Poll: Give up your religion to save a stranger

[Thanda]

Consequences? Like being roasted in hell for eternity? That is not true, you need not fear.

I choose to fear. I feel it would be illogical of me to cause all kinds of hurts and expect that everything will be alright on the other side.

 

[Thanda]

I do not think Buddha ever wanted that. He warned people against unfruitful contemplation (Acinteyya). His eight fold path was simple.

You don't think he wanted what?

 

[arthra]

I would abandon my faith (my life) in order to save a stranger.

If your faith was to save others, how would you be giving up your faith?

 

[Corthos]

If your faith was to save others, how would you be giving up your faith?

I think she means more in an outward way... Such as being forced to deny your God if it means saving another's life. =)

 

[JoStories]

Those who are strong in faith. Would you give up your religion (your life) to save a stranger?

If so, why?
If not, why not?

If this does not apply to you, dont take the poll. Its a yes/no on purpose. Those strong in their faith would know whether their faith is or is not important enough to keep it at the expense of a stranger's life.



In my faith, the Buddha says that Boddhisattvas are to lead others to enlightenment before he or she leads oneself. (To lazy now to find perfect wording). So, in that sense, and in my morals regardless, I would abandon my faith (my life) in order to save a stranger.

That doesnt mean I am weak in faith. It means I think of others before myself.

I got this from watching Obama's last speech. The lady, I forgot her name, who refused to give service to a gay couple because it was against her christian morals, sat with the crowd in front of the pres. My co-worker and I watched together. She agreed that the woman should stand up for her faith (whatever it may be).

I thought, that is like me joining the military in the reserves KNOWING that I may be called to active duty, I may kill others which is against my morals. Would I kill? More than likely. Not for personal gain but to protect my country which are many strangers I do not know.

Should your faith be at your highest priority or your relationship with others?

I'm not sure one would have to give up their faith at all to help someone else. In the example of the woman from Kentucky, I think she was wrong and furthermore, I think that her giving a marriage licence to a gay couple should not have even been a factor in her faith. The separation of church and state is law. In my profession (critical care nurse), I had to take care of people whom I strongly disagreed with their faith and its tenets. If a parent would not give blood to a child, for example, and that child was going to die without it, I would have to adhere to their wishes. Another example might be a woman having a late term abortion and I would still have to care for her, if I were a pro-life person based on my faith. IMO, I would care for a person no matter what. So the question you ask seems ..hmmmm...not irrelevant, but rather just not something I would consider.

 

[JoStories]

No.
Hell no.
People die, people die all the time and they will continue to die and you know what will happen to the person you save by giving up your faith? They'll still die, all you did was buy them some more time.

I wouldn't give up faith for myself or anyone else.

I honestly don't understand this Thana. In the Bible, Jesus did many things for others at the expense of his life. Is that not what is being asked? And really, how would helping another even begin to shatter one's faith? The question that Carlita asked is not one I can really even understand. Helping another person is part of almost all faiths. I honestly cannot even conceive of a situation where helping another person would in any way affect my faith and my belief in God.

 

[JoStories]

Basically, what Im asking is does this priority (a persons faith) override the safety of another. Buddhism focuses on life first, so thats a quick answer.

Some faiths dont have that as their highest priority.

I can;t even begin to understand how it would at all, to be honest. As a Buddhist, helping others is tantamount to the faith and the Teachings of The Buddha. I can't wrap my head around how helping another person would in any way affect my belief in God.

 

[Thana]

I honestly don't understand this Thana. In the Bible, Jesus did many things for others at the expense of his life. Is that not what is being asked? And really, how would helping another even begin to shatter one's faith? The question that Carlita asked is not one I can really even understand. Helping another person is part of almost all faiths. I honestly cannot even conceive of a situation where helping another person would in any way affect my faith and my belief in God.

Of course. I would give up my life for anothers if I were called to do so.
I would not, however, give up my faith.

And I agree, But it's a hypothetical so the point is to play along.

 

[JoStories]

That is an over-simplification IMO. As exemplified below, valuing life may be a good reason to sacrifice it under certain circunstances.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thích_Quảng_Đức

I'm also not sure there is such a thing as giving up one's faith.

I agree. It seems to me that helping another would be a reasonable expectation of a faith and how is the world would helping another even begin to affect one's faith?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I'm not sure one would have to give up their faith at all to help someone else. In the example of the woman from Kentucky, I think she was wrong and furthermore, I think that her giving a marriage licence to a gay couple should not have even been a factor in her faith. The separation of church and state is law. In my profession (critical care nurse), I had to take care of people whom I strongly disagreed with their faith and its tenets. If a parent would not give blood to a child, for example, and that child was going to die without it, I would have to adhere to their wishes. Another example might be a woman having a late term abortion and I would still have to care for her, if I were a pro-life person based on my faith. IMO, I would care for a person no matter what. So the question you ask seems ..hmmmm...not irrelevant, but rather just not something I would consider.

