For Parents: If God Told You To...

[Jayhawker Soule]

But Abraham did fully intended to sacrifice his son because a voice in his head told him to.

See post #7.

 

[waitasec]

All we can offer is conjecture as to how Abraham heard God's command.

or if abraham ever existed at all...

sorry i just had to.

 

[Me Myself]

See post #7.

I don´t care

I saw this one and am replying this one. If you wish to bump any old one, I wont stop you and may also participate in that one.

 

[Father Heathen]

Besides I am talking about God- not Abraham. Abraham was just a human like the rest of us. So it doesn't actually defeat what I am saying. God had no intention of letting Abraham sacrifice his child.
I just don't see God as the ogre everyone makes of him. T

But point is that the story depicts Abraham's willingness to murder his own son at the command of his god as a good thing.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

But point is that the story depicts Abraham's willingness to murder his own son ...

Unless, of course, it doesn't.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Unless, of course, it doesn't.

What do you take as the message of the story if not that?

 

[ChristineES]

But point is that the story depicts Abraham's willingness to murder his own son at the command of his god as a good thing.

I already covered this. This is about God, not Abraham. Abraham was a human being- with human flaws.

This story is about not holding back something you find precious. As Kathryn said, if I heard a voice telling me to kill my child, I would visit my therapist. And I don't think God would ask this of us nowadays. (Being faithful, Abraham would have believed he was giving his son to God- not much a good answer to you guys, but...)

 

[Father Heathen]

I already covered this. This is about God, not Abraham. Abraham was a human being- with human flaws.

Wasn't the test god's idea, and wasn't Abraham's willingness to murder his own son just because he was led to believe that god commanded it the results that god was looking for?

 

[Father Heathen]

This story is about not holding back something you find precious. As Kathryn said, if I heard a voice telling me to kill my child, I would visit my therapist. And I don't think God would ask this of us nowadays. (Being faithful, Abraham would have believed he was giving his son to God- not much a good answer to you guys, but...)

So what's the difference between now and then? Isn't god timeless and infallible? What makes the story so repulsive is that Abraham's son had no say. There is nothing admirable about willing to commit an act of injustice, such as murdering an innocent child. The truly honorable thing would be to defy such a god out of principle.

 

[Father Heathen]

Unless, of course, it doesn't.

Elaborate.

 

[Kathryn]

So what's the difference between now and then? Isn't god timeless and infallible? What makes the story so repulsive is that Abraham's son had so say. There is nothing admirable about committing an act of injustice, such as murdering an innocent child. The truly honorable thing would be to defy such a god out of principle.

We have the luxury of viewing this from the 21st century. We know more of the story than Abraham knew.

The bible is full of imagery that is layered - Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son - God's willingness to sacrifice His own son - for starters. God's grace toward Abraham and his son - and the promise that the sacrifice is complete and we won't be asked to do the same.

 

[waitasec]

We have the luxury of viewing this from the 21st century. We know more of the story than Abraham knew.

The bible is full of imagery that is layered - Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son - God's willingness to sacrifice His own son - for starters. God's grace toward Abraham and his son - and the promise that the sacrifice is complete and we won't be asked to do the same.

i have a problem with the concept of sacrifice...

 

[Me Myself]

I already covered this. This is about God, not Abraham. Abraham was a human being- with human flaws.

This story is about not holding back something you find precious.

It´s simple. Was Abraham willingness to kill his son because of a voice he listens when he is alone tells him it is God and he must do it or not?

If it´s not good, then his willingness to do so must be seen as one of the worst things fanatism can do to you. If it must be viewed as good, then it must be seen as "if you think God is asking you to do X, you MUST do it"

 

[waitasec]

It´s simple. Was Abraham willingness to kill his son because of a voice he listens when he is alone tells him it is God and he must do it or not?

If it´s not good, then his willingness to do so must be seen as one of the worst things fanatism can do to you. If it must be viewed as good, then it must be seen as "if you think God is asking you to do X, you MUST do it"

i agree with this....

how can one confirm this is what god would want them to do or not...??
if abraham was willing to do this and god stepped in at the last second, why wouldn't anyone who is a bit unstable not think the same thing?

this gives license to really dangerous thinking.

 

[ChristineES]

It´s simple. Was Abraham willingness to kill his son because of a voice he listens when he is alone tells him it is God and he must do it or not?

If it´s not good, then his willingness to do so must be seen as one of the worst things fanatism can do to you. If it must be viewed as good, then it must be seen as "if you think God is asking you to do X, you MUST do it"

I can only repeat what Kathryn said in her last post.

You really have to look below the surface in these stories- about imagery (as Kathryn said) and hindsight or about 2,500 to 3,000 years ago.

 

[Me Myself]

the dangerous thinking will happen anyways. What concerns me is the celebration of it.

People are saying "Wow! How awesome of Abraham to be willing to murder his son if that is the will of God! this is a really beautiful story, because in the last second, God reveals Abraham that he doesn´t need him to murder a child to show him his love. "

 

[Father Heathen]

We have the luxury of viewing this from the 21st century. We know more of the story than Abraham knew.

The bible is full of imagery that is layered - Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son - God's willingness to sacrifice His own son - for starters. God's grace toward Abraham and his son - and the promise that the sacrifice is complete and we won't be asked to do the same.

But isn't god god regardless of what the calendar says? What do you believe god intended for you and I to take from this tale? To me it seems to promote blind obedience in lieu of conscience and ethics.

 

[Me Myself]

We have the luxury of viewing this from the 21st century. We know more of the story than Abraham knew.

The bible is full of imagery that is layered - Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son - God's willingness to sacrifice His own son - for starters. God's grace toward Abraham and his son - and the promise that the sacrifice is complete and we won't be asked to do the same.

THAT IS NOT GRACE!

Believing it is Graceful to not ask someone to kill his son is a very heavy case of Stockholm syndrome. GRACEFULL??! REALLY?!

Come on.

And what about the beautiful imagery of God also sacrificing his son?

It is not beautiful. God supposedly asked his son(which is also him) to die a tortuos dead so that he can convince himself (the Father ) to not send all humanity to hell.

That is not beautiful. If you think it is, by all means check this link and do a deep self evaluation:

Stockholm syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not being able to forgive someone without sacrificing your own inocent kid is ridiculous. Asking someone to sacrifice his kid and saying it is good that he was willing to do so is absolutely crazy.

This God simply can´t be mentally okay.

 

[Me Myself]

But isn't god god regardless of what the calendar says? What do you believe god intended for you and I to take from this tale? To me it seems to promote blind obedience in lieu of conscience and ethics.

The really hurtful thing is that even when this is painfully obvious it is somehow implied that it is a good beautiful thing.

 

[outhouse]

This question is aimed at theists...If your God came to you and commanded that you sacrifice your child to him/her/it or them, would you do it?

lives have been lost to this same question.

so yes, some will. most can rationalize