Would you denounce your beliefs if tortured?

[The Voice of Reason]

"And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you Fear Him." ( Luke 12:4-5)

Excellent advice. Don't worry about the fact that someone is about to rip your eyelids off, and then kill you - because God will kill you worse if you renounce Him.

Nice God you have there.

 

[ax0547]

Is the right to freedom and free thinking endangered by a lie?

Edit: For the record, my belief in God is not supported or endangered by any religions, so to renounce it, for me, would be just words. There are beliefs I would go down fighting for, but religion is not one of them.

Well me, I don't belive that religions are to be dying for - it should be our principles etc. but since religions are also founded upon principles; it would happily die in order to protect another persons point of view - as long as the other person is using legitmate principles and not interfering with others to a extent!

 

[Jayell]

Excellent advice. Don't worry about the fact that someone is about to rip your eyelids off, and then kill you - because God will kill you worse if you renounce Him..

The meaning here is that we all are afraid (one extent to another) of each other (gang violence, serial killers, child molestors and so on ). Why? Because we we have been warned! On the same note, God has given us the heads up and if we are afraid of physical violence we deifintely ought to fear divine jugdement.

 

[ax0547]

Well, don't do it for something in the afterlife or so on, but because whats right now! sooner or later sone one will stand upto force and injustice!

 

[Panda]

It depends. Are you expecting normative or informational conformity?

 

[Heneni]

Is the right to freedom and free thinking endangered by a lie?

Edit: For the record, my belief in God is not supported or endangered by any religions, so to renounce it, for me, would be just words. There are beliefs I would go down fighting for, but religion is not one of them.

Does what comes our mouths not defile us? Would denouncing our god not defile us? That which we speak must have been in our heart. Just a thought. I realise that we are talking hypothetical here, none of us have actually had to be physically tortured. I might act differently when im in the situation.

 

[Willamena]

Does what comes our mouths not defile us? Would denouncing our god not defile us?

I don't believe in a purity beyond words, so I don't believe in defilement by words. Words are, in their essence, as "pure" as anything about "me" (and as much a participant in God as everything).

That which we speak must have been in our heart. Just a thought. I realise that we are talking hypothetical here, none of us have actually had to be physically tortured. I might act differently when im in the situation.

I do have great admiration for the person who would stand by principles and never lie, being true to themselves and all. But that's another story. This story has one renouncing a religion (of which I have none). (That's not to say what's right for me is right for anyone else. )

 

[blackout]

Words can mean anything.
If we're just talking about words here,
I could make them mean anything I wanted them to.
My life is my myth.
I could make the tyrant's words mean anything I want.
This is all a part of spell casting.
I can cast any word or thing or action.
I write my own story,
and I will author even the villians.

If they wanted me to DO something I did not want,
like kill another innocent...
well, I would not do it,
but it would be far more problematic.

Hopefully the Sentient Universe
would open a way out for me,
or provide an opportunity of some kind
that I might use to my advantage.
I would be open to in-spiration for sure.

Still, I would not hand over the ending of my story to anyone.
The end of my story is mine.
I would not go down the unempowered victim of my own story.
Even under adversity, the last word is mine.

 

[tomspug]

In my opinion, belief is cheap if you aren't brave enough to stand up for it in the face of other people. If people threaten to torture you to have their way, and you give in, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING THEM.

 

[Willamena]

In my opinion, belief is cheap if you aren't brave enough to stand up for it in the face of other people. If people threaten to torture you to have their way, and you give in, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING THEM.

Why should other people be a threat to your beliefs?

 

[Beneck]

The Scripture says that the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Of course, under pressure we can deny our faith, but does that really mean anything? Our flesh is weak, so we can'r handle torture, but we KNOW in our hearts that what we believe is true. "With the heart man believeth unbto rightousness"

 

[Beneck]

Why should other people be a threat to your beliefs?

Other people are a threat to your beliefs, because you are to theirs! The communists even today feel threatened by Christians, and rightly so!

 

[tomspug]

Why should other people be a threat to your beliefs?

What? Where did I say that at all? I am saying that you encourage people to bully and torture by giving in to it. This is classic playground psychology. It's why intelligent governments don't negotiate with terrorists.

By saving yourself from pain, you are dooming others to similar threats. Can you live with that, knowing that because you yourself couldn't stand up for your beliefs, other people will have to endure the same trial?

 

[Willamena]

What? Where did I say that at all? I am saying that you encourage people to bully and torture by giving in to it. This is classic playground psychology. It's why intelligent governments don't negotiate with terrorists.

By saving yourself from pain, you are dooming others to similar threats. Can you live with that, knowing that because you yourself couldn't stand up for your beliefs, other people will have to endure the same trial?

You had said, "belief is cheap if you aren't brave enough to stand up for it in the face of other people." This directly suggests that other people can threaten you in your beliefs, otherwise "bravery" would not be required.

Dooming others to a similar threat was not implied in the OP. By "giving in", your "encouragement" should not be a factor of responsibility in another person's actions.

 

[Willamena]

Other people are a threat to your beliefs, because you are to theirs! The communists even today feel threatened by Christians, and rightly so!

If you are secure in your beliefs, nothing should threaten them.

 

[Phasmid]

In my opinion, belief is cheap if you aren't brave enough to stand up for it in the face of other people. If people threaten to torture you to have their way, and you give in, YOU ARE ENCOURAGING THEM.

Say that to the person who has you tied up and is about to put hot pokers under your nails.

 

[stacey bo bacey]

I'd say any damn thing they wanted me to. It's all just pretending for their sake...and for yours so you don't get your fingernails pulled out.

 

[Kcnorwood]

Most people would just to stop the pain everyone has a breaking point.

 

[Ciarin]

Hell yea I would. Screw torture.

 

[DallasApple]

Excellent advice. Don't worry about the fact that someone is about to rip your eyelids off, and then kill you - because God will kill you worse if you renounce Him.

Nice God you have there.

He will KILL you for ETERNITY!!!

So take YOUR MEDICINE NOW!!! Its in your BEST INTEREST!! ...OR ELSE!!!!

Love

Dallas