I'm wondering if hurting/killing someone because they're attacking you is a sin. What I mean is what if someone is trying to mug you? If you have a knife or something and hurt him with it, would it be considered a sin? It's not like you have a choice. Just wondering.

This is actually an impossible question with no real answer.

The obvious answer is, no, of course not it is self defense, you mean no harm you just want to protect yourself and others. Of course you might think about Jesus, what would he do? Would he want to kill a man just to protect himself or would he let the man have his way etc etc.


I am the last person you'd want an answer from but I would say it looks to be a sin, but if if I was ever in Danger I would defend myself and ask for forgiveness later.

In the end it is really up to you, what you decide is right through your own research and beliefs.


If you are really into finding out more about this you should look up "Non-Violent resistance" it is responding to violence with protests etc etc. Gandhi or Mother Teresa are perfect examples of Non-Violent resistance.

Deathx113 : thanks for the answer. I'll try checking out what you told me. I just hope I'm never in the position where I have to make a choice.

Agree'd although there will probably be times in life where we will and lets just hope we make the right one.

If anything I said didn't make sense go ahead and tell me, I am just a high-schooler so I make tons of mistakes ^^

Well think of it this way some one attacks you with the intention of killing you
you hit them and run there is nothing wrong with that (I belive) so Its kinda up to you and what you think and belive about that kind of sin

God would rather you defend yourself rather than get beaten, so I would say it's not a sin. But if you can help it, try not to actually attack and keep up a defense, that way people won't try to use it as ammunition against you.

well, I think it depends on how far you take it and how in danger your life truly is. If someone is trying to mug you and just tries to take the cash you have on hand then I figure you might as well just give up a bit of cash in order to prevent yourself from getting hurt. If someone is trying to take your life I think you are more than justified in defending yourself. And in extreme cases I think you are justified in killing that person in order to save your own life and the lives of anyone else that person is trying to hurt. Of course you try to avoid this as much as possible but I see no problem in preserving your own life against an unjustified attack.

I don't think its a sin. When the bible says to "turn the other cheek", I've always taken that to be more verbal persecution, but I haven't read the verse in a while.

Matt 5:38-42

38. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloak also.
41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

I believe this is the section you are referring to. I don't think this is referring to self-defence at all but is talking about less serious situations. Like if someone is trying to take advantage of you or trying to get your help.... it clearly says to give extra or "go the extra mile" sort of thing. In no way is this section saying that you can't defend yourself if your life is in danger. Obviously a result that doesn't involve the death of the person you are defending yourself from is better, but I think you do what you have to in order to save your own life.

Self Defence doesn't mean having to harm another, this is why Aikido is the art of peace. You can control another without harm. In most cases the attacker harms himself.

I remember one time I was being mugged, we was walking through downtown Vancouver Canada on a Sunday, the streets were deserted and two huge fellows walking towards us stopped me and my girlfriend, telling me to give them $100. Without being hostile, I pulled out my wallet opened it to show it was empty and saying "I don't have any money" and continued to walk away. The one guy kinda went to grab it anyways but I quickly had it back in my pocket. Back then I always carried cash in my pocket not wallet, coz I grew up in a ruff neighbourhood of Salford UK.

I personally do not think self defense is a sin. What are you supposed to do, just let a killer stab you to death? I don't think so.

jmc1097 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKuaa3oygTU

The real thing you need to look at is the definition of self-defense.

Self-defense is if:
-You're being attacked, so you run away
-You're surrounded, so you tackle someone, get up, then run away
-A burglar/thief/murderer is in your house and has you at gunpoint, so you throw a knife at him, in the attempt to NOT cause him fatal harm, but rather save yourself.

Self-defense is NOT if:
-Someone is attacking you, so you fight back
-Someone is bullying you, so you bully them back
-Someone is attempting to do you harm, so you make the same attempt towards them
-You start going to a class to learn Karate because you are being picked on.

Anything listed under Self-defense can not be considered a sin, because you have no real intention of doing harm to others.

or you could actually look up the definition instead of making up your own....

self-de·fense
   /ˈsɛlfdɪˈfɛns, ˌsɛlf-/ Show Spelled[self-di-fens, self-] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act of defending one's person when physically attacked, as by countering blows or overcoming an assailant: the art of self-defense.
2.
a claim or plea that the use of force or injuring or killing another was necessary in defending one's own person from physical attack: He shot the man who was trying to stab him and pleaded self-defense at the murder trial.
3.
an act or instance of defending or protecting one's own interests, property, ideas, etc., as by argument or strategy.

I would say unless you hate them and want them to die then it is a sin. But you are not the one who chose to attack you chose to defend.

I think it is not a sin unless you take it to the extreme and kill people over small things, like just because he punched you or something. IF that person is going to kill you, I think you are justified in killing that person.

Well Jesus said to turn the other cheek, but, if he has a gun, I'll do what I can to take it away from him. "I'm not dying if it kills me".

In my own personal understanding of God (which is partly based in christianity but not totally), I don't believe it is ever a sin to take a life if they are trying to take your life or anothers' life. Additionally, it is not a sin if they try to take from you anything you need to survive. Food, land, water, etc. Spilling the blood of evil when it threatens goodness is forgivable.

Again that's just my interpretation from various religious texts I have read in whole or in part. Personally, I think it makes the most sense that God would forgive taking the life of the man who seeks blood.

it depends on if the person is just trying to steal or if you honestly believe they have intent to kill. Thats why it states at night no blood guilt would occur because it would be hard to determine the intent in darkness but in daylight or light it would be much easier. If they want to steal give them what they want but if its to kill you can protect your self but even then if your ar able to get away its always advisable to do that first in imitation of Jesus at John 8:59 and John 10:39 . Also this isn't a deliberate attempt to "kill" in self defence but if a fatal blow happens while defending than you are free of guilt. Here is your answer from the King James

Exodus 22: 2,3- 2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him.3 If the sun be risen upon him, [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; [for] he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

To help understand it a little better this translation will help

Exodus 22: 2,3- 2 (“If a thief should be found in the act of breaking in and he does get struck and die, there is no bloodguilt for him. 3 If the sun has shone forth upon him, there is bloodguilt for him.)“He is to make compensation without fail. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for the things he stole


Jesus Christ did speak about ‘turning the other cheek.’ But we need to consider whether he was actually talking about serious threats to a person’s life. He said: “Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him.” Now, a slap is an insult, often designed to provoke a fight. By not retaliating when subjected to insulting speech or action, the Christian may prevent trouble. “An answer, when mild,” says the Bible, “turns away rage.”

The situation, however, is very different when one is threatened with serious bodily harm. In his Law to Israel, Jehovah God revealed that the individual had the right of self-defense. Actually, it is inherent in man to prevent injury to his body. If an object is hurled at him, he instinctively tries to get out of the way or, if that is impossible, to shield the head from injury. Similarly, if a beloved relative—wife or child—comes under attack, a man will instinctively do what he can to help, even if doing so could cost him his life.

If flight is impossible, the individual may be able to reason with the assailant. But, at other times, trying to reason with a person determined to inflict injury may lead to loss of valuable time. The situation may be such that the only thing a person can do is to use whatever is at hand to protect himself or others. As a result, the attacker may receive a fatal blow. From the scriptural standpoint, the one acting in self-defense would not thereby incur bloodguilt.