture? Kalman Kaplan and Matthew Schwartz develop such a biblical psychology in this book by combining the disciplines of history, psychology, and religion.

Ancient Greek society shows an obsessive interest in suicide and death. Kaplan and Schwartz explore the psychodynamic roots of that tendency and contrast it with the biblical stories, which speak little of suicide and approach reality and freedom in terms of a personal, lifegiving God. It is here that Kaplan and Schwartz find a viable solution for the hopelessness so prevalent in Western culture today.

About the authors:
Kalman J. Kaplan is clinical professor of psychology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and director of the UIC Program for Religion/Spirituality and Mental Health, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. His other books include The Seven Habits of the Good Life: How the Biblical Virtues Free Us from the Seven Deadly Sins."

Matthew B. Schwartz teaches ancient history and literature in the Departments of History and Near East Studies at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. His other books include The Seven Habits of the Good Life: How the Biblical Virtues Free Us from the Seven Deadly Sins."