Iranian Pastor Faces Execution For Refusing To Recant Christian Faith | Fox News
What is it with martyrs? What's the attraction? Is there a payoff to this idiocy? Was Galileo a fool to recant?
Iranian Pastor Faces Execution For Refusing To Recant Christian Faith | Fox News
What is it with martyrs? What's the attraction? Is there a payoff to this idiocy? Was Galileo a fool to recant?
If the terrain and the map do not agree, follow the terrain.
When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become a new race.
Depends how cynical you're feeling. Is it admirable to stick to your beliefs in the face of tyranny, or pointless?
Admirable? I'd want to know if it was survivable.Quote by: Marwood
If the terrain and the map do not agree, follow the terrain.
When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become a new race.
Let's assume not.
Yeah, that's my assumption.Seems to me martydom is self-defeating. Suicidal even.
What's to be gained by killing yourself as a pastor when all it takes to survive are a few "magic" words?
If the terrain and the map do not agree, follow the terrain.
When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become a new race.
Socrates was a martyr.
xxxxxx.........x
.........x.........x
xxxxxx.xxxxx
x........x
x........xxxxxx
---------------------
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/441232
Did he have a choice?
OK. You and Marwood hint at reasons, or agendas compelling the act and perhaps whether some are possessing more of a "noble" agenda than others.
But can the end result be disputed that the chief attribute of martyrdom is that of choice, where the martyr, knowingly and of choice chooses death?
Last edited by minorwork; 29th September 2011 at 02:52 AM. Reason: add more noble of agenda than others; 2.0 added possessing
If the terrain and the map do not agree, follow the terrain.
When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become a new race.
The end result of martyrdom is, by modern definition, death. You ask what's to be gained by it, but I presume that in this particular case, denial of one's faith is considered a greater loss than the loss of life.
Whether that's noble or stupid is entirely subjective, though it may be worth whipping out the old "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" here.
Is there anything you'd be prepared to die for? Country? Family? Beliefs? Personally, I'm very glad I'll never need to find out.
More to fear after death than while alive I guess.
But of assurance there will be no more "doing" after the martyr's dead. Seems self-defeating to me.Whether that's noble or stupid is entirely subjective, though it may be worth whipping out the old "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" here.
Good question. I watch that vegetarian thread going here at Volconvo and the spiel against taking drugs and exercising daily and against casual sex, and I wonder if I was to do all that the goody goods recommend just what it is that would kill me if I can avoid the occasional jealous husband's bullets. Well, I've vowed to do all in my power to avoid dying of nothing.Is there anything you'd be prepared to die for? Country? Family? Beliefs? Personally, I'm very glad I'll never need to find out.
I was willing in 1972 to be drafted but was 6 pounds overweight, so obesity was a plus, there is one way to look at it. Teen infatuation convinced me I'd die for whichever girl held my attention. Now? Well, what I would die for is a hard question. Much easier is what I would NOT die for. If renouncing a belief in any of the revealed religions would gain me eternal life, then I'm immortal.
If the terrain and the map do not agree, follow the terrain.
When motherhood becomes the fruit of a deep yearning, not the result of ignorance or accident, its children will become a new race.
Iran has persecuted and executed tens of thousands of Baha'is since the beginning of the faith in 1844. The early history of the Baha'i Faith bears many resemblances to the early history of Christianity, but the early history of the Baha'i Faith is far better documented by non-believing eye witnesses. Martyrdom itself cannot be claimed to justify the truth of a religious belief, only that people are willing to die for what they truly believe.
There is a recent scholar Simon Greenleaf that proposes the evidence of early history of Christianity, including the willing martyrdom of the apostles, and the miraculous conversion of hostile non-believers, is sufficient to prove the voracity of Christian claims. the problem with this argument is since the early history of the Baha'i Faith bears many of these similarities, he has to face the question of why the standards he chooses for Christian history do not apply to the early history of the Baha'i Faith.
a reasonable summary of Simon Greenleaf's arguments can be found here . . .
Christian Forums - Simon Greenleaf: Testimony of the Evangelists
The empty cup contains the most
Frank A Doonan
Turn weapons into peace and friendship with gifts of jade-silk
I do not know, therefore I think . . .
Too easy. How about publicly affirming a belief in Christianity/Islam? Or we kill you. Would you do it?If renouncing a belief in any of the revealed religions would gain me eternal life, then I'm immortal.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks