I'm going to try to clarify some things. A lot of posts I disagree with; here is why.
Because they're selfish. Because they can't let go. Death is release, from this life to whatever comes next and religion is supposed to facilitate that.
Why would one trade the infinite for the finite?
To stall death? What good is that? How does that truly save anyone?
I don't know if you have children, if you do, well. If I were a mother I needed to sacrifice myself to save my child's life I would do so in a heart beat. I saw a little girl playing with a ball cross the street and I ran
for her not thinking of myself. I completely shed myself of any ego and self-care for the life of someone else
no matter the age or who they are.
As such, religion is someone's life. If I were a Christian and to save another person was to stop practicing my faith and forget god, I would do exactly that. I would be thinking of someone else not myself regardless of how long this person has to leave. Death is not a release. Life life to it's fullest not lve life for death. We should be comfortable with death, yes; and, not the expense of saving ourselves (our religion, our family, etc) instead of saving someone else's life.
I'm also not sure there is such a thing as giving up one's faith.
Bad wording. If I were Christian and someone said "turn away from Jesus or your child get's it", I would in a heart beat. It's not about me, it's the child; no matter what punishment I receive as a result of thinking of another person's life.
The monk in the link did something for a cause rather than saving a life. I wouldn't give my life for a cause even if it's protesting like Catholic's do about abortion. If I had the choice to save someone at the expense of myself, I would. Unfortunately, my cultture makes us think of ourselves before another.
As for your question, I really have to try hard to wrap my brain around this... The chief principals, as far as my understanding goes, is Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds... By those very principals, helping others is a good thing in itself, and would thusly realize the goal of my faith.
True. It's a hypothetical question, though. Would you give up your life (which means your faith, your family, etc) for another person to live? If it's your child? If it's a termianally ill person? Extend that more, what about a healthy stranger?
Would you turn from your faith (pretending that you could given many others do on their own) to save another person's life--even for a minute?
The antithetical principals would be bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds. Soooo.... doing something evil for the sake of a good outcome?
Something evil? You're doing a good thing for saving another person's life in place of your own (your religion, your family, yourself)
As for your altruistic views, I have to wonder... how far does that altruism extend? Helping others is a given if we want to see a better world, but putting others before yourself, while good and noble, can be taken too far. That's when it can have negative consequences.
For example: someone who exclusively puts others before themselves won't focus on themselves as much, which constricts the amount of influence they could have on the world, and would thusly create a smaller impact when helping others than their potential could be. Also, when children are taught to always put others before themselves, this can have negative side effects on their self esteem as they grow.
Think of a mother and child. Would a mother let her child die because she rather save herself instead or would she replace her life for a child to live? Dying for someone else to live isn't something big. If your morals can let you go as far as take your own life for another, then I'd say that's the highest sacrifice. If we can't do that, what is our limit before we think of ourselves before we think of others?
To save another means to save one self? I must admit, i also would aske what "to save" means in your post. Anyway. I think, i got it now.
Yep. The Boddhisattva (for example_ helps others to enlightenment first before he gets enlightenmnent. The Buddha would never think of himself before another. Save is not a good word. As long as you get it.
I just dont know what you mean with "would you give up your religion" - when in fact "to care" and "to save" another is the best possible religious act.
So, it would not mean that i abandon my faith - i would truely have the chance to act in my faith. Religion are its endless reminder ringing to your ear.
I dont know about yours, but in my faith
it is right to give myself for the sake of saving another person. Not all faiths think that way. Some have tenants that the faith/religion comes before any person. Which is very odd for me, when it comes to religion. Where is the limit of one "giving to help another in need" without puting ourselves in danger by doing so? Why is life so much important to us at the expense of letting someone else die?
If the price were my faith, then no.
And we're all selfish, but denying someone their death is moreso, aswell as cruel
Of course, I disagree. That's the highest sacrifice to die for another. Many religious prophets have done so to the best they can. I feel it's selfish to think otherwise. I see no value in saving myself at the exepsense of another. Our culture (America) has a pride thing; and, it does make people think of themselves first. It's not a bad thing to be self-centered, but to be selfish? I saw a child ran accross the road twice and I did not think twice about my life but that child's. Should I have let that child die?
I don't undestand how death can be a release if the dying
can life a full life if the other choose to take their life IF the situation called for it.
I must agree with Thana on this. Firstly I must ask what you mean by save (save from hunger, death, or eternal damnation?)
No. Wrong wording. Save your reliigon (keep your religion) rather than give it up (turn from god, whatever) to save another from death. See above.
Secondly, I would never give up my faith for anything. Giving up a great good in exchange for a small good is unwise in all aspects.
Small good? Saving a life? I dont understand that.
