Would you give your life for your faith?


Reply
 
Topic Tools Search this Thread
eHA_Admin_Lori is offline eHA_Admin_Lori — Advice Official Moderator Post #1  September 26,2009, 5:49pm
eHA_Admin_Lor…'s Avatar

My one wish for you, is love. :)

Moderator

Joined: Nov 2008

Santa Monica, CA

Posts: 5,120

See profile

Last weekend I saw a film called "Everything Is Illuminated". (It's a really interesting film if you haven't seen it).

In it, an incident is recounted by a character from WWII in which German troops swept through a village and rounded up the Jewish people, took the Torah from the town's temple and desecrated it. They they forced the townspeople to desecrate it as well and anyone who refused was killed.

That made me wonder to what extent in this day and age, people would die for their faith.

Would you? If you were in a similar situation what might you do?

~~~

NOTE: this topic is asked with the utmost respect for everyone's faith and all responses, regardless of which side of the fence they fall on. And this conversation WILL proceed respectfully or it will be shut down. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
 
  Reply With Quote
rix is offline rix Post #2  September 26,2009, 6:24pm
rix's Avatar

Happy 1st Anniversary, babe!

Veteran

Joined: Mar 2008

Cascadia

Posts: 1,388

See profile

It is difficult for any of us to accurately assess how we would respond in a particular situation, without experiencing a traumatic event like the shoah.

I have tremendous respect for the Jewish people, and the character they have shown in horrendous adversity. I also believe it is an affront to those who have suffered in the shoah to erect an enormous cross which casts a shadow over Auschwitz (a small cross is sufficient), especially when the Church largely stood silent, and to a certain extend participated in the pogroms against the Jews. And, some might reasonably argue that the Nazis simply carried out the pogroms which first began shortly after the Church gained power, carried out through the Middle Ages, and further encouraged in Germany by Martin Luther. And, like during the Inquisition, the only Jewish people who were recognized for their endurance in suffering during the shoah were conversos (those who converted to Christianity). And, if there was ever a more presentable case against the existence of an all-good and all-powerful God in the midst of horrendous and widespread evil and suffering. It was the shoah, and many rabbis also came to that same conclusion. Interestingly, after World War 2, the percentage of the people who were active church going believers drastically declined in Europe. However, in America, the conflict has been "over there." Therefore, there has been no sufficient case study on how we would respond in a similar situation.

But in conclusion, history has also demonstrated that those who are willing to die for their faith, are also willing to kill for it.
Last edited by rix; September 27,2009 at 11:37pm.
 
  Reply With Quote
meri75 is offline meri75 Post #3  September 27,2009, 3:12am
meri75's Avatar

really wants a double dissolution in 2011!

Power Poster

Joined: Mar 2009

Australia

Posts: 5,112

See profile

I am not sure. I would hope that I have the courage to stand up for what I believe in, for my convictions etc ... but that I know that I do back down sometimes in other areas of my life. I don't know, perhaps it is a question (for me) which may never be answered. I know I am grateful to be able to attend church, pray, read the Bible and all of my own free will. Not because another person or groups demands it of me or threatens my life or family if I refuse to comply.
 
  Reply With Quote
Valtyr is offline Valtyr Post #4  September 27,2009, 3:58am
Valtyr's Avatar

Is quite mad and has the hatter to go with it.

Quick Study

Joined: Sep 2009

Portland

Posts: 56

See profile

I have no need to give my life for my faith. Though I would not have a problem telling the people to bugger off. No one can make me believe something I do not choose to believe. Death is a hallow threat in and of its self. I do not fear death, I prefer not to experience the pain before hand.
Last edited by Valtyr; September 27,2009 at 4:59pm.
 
  Reply With Quote
graceventually is offline graceventually Post #5  September 27,2009, 2:07pm
graceventuall…'s Avatar

was married Nov.28, and is no longer active on this site.

Virtuoso

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 3,056

See profile

Just a reminder that there are Christians facing persecution in China, North Korea, and some predominantly Muslim countries - so sadly, this is not always a hypothetical question in this world.

I
 
  Reply With Quote
Wonderwoman402 is offline Wonderwoman402 Post #6  September 27,2009, 2:38pm
Wonderwoman40…'s Avatar

L'Chayim!

Virtuoso

Joined: Jan 2009

Omaha, NE

Posts: 4,495

See profile

My faith would not require me to die for it, nor would it require me to kill for it.

I would do what I had to do to survive, and would never judge anyone for how they acted in any situation where they were forced to do something repugnant to them in order to survive.
 
  Reply With Quote
cardguy is offline cardguy Post #7  September 28,2009, 11:17am
cardguy's Avatar

Veteran

Joined: Aug 2009

Oregon

Posts: 1,226

