“Only a philosophical statement can satisfy such a legitimate question; however, no philosophy, not even theology, can satisfy the

Death is not only a separation of a person from his loved ones nor from this beautiful world, but simply also the separation of the soul from the body.

It is when the body, as some sort of vessel, can no longer sustain the life of the soul given the natural processes of attrition, of being worn-out, due to aging and deterioration.

It is borne out of a metaphysical reality, a corollary to man’s innate or inherent limitations, being a creature of time and space, in an existence that is ab initio, “unwanted” or devoid of personal choice.

When parents, in a confrontation with their stubborn kids, would say, “I brought you to this world and took care of you until now, and this is what I get — a disrespectful ingrate!” the kid angrily retorts, “Then why did you bring me into this world? Why was I born? it is not my choice to be here!”

The next scene could be of some more heated exchanges or slaps on the juvenile face, or a door slamming behind the kid who has opted to get out of the house.

Only a philosophical statement can satisfy such a legitimate question; however, no philosophy, not even theology, can satisfy the angst-laden question of an angry kid.

Many young people are no longer satisfied with the answers to life’s challenges and questions with the usual escapist routes of the spiritual or theological assurances rooted from institutional religious beliefs, or the parental presumption that “Mommy or Daddy knows best.”

Unfortunately, with the dwindling hold of homes and parents over their children, even basic questions on life and existence can no longer be sourced from the traditional authorities. This is when the young ones opt to find answers from other sources, such as the Internet or informal peer groups, which themselves are equally confused.

In all aspects of life, the young and adventurous look at life as a series of options, choices, and would resist the idea that, in life, there are non-negotiable givens, where choices or freedom cannot apply, one of which is death.

With the rise of incidents of suicide, especially among the younger class, death seems to be an option.

I know of a young man, a cancer patient, who opted to jump out of the hospital window to beat the one-year maximum term the doctor has given him. In the suicide note, he writes that committing suicide is the best choice ever in his life.

Living in this damn world was not his choice in the first place, as he was born into it without God asking him. At least, now, death was his choice!

This is not unfamiliar though in the past.

In the 14th century, the Catholic Church had to confront the error of Manichaeism, which espouses that the body imprisons and enslaves the soul; hence, aside from punishing the body by flagellation, since the body causes the man to sin, the best way out is suicide, the ultimate freedom.

Also, the Catholic Church teaches that the sure path to heaven is to offer one’s life as a martyr, shedding blood for the sake of the faith.

In view of this, the highly spiritual or motivated would voluntarily rush to the ranks of the brave missionaries to land on the shores of hostile mission territories, such as Japan and Korea, and readily offer themselves for torture and martyrdom, since they can now behold the gates of heaven waiting for them.

And what can we surmise about the death penalty, when society opts to end the life of a notorious criminal?

Yesterday, we paid our respects to our beloved departed and cherished the beautiful memories they left behind. Some can wipe a tear or two in regret or question why a loved one should depart… and whisper, “If only death is an option, then things could have been better.”

Well, in life some questions would remain unanswered, forever.