Tough Question for Religious Orientated People

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by skywalker


Lots and lots and lots of people > one person.

And MtG, about "choice" - do you agree that the government can draft people? And that those people can be ordered to, say "go over the top" where they'll likely die?

I believe that legitimate government can draft people, yes. And if those people don't want to be drafted, they can tell the government to go **** itself and sever ties with it. As a general proposition, a government which is established with the consent of the people provides a mutual set of benefits - common defense, common economic benefits. protection of rights and freedoms from infringement, etc., so the draftee is, in theory, engaging in an exchange. However, the draftee is also free to decide that there is inadequate benefit to that exchange, and may sever ties by leaving the country and forfeiting any benefits or rights of citizenship, unless the government provides some other alternative which is acceptable to the draftee.

Once in military service, it is implicit that you may receive (and are generally obligated to carry out) orders that may result in your death, but even then, there are exceptions, loopholes and limitations, and you at least have the means to attack the enemy and possibly survive.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by GePap
Better question for monotheists:

During the night you recieve a dream in which God tells you you must murder a man in order to save X amount of people. This man is not evil, he does not plan to do anything evil, but he will do something whose reprecussions will bring about X amount of suffering.

Now, you wake up, but are utterly unable to shake the conviction that this is NOT just a dream, but real.

NOW, what do you do? Do you go talk with some religious authority to see what they say? Would you follow their advice if they did? Would you ignore it becuase what is being asked is a crime?

What is being asked is an abomination and a violation of one of the ten commandments, so I'd have to assume that there was some static on the line or God hadn't had his morning coffee. Now if the commandment in question was to run off and commit adultery with Salma Hayek, then yes, I'd happily submit to His superior wisdom, assuming Salma was similarly inclined.

[Boris Godunov]

I'm e-mailing LTEC! the link to this thread right now.

[GePap]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


What is being asked is an abomination and a violation of one of the ten commandments, so I'd have to assume that there was some static on the line or God hadn't had his morning coffee. Now if the commandment in question was to run off and commit adultery with Salma Hayek, then yes, I'd happily submit to His superior wisdom, assuming Salma was similarly inclined.

aren't you glad LTEC! doesn't roam the halls

Question- how can anything God commands be a violation of God's commandments? Are you saying he has no chance to change his mind?

[Az]

suppose my overarching question is why the survival of our species trumps the right of this woman to live. And does that survival apply in other situations, for instance, if the woman wasn't pregnant, just the only one left and perfectly fertile, but refused to breed with the remaining men. Would it be okay to rape her and force her to carry a child to term for the sake of species survival?

Yes! Though I am sure that this won't be necessary. Most people realize the importance of the continuation of the species.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
I'm e-mailing LTEC! the link to this thread right now.

We split up.

[GePap]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


We split up.

OK, is this for serious?

[Az]

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by GePap


aren't you glad LTEC! doesn't roam the halls

Question- how can anything God commands be a violation of God's commandments? Are you saying he has no chance to change his mind?

He probably could, but He 'd have some 'splainin' to do.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Azazel

suppose my overarching question is why the survival of our species trumps the right of this woman to live. And does that survival apply in other situations, for instance, if the woman wasn't pregnant, just the only one left and perfectly fertile, but refused to breed with the remaining men. Would it be okay to rape her and force her to carry a child to term for the sake of species survival?

Yes! Though I am sure that this won't be necessary. Most people realize the importance of the continuation of the species.

It is necessary--she absolutely doesn't want to breed.

So you would rape her. Nice.

But you've yet to explain yourself why the continuation of the species is important. I am willing to bet most people would agree that in this situation it was not important enough to justify rape or murder.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by GePap


OK, is this for serious?

Would I joke around about something like that?

[Theben]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


We split up.

[GePap]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


Would I joke around about something like that?

Honestly I do not know- I would think though that if you cared to make it news, it might come up less randomly

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
We split up.

I had no idea, I'm sorry. I'll just pop off and stick some thumbtacks under my fingernails now.

[Az]

So you would rape her. Nice.

I am a real bastard. . Oh, and in order that people wouldn't have any ideas that I am some sort of misogynist, I'd kill a man to save humanity as well.

But you've yet to explain yourself why the continuation of the species is important. I am willing to bet most people would agree that in this situation it was not important enough to justify rape or murder.