Some people do consider their faith (even keeping their job) at the expense of anothers safety. Taking a life is against my morals and Id never turn down a convicted prision in need (excluding situational and safety circumstances for now). I teach foriegners english and I disagree with individuals who come to America illegally.

I agree with you. I dont see how one can see otherwise.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

If your faith was to save others, how would you be giving up your faith?

Its an extreme example. Id give up my faith to save a persons life.

 

[JoStories]

Of course. I would give up my life for anothers if I were called to do so.
I would not, however, give up my faith.

And I agree, But it's a hypothetical so the point is to play along.

Neither would I. I really cannot conceive how giving up something for another would even begin to affect my faith in God. It seems to me that helping others is part and parcel of what God wants of us anyway. To not help others and be selfish is exactly opposite to my faith.

 

[JoStories]

Some people do consider their faith (even keeping their job) at the expense of anothers safety. Taking a life is against my morals and Id never turn down a convicted prision in need (excluding situational and safety circumstances for now). I teach foriegners english and I disagree with individuals who come to America illegally.

I agree with you. I dont see how one can see otherwise.

But taking a life is not helping another. You ask if someone would give up their faith for another, and honestly, I cannot see how anything could do that. My faith is not something that can be so easily shattered. Even if you do disagree with people who enter this country illegally, how does that affect your faith in any way whatsoever?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I can;t even begin to understand how it would at all, to be honest. As a Buddhist, helping others is tantamount to the faith and the Teachings of The Buddha. I can't wrap my head around how helping another person would in any way affect my belief in God.

I dont understand?

Im asking if people will give up their faith in whatever religion to save a human being.

The Buddha would be an exception because that IS his faith, to suffer with another (lotus sutra)and brings others to enlightenment.

Some religions teach charity but how far are they willing to sacrifice themselves for another before they think of themselves first?

If they think of themselves first, whats the point in charitt?

 

[JoStories]

I don't know if you have children, if you do, well. If I were a mother I needed to sacrifice myself to save my child's life I would do so in a heart beat. I saw a little girl playing with a ball cross the street and I ran for her not thinking of myself. I completely shed myself of any ego and self-care for the life of someone else no matter the age or who they are.

As such, religion is someone's life. If I were a Christian and to save another person was to stop practicing my faith and forget god, I would do exactly that. I would be thinking of someone else not myself regardless of how long this person has to leave. Death is not a release. Life life to it's fullest not lve life for death. We should be comfortable with death, yes; and, not the expense of saving ourselves (our religion, our family, etc) instead of saving someone else's life.

How does giving your life to save that child in any way mean you have given up your faith? I;m sorry but this is just not understandable to me. I simply cannot conceive of any situation that would lead to me having to give up my faith for another. Giving up one's life for another is exactly what The Christ taught. It is the epitome of what the faith stands for.

 

[JoStories]

I dont understand?

Im asking if people will give up their faith in whatever religion to save a human being.

The Buddha would be an exception because that IS his faith, to suffer with another (lotus sutra)and brings others to enlightenment.

Some religions teach charity but how far are they willing to sacrifice themselves for another before they think of themselves first?

If they think of themselves first, whats the point in charitt?

I guess my point of view is that there is no giving up of one's faith to save another at all. If I had to give my life to a child, I would and in that giving, I would not be affecting my faith or giving up anything.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

But taking a life is not helping another. You ask if someone would give up their faith for another, and honestly, I cannot see how anything could do that. My faith is not something that can be so easily shattered. Even if you do disagree with people who enter this country illegally, how does that affect your faith in any way whatsoever?

The last part, because I am helping someone who is doing something illegal. With the prisioner, I am helping someone who killed another. I disagree with illegal entry in our country and murder. Yet, I am helping them. That is contradictory. However, it is not about me and my faith but about them.

If someone told me not to follow the Dharma (which I can stop just as people stop believing in god) so I can save someone, I would. I dont want to. People have let go of their beliefs all the time for many reasons. Its not impossible. If they can leave their faith to find their truth, they can also to save another.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I honestly cannot even conceive of a situation where helping another person would in any way affect my faith and my belief in God.

It doesnt. It just means setting aside ones faith and help someone without it. Do we need religion to help others?

 

[Aupmanyav]

I feel it would be illogical of me to cause all kinds of hurts and expect that everything will be alright on the other side.

Yes, it is illogical to cause hurt to other people without reason, irrespective of whether there is an other side or not.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

How does giving your life to save that child in any way mean you have given up your faith? I;m sorry but this is just not understandable to me. I simply cannot conceive of any situation that would lead to me having to give up my faith for another. Giving up one's life for another is exactly what The Christ taught. It is the epitome of what the faith stands for.

I hear what youre saying. Im coming from an different angle. A person should be able to save someone else without religion. So, even though the Buddhs snd Christ taught sacrifice, who "my point" will go that far as both to suffer or die for another?

Who can honestly lower themselves to anothers suffering as the Buddha?
Who can take their life for others like Christ?

When does charity stop when we consider our lives before another?