Would you rather kill than renounce your religious beliefs?

[Heyo]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

 

[Secret Chief]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

Who could I be killing?

 

[exchemist]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

Another "What if the sky were made of concrete" question.

 

[Secret Chief]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

Not option two, but not always option one - depends on the circumstances. Regarding your warning: My morality is probably bound up with my religion. Plus, there is nothing "holy" imo.

 

[Secret Chief]

Another "What if the sky were made of concrete" question.

Come on, you're only waiting for your tea to cook.

 

[Heyo]

Who could I be killing?

Do you think you could kill an alleged rapist? Without a trial?

 

[Secret Chief]

Do you think you could kill an alleged rapist? Without a trial?

"Alleged" ? I would not consider killing an alleged anything.

 

[Viker]

My religion, as of yet, has no such holy book or doctrine. If we had to kill to defend ourselves I would join. It had better be clear that we are defending ourselves and that this is the proper course to not get us wiped out in the process.

Also, I am almost not entirely but still maybe sort of (among) the highest authority in my religious group. One could say in a desperate situation like that I could be a leader. Maybe.

 

[Heyo]

Another "What if the sky were made of concrete" question.

Another "answering an interesting question with a more interesting question" thread.

 

[Madmogwai]

My religious doctrine does not condone or promote the act of taking another person's life. It emphasises compassion, forgiveness, and the preservation of human life as foundational principles.

To prioritize the sanctity of human life and reject violence is a noble pursuit that aligns with universal moral principles. By renouncing violence and embracing peaceful alternatives, individuals can contribute to fostering a harmonious society rooted in respect, empathy, and understanding.

Ultimately, the decision to renounce one's religion is deeply personal and should be approached with careful consideration. However, it is essential to emphasize that renouncing religion should never be seen as a justification for harming others. Instead, it should serve as an opportunity for personal growth, self-reflection, and an unwavering commitment to upholding the dignity and value of every human life

 

[Estro Felino]

Absolutely not.
Who cares if they excommunicate me.

 

[exchemist]

Come on, you're only waiting for your tea to cook.

Actually I'm waiting to go out to a pub in Streatham with a Brazilian kitchen, at the invitation of the Brazilian girl who does the cleaning in my house. We did this last year too, before my son goes back to Scotland to resume his studies. I think the cleaning lady is more interested in my son than in me, but that's to be expected.

 

[Rival]

Why am I killing this person? If he's raped and murdered a child, sign me up?

If not, I'd just find a better religion.

 

[mangalavara]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith.

I would fight them for issuing such an asinine dilemma.

No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again.

That would be of no loss to me.

Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing

Hinduism is not ‘a faith’ considering that there is no Hindu creed or confession that Hindus must subscribe to. As to highest authorities, I know none.

and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Harmful interpretations of any scripture are often (not always!) loose interpretations.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

One reason that I’m a Hindu is that its morality aligns with my inherent morality.

 

[an anarchist]

Another "What if the sky were made of concrete" question.

I think not, if I understand the “What if the sky were made of concrete” thingy. I’ve seen that stated here before, I’ve tried googling it but nothing came up. I’m assuming you are saying that the OP is a question that is as ridiculous as asking if the sky were made of concrete.

I think not. It’s an extremely relevant question. So many times throughout history has the state rallied the masses to murder others (war) by using religious justification.

 

[exchemist]

I think not, if I understand the “What if the sky were made of concrete” thingy. I’ve seen that stated here before, I’ve tried googling it but nothing came up. I’m assuming you are saying that the OP is a question that is as ridiculous as asking if the sky were made of concrete.

I think not. It’s an extremely relevant question. So many times throughout history has the state rallied the masses to murder others (war) by using religious justification.

But that is the state, not religious leaders - quite a different issue. And to ask us, living today, demands that we regress about 500 years and think like people then. It's a pointlessly artificial scenario, unmoored from modern reality.

 

[Kenny]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

My highest authority is Jesus... I don't think he would be requiring me to do that.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Suppose you are forced, threatened, harassed to join a lynching party or a warring group or publicly denounce your faith. No True Believer™ would ever speak to you again. Suppose also that the highest authorities of your faith have sanctioned the killing and that an interpretation of your Holy Book can be found to condone it.

Mind your decision because if you answer that you will not kill, it means that your inherent morality is more worth to you than your faith.

That would likely make one a terrorist.

 

[Heyo]

But that is the state, not religious leaders - quite a different issue.

Not if the clergy willingly participates in the rallying of the troops.

And to ask us, living today, demands that we regress about 500 years and think like people then.

Make that a hundred years for the west and current for other countries.

It's a pointlessly artificial scenario, unmoored from modern reality.

I think it's even less artificial than the scenario that inspired this OP.

And I don't even had to refer to fringe cults who were (and are) willing to kill or die for their belief.

 

[Heyo]

That would likely make one a terrorist.

Like islamistic terrorist?