Araraukar wrote:Why do Christians wear a seatbelt?
This is a good question. Here's the short answer:
Human life -- even on this earth, filled with suffering and misery -- is nonetheless good and a gift from God, so we are obliged to protect and preserve our own lives. In practice, this means wearing seatbelts.
Here's a longer answer:
In our original state, humanity existed in an earthly paradise and possessed a number of special graces, including heightened knowledge, physical immortality, and freedom from suffering and inclination towards evil. But we lost these graces because of original sin.
I do not know what would have happened if we had not sinned. I would guess that we would have been permitted to enter heaven and experience full communion with God (which we do not have and have never had on earth) after reaching a sufficient level of maturity, but this is just speculation.
The point is that God intentionally did not create us in heaven to start with. He wanted us to experience life on earth first, because life on earth is good in its own right and was part of His overall plan for the growth and development of humanity.
Now, despite our initial rejection of God, God in His mercy has redeemed us through Jesus Christ and gave us a second chance to receive what He wanted to give us all along: full communion with him in heaven.
But by our own fault, we have lost the special graces we were originally given. We are responsible for introducing suffering and death into this world, and we must deal with the consequences. Yet despite this, life on this earth is still a gift from God, it is inherently good by nature, it is part of the divine plan, and it is worth living. Thus, we are obliged to protect and safeguard our lives. The self-inflicted wound of original sin does not change that.
You may also be interested in the section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on suicide:
Suicide
2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.
2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.
Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.
