Questions to those who believe themselves to be religious

[Emoni]

Yup, back to that good ol' "piss off everyone" topic of religion. After glancing at the Jesus Transsexual post, I wanted to toss these two questions out to those who are religious as I'm curious as to the answers. I expect a lot of dodging the question, but I'm hoping for a clear cut answer with explanation if possible.

1) Say you heard a voice as clear as day stating that it was the voice of God. This voice only you can hear, but it is the same as if someone were talking to you in the room in a deep bellowing and powerful manner. It praised you for your faith but asked you to follow its command and kill your child or you will burn in hell for eternity for not following the commandment of God. Would you kill your child?

2) Personally, I've tried to treat people the best I reasonably can, I try to help others, and make a difference in what ways I can in the world. Assuming this is true, about me or any other friend you know well for that matter, do you PERSONALLY BELIEVE that I (or that friend) deserve to suffer forever because we do not accept your belief as true? Even if we live what you would define yourself as a very caring, giving, and good life?

That's all

[Tullera]

1. Think I would see a psychiatrist urgently or maybe go back on my anti-psycotic meds.

2. I can't think why a person who is good in all aspects of their lives and helps others could be punished in any way.

Another's beliefs don't matter to me so long as they do no harm to any other person. The minute another is harmed there is something very wrong with any belief.

Even better - do only good.

[bakaKanadajin]

Yeah I'd have to go with psychiatric help. I'm not sure any rational adult would jump to the conclusion that it was God before first undergoing some kind of self-opted evaluation. I forget which parable this is taken from.. Abraham? I can't remember the blokes name, but in my mind the pretense assumes the person has a very poor grasp on scientific reality, such that their immediate inclination is to throw out all rational explanations and assume its God, much like someone from thousands of years ago would have done out of sheer fear and lack of knowledge about the world.

This is like saying 'Imagine you were on a boat and you approached the horizon and the Earth was actually flat and you were about to fall off...'
It's a difficult pretense to get on-board with, bordering on comical.

In this day and age, most people would at least entertain the idea they were going crazy first.

As for #2, I couldn't give a rats *** what anyone else thinks of what I believe, and in turn their belief system had better not infringe on any of my inalienable rights.

Be that as it may, I'm still a very highly spiritual person and believe in a God.

[Tsuyoiko]

1) Say you heard a voice as clear as day stating that it was the voice of God.

Since auditory hallucinations aren't usually that coherent, I'd be more likely to assume that aliens had abducted me in the night and implanted tiny speakers inside my head than attribute the announcement to a supernatural being.

2) Personally, I've tried to treat people the best I reasonably can, I try to help others, and make a difference in what ways I can in the world. Assuming this is true, about me or any other friend you know well for that matter, do you PERSONALLY BELIEVE that I (or that friend) deserve to suffer forever because we do not accept your belief as true? Even if we live what you would define yourself as a very caring, giving, and good life?

I think that's the bit I'll always struggle with most. It's just so contrary to human law and morality.

Imagine a nation in which the treatment of citizens is based on their devotion to unseen rulers rather than on their deeds. You are forgiven any crime so long as you show complete loyalty to the rulers, even though you've never seen them. If you refuse to pay homage to the rulers, and perhaps even question their existence, you are doomed to an eternity of torture and misery. How long would a regime like this last in reality? But that is precisely the system of justice employed by the Biblical god.

I will not obey a tyrant, let alone worship him.

Even better - do only good.

I wouldn't even go that far. I like the Wiccan commandment, Do as you will but harm none.

I forget which parable this is taken from.. Abraham?

It's from Genesis 22. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith.
http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0122.htm#1

In this day and age, most people would at least entertain the idea they were going crazy first.

Which shows just how out of kilter Biblical morality is compared with human morality. Even in a profoundly religious country, a person who killed a child and claimed that god commanded them to do so would be locked up!

[Emoni]

Interesting replies so far, thanks guys.

[Kinsao]

1) I'd assume I was getting some kind of psychotic illness and go to the doctor!

I suppose if the voice was 'convincing' enough I might actually go ahead and kill someone - but would obviously be in the grip of psychotic illness... (i.e. not self-aware enough to know I needed to see the doc...)


2) No I do not believe that anyone deserves to suffer forever. Or to clarify, I believe that it's possible some people -may- 'deserve' this, but I could not possibly be in a position to be able to judge whether this was the case. I most certainly don't believe this will, or should, happen to people who don't share my beliefs. If they are trying to live a 'good life' (however you define it) they are most likely gonna be fine :) (though you never know what is going on behind the flowery windowboxes, ne?)

[RavenRockstar]

1) Probably just ignore it and hope it doesn't get worse >_> if it did, then TO THE HEAD-SHRINKER!

2) I love that logic. "God loves all of his children. Except the gays, they can go **** themselves!" Yeah, that makes sense >_> I don't think that anyone deserves to be d@mned for all eternity.