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If your deity asked you to kill your child, would you do it?

If your deity asked you to kill your child would you do it?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 16.7%

  • No

    Votes: 26 54.2%

  • I do not believe in a deity.

    Votes: 14 29.2%
  • Total voters
    48
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
use_your_brain said:
What kind of sacrifice is it to be exact?
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My life.

In my personal opinion, it sounds very unhealthy to disvalue life because you fear hell and hope for heaven. If Islam teaches obedience before life, it makes christianity look pretty good. Sacrificing ones life is the highest charity one can do.

This makes me think quite sadly.

I was coming from work and a look like a five year old kid ran in the middle of the street. Two cars on either side did not see him. I dashed over, motioned for the cars the stop, and grabbed the childs hand. If I were hit, "at least the child was safe".

What is sad to me is that you would watch that child get hit because you fear gods wrath and hell if you saves him.

To me, thats barbaric. I dont understand it.
 
Last edited:
use_your_brain

use_your_brain

Active Member
Carlita said:
My life.

In my personal opinion, it sounds very unhealthy to disvalue life because you fear hell and hope for heaven. If Islam teaches obedience before life, it makes christianity look pretty good. Sacrificing ones life is the highest charity one can do.

This makes me think quite sadly.

I was coming from work and a look like a five year old kid ran in the middle of the street. Two cars on either side did not see him. I dashed over, motioned for the cars the stop, and grabbed the childs hand. If I were hit, "at least the child was safe".

What is sad to me is that you would watch that child get hit because you fear gods wrath and hell if you saves him.

To me, thats barbaric. I dont understand it.
Click to expand...
It is because hell and heaven do exist.
And what does saving the child from car crash have to do with this topic? I don't see any relation between the God commandment and saving the child from car crash.
 
Maponos

Maponos

Welcome to the Opera
Taylor Seraphim said:
So if you would follow the gods even if they asked you to do that, does that mean that you worship the gods just because they are more powerful than you?
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No, it's more out of devotion. I don't know if I ever could sacrifice someone, really. I've never killed anything bigger than an insect. But if the gods who have helped me through my life require that, then out of devotion and respect for them, I'd have to.
 
Taylor Seraphim

Taylor Seraphim

Angel of Reason
Maponos said:
No, it's more out of devotion. I don't know if I ever could sacrifice someone, really. I've never killed anything bigger than an insect. But if the gods who have helped me through my life require that, then out of devotion and respect for them, I'd have to.
Click to expand...

But would a god that required that be worthy of respect and devotion?
 
Maponos

Maponos

Welcome to the Opera
Taylor Seraphim said:
But would a god that required that be worthy of respect and devotion?
Click to expand...
To me, yes. I can't hope to understand why gods need the things they need sometimes. If I was a parent, I'd ask if I could trade places for the sacrifice (as I would expect all worthy parents to do) because I believe self sacrifice is the most noble sort of sacrifice.

If I had to sacrifice my child to save, say, a whole town of people, then I would believe that to be worth it so others (including children) would have a chance to live. It's not an easy thing to do or accept, but some things must be done.
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Carlita said:
Hmm. What devotion you have to your creator that is worth more than your child's life?

Ths is pretty confusing.
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FWIW, if you believe in an afterlife that's better than this one and that your children will go there, then any parent who's trying to maximize the well-being of their children would kill them. The only rational reason not to do so would be that God has commanded people not to murder.

Not only would it be rational to kill one's child if God commanded it; it would be rational to kill the child even if God merely suspended the commandment against killing and let the parent decide for himself or herself what to do.

What parent wouldn't give their child a better life if they could? If they're destined for Heaven, then that's precisely what killing them would give them.
 
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
use_your_brain said:
It is because hell and heaven do exist.
And what does saving the child from car crash have to do with this topic? I don't see any relation between the God commandment and saving the child from car crash.
Click to expand...

I risk my life (sacrifice) to save that child. I had no reservations. No fear of hell. No fear of wrath of god. That does not cross my mind in any situation where I can save a life. It is selfish for me to think of myself (keeping promises to god. Wanting to go to heaven) at the expense at another persons life.

God's commandment is a contradiction. How can anyone love a creator that does not value the life he creates?
 
U

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
9-10ths_Penguin said:
FWIW, if you believe in an afterlife that's better than this one and that your children will go there, then any parent who's trying to maximize the well-being of their children would kill them. The only rational reason not to do so would be that God has commanded people not to murder.

Not only would it be rational to kill one's child if God commanded it; it would be rational to kill the child even if God merely suspended the commandment against killing and let the parent decide for himself or herself what to do.

What parent wouldn't give their child a better life if they could? If they're destined for Heaven, then that's precisely what killing them would give them.
Click to expand...

The child shouldn't have to die at the hands of his parents. Its not about where he goes in the afterlife. Its the act of killing in and of itself. He may still go to heaven. He would live naturally just like the rest of us rather than having his parent shorten his life on earth that his god created for him to live in.

Its a contradiction. Its one of the biggest contradictions that made me not want to find any relationship god.
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Carlita said:
The child shouldn't have to die at the hands of his parents. Its not about where he goes in the afterlife. Its the act of killing in and of itself.
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Why? What's wrong with murder?

I'm serious. I can think of three main things that are wrong with murder, normally:

1. Inflicting pain on others is a form of harm in its own right.
2. Robbing someone of their life deprives them of something valuable.
3. Deciding for someone else when they should die robs them of autonomy.

But...

1. There are painless ways to kill people.
2. If the victim will go to Heaven, then the transition to the afterlife earlier than it would have happened otherwise represents a net benefit, not a net cost.
3. We allow parents to compromise their children's autonomy anyhow.

So if a parent really is certain that their kids will go to Heaven and doesn't believe that God forbids killing them, why shouldn't the parent kill their kids by some painless method?
 
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