See profile

On an intellectual level I would be willing to, but I think it would be presumptuous of me to say that I definitely would...the more honest answer is that I won't ever know for sure unless I wind up in that position. I certainly would not be willing to put myself in the same category as those who were in that position and did chose death rather than deny their beliefs.
 
  Reply With Quote
graceventually is offline graceventually Post #8  September 28,2009, 11:49am
graceventuall…'s Avatar

was married Nov.28, and is no longer active on this site.

Virtuoso

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 3,056

See profile

cardguy wrote :
On an intellectual level I would be willing to, but I think it would be presumptuous of me to say that I definitely would...the more honest answer is that I won't ever know for sure unless I wind up in that position. I certainly would not be willing to put myself in the same category as those who were in that position and did chose death rather than deny their beliefs.
Well said. Ditto.
 
  Reply With Quote
Jato87 is offline Jato87 Post #9  September 28,2009, 12:08pm
Jato87's Avatar

Enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 543

See profile

rix posted:
But in conclusion, history has also demonstrated that those who are willing to die for their faith, are also willing to kill for it.[/QUOTE]

================================

Reading Lori's OP, the first thing that came to mind is this last statement that rix made. One can hardly discuss dying for a religion (which many would see in a positive way), without including killing for that religion. And that has been part of the religious world's sad history.
Last edited by Jato87; September 28,2009 at 12:12pm.
 
  Reply With Quote
86CJ7 is offline 86CJ7 Post #10  September 28,2009, 1:32pm

Back to work!

Unregistered

Joined: Sep 2009

Here

Posts: 113

See profile

rix wrote :
But in conclusion, history has also demonstrated that those who are willing to die for their faith, are also willing to kill for it.
Jato87 wrote :
Reading Lori's OP, the first thing that came to mind is this last statement that rix made. One can hardly discuss dying for a religion (which many would see in a positive way), without including killing for that religion. And that has been part of the religious world's sad history.
I understood Lori's OP to be about martyrdom as a result of persecution not as a result of some Holy War. In that light, I find the two quoted responses repulsive in the extreme.
 
  Reply With Quote
Reply


« Who is interested in growing up into Chirst? | Religion & Spirituality | NOT Religious...... but SPIRITUAL ??? »
Topic Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new topics
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Board Replies Last Post
Ok ladies, give me your HONEST opinion FirefighterTimWilver Using eHarmony 30 January 29,2010 8:37pm
Is God Gonna give you the desire of your heart? learningasigo Religion & Spirituality 16 December 5,2009 6:44pm
tried to take her own life, then moved out. Desert_Life Relationships 12 July 7,2009 6:20pm
Inspired.. please give me your opinion SnowyDew Using eHarmony 13 July 4,2009 8:41pm
Is Tithing Part of the New Covenant? rix Christian Singles 21 June 27,2009 12:13pm

Looking for a Great Relationship?

Get started now. Fill out this form and take the questionnaire to receive your matches.

First Name:

I'm a:
seeking

Postal Code:

Country:

Email:

Confirm Email:

Password:


How did you hear about us?


Latest on our Dating Advice Discussion Boards

“ Excellent, thank you. I think I will leave out the first part, I think it is unnecessary information to give him. I'm not interested in putting myself out there like that and it might be a little ... ” –  generallyyou

Join the “Ending a friendship” discussion

“Alfred Hitchcock - 18 Steven Spielberg - 62 *notice what?” –  dmi

Join the “War of the Directors” discussion

“ I would be "certain people" :P The issue isn't a deal-breaker, but a very strong factor preference-wise, for me.” –  ThePriestess

Join the “How much does race play in your dating someone?” discussion

“Love Texas Hold'em!.. I'm thinking of trying another tournament this summer...not sure yet though.. Never entered a tournament before, outside of online ones. Personally I prefer to play with ... ” –  Freezepop

Join the “Favorite Card Game” discussion

“Make that 3! I also had a crush on Donny Osmond. I think I still have a record or two of his. Suzie ” –  legend29

Join the “Robin Gibbs Dead at 62...How Deep is Your Love?” discussion

“Oh, my revised profile can be seen in the forum in the section where you can ask for a profile review. Suzanne” –  SuzanneScorpio

Join the “Photo Review” discussion

“Just remember, everything that you are feeling and/or are capable of he is as well. If he wanted to reach you, he could. Right now he knows that you are hurting, and that this is not what you ... ” –  lynntlb78

Join the “Can I wait and move on at the same time?” discussion

“ Yohio. And the shortened form (Anya) is nice too.” –  ThePriestess

Join the “Where is Becky?!?” discussion



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 9:26am.

Discussion Boards Archive

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0