What do the founding texts of Judaism and Christianity say on the subject of suicide? Do they speak of an absolute obligation to live? Many ethicists have arrived at a negative opinion on the subject, and have done so before attempting a reading of the founding texts. However, the subjacent ethics of these texts is an ethics of ambiguity. Consequently, any religious ethic which derives its inspiration from the founding texts must not consider any act as absolutely and universally good or bad in and of itself; it must always examine the context, the intent of the one carrying out the act, and the significance attributed to it.