Would you denounce your faith or beliefs to save a life?

[HowDoYouKnow?]

Quote by: D_Chilli I find it hard to believe that someone would risk their child's life so that they would not have to suffer. I am not a religious person, but I can tell you for sure that, if I was, I would rather be damned in hell for eternity than watch my children die knowing that I could have sacrificed my own being for them. By not saving another's life when given the opportunity, isn't that a little selfish and against what religion stands for? If God is all knowing, than He would know the situation at hand, and do you really think that He would really let anyone be damned for saving a life, no matter the situation?

I have posed that question, yet have not recieved an answer to it. I only saw answers that somewhat danced around that question. I think its a fair inquiry, one that deserves anothers point of view, mabey one a bit more on subject.

[Fonceai]

Then I'll answer it.

Yes, absolutely.

What I say to save a life is irrelevant. I would admit to anything and/or lie my ass off to save my wife and child.

The God I believe in does not require the sacrifice of my loved ones as an act of faith.

I hold my wife and child above all else. I come second. God comes third.

[Kuroko]

Theoretical Example...If someone put a gun to your head and told you to denounce Jesus as your God, would you? Say that gun was pointed at your child? Would you then?

In a heart beat.

Jesus isn't "God" he is simply the son of god

But on a serrious note, I would, the verbal intention does not outweigh the spiritual one.

[HowDoYouKnow?]

Quote by: Fonceai Then I'll answer it. Yes, absolutely. What I say to save a life is irrelevant. I would admit to anything and/or lie my ass off to save my wife and child. The God I believe in does not require the sacrifice of my loved ones as an act of faith. I hold my wife and child above all else. I come second. God comes third.

That seems to be what I would think I'd do, IF I had a religion I followed. Im not asking if you would distrust in "god" or deny him forever, only lie to protect the ones you love. But it still seems many would, and Im trying to grasp the logic in this. And If I were to be eternally damned bc I lied, I would be eternally damned knowing I gave my children the ability to continue with their physical life. I would not want to live in "paradise" with a "god" that gave me no choice but to kill my children. You arent attempting to sway the masses, or change your beliefs. He is in christian eyes omnipotent, so wouldnt he know and understand the situation you were forced into?

May I ask your religion, and if you feel that by not lying you would be "killing" your child?

[HowDoYouKnow?]

Quote by: Kuroko In a heart beat. Jesus isn't "God" he is simply the son of god But on a serrious note, I would, the verbal intention does not outweigh the spiritual one.

Yes, yes lol. I realized right after I had posed the question my error in this, and hoped most would still see my point. And thank you for your addition.

[Kuroko]

It was a worthy point you were trying to make.
However I believe there comes the question of faith, which is where you were trying to get at I believe. If I have total faith in god then should I not renounce his name instead of denouncing it. Except my god does not act willingly on earth so... lie it is for me.. I'll appologize for it later believe me lol.

[Fonceai]

Quote by: HDYK? May I ask your religion, and if you feel that by not lying you would be "killing" your child?

No specific religion. I believe God exists.

As far as my belief relates to this topic, I don't believe God would create my daughter and send her to me and then take her from me to prove a point. I don't believe God is that malignant.

[Inlineskater]

I don't think there is much juice left in this argument. Now, I want opinions from some Atheists. If someone pointed a gun at your kids head and said you have to say you beleive in God and go to church every sunday for now on would you?
I would say I do beleive in god (because I don't and I don't beleive there is anyone watching over me) and as for the church thing I would move somewhere else and escape from that maniac!

[Jack]

Yeah, that's kind of a weird scenario. Some guy's going to come over every Sunday and hold a gun to my kids head again to make sure I attend each week? Hard to imagine.
Would I claim to believe in god to escape torture? Sure, it means nothing to me. There really isn't anything in the atheistic philosophy that equates to a theist denying his or her faith.

[Technosoul]

absolutly yes

[Nathan Struth]

I would say yes as I'm an aethist. If I had a kid I'd do anything to save him or her. I'd even kill myself because then they'll have a kid later.

[Jack]

I don't believe God would create my daughter and send her to me and then take her from me to prove a point. I don't believe God is that malignant.

Yet that very thing has happened to many people (their children dying) and they often claim it's god's will. So it appears at least some imagine god to be capable of that.

[Castle]

Quote by: Isherwood So it appears at least some imagine god to be capable of that.

Many do, such as, say, all Christians and all Jews (the Book of Job) and possibly all Muslims (uncertain about whether they hold the OT as scriptual)

[HowDoYouKnow?]

Quote by: Inlineskater I don't think there is much juice left in this argument. Now, I want opinions from some Atheists. If someone pointed a gun at your kids head and said you have to say you beleive in God and go to church every sunday for now on would you? I would say I do beleive in god (because I don't and I don't beleive there is anyone watching over me) and as for the church thing I would move somewhere else and escape from that maniac!

I think you have misconstrued the intended question a little bit. It is not whether you would BELIEVE or disbelieve, it is whether you would state verbally you didnt believe or did believe. You Cannot change your beliefs like that, I am fully aware of this. I consider myself to have beliefs that would normally define me as a religious agnostic (not an athiest), however I find christianity to be one of the most hypocritical, contradictory, least factual religions there is ( so I think I can at least answer your revised question the same as most athiests would). I don't care if I was forced to go on TV and scream to the whole world that I believed, pray everyday, or attend church, hell I'd be a minister if I had to. I would do ANYTHING to save my childs life and Im quite dumbfounded that more christians would not do the same! And Im still awaiting an answer on how christians can be so sure about their interpretation of the bible that they would be so willing to sacrifice their child, all on the presumption that they are correct (going on their assumption that christianity and the bible are correct for sake of argument). Im not trying to trick christians into disbelief that is not my intention (and is impossible, if they truley believe), but rather to understand their justifications to the ideas that they could and/or would contribute to their childs murder to save the "afterlife" of their own person as many have pointed out. I think calling that a selfless act is completly ludicrous, seems to me its one of the most selfish acts one could commit.