Would you sacrifice yourself if your deity asked you to?

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

If he is the god of your religion, I think he would know if you where just pretending to go through with it.

But according to the story, so was God, so ...

Samson? He definitely killed himself for God.

It was more "I was a huge jerk and I shamed practically everyone, started stupid wars over my penis adventures, got caught, and now I want to punish everyone for it while taking myself out because I can't live with the humiliation of not having some Philistine sex every waking moment." LOL.

That being said, haven't voted yet because I'm not sure how to. I would only do it if it were necessary, but most things in this world don't require sacrificial deaths. If it WERE necessary to save the world or universe or whatever, me an' God would be having a conversation later about how jacked up that law of nature is ...

 

[Mindmaster]

That being said, haven't voted yet because I'm not sure how to. I would only do it if it were necessary, but most things in this world don't require sacrificial deaths. If it WERE necessary to save the world or universe or whatever, me an' God would be having a conversation later about how jacked up that law of nature is ...

It's sort of an ever or never question in the original framing. If your answer is a "maybe with reasons" it is probably a qualified yes here.

 

[Chakra]

I could pitch in some ideas, if you don't mind.

In my religion (Hinduism), there are various sects, each worshiping their own god as supreme. Shaivas worship Shiva, Shaktas worship Kali or Lakshmi, and Vaishnavas worship Vishnu (there are tons of other sects). Now, according to some stories, Shiva and Kali have asked their followers to do multiple sacrifices, to others and to oneself. For example, Shiva once asked his follower to kill his son to prove his devotion. Of course, Shiva later on restored the son back to life. Another story is that when a particular warrior-devotee of Shiva was injured and wanted to attain Shiva's abode, he was asked to dance and sing to Shiva *while* he was in extreme pain. Kali's devotees have done similar acts. No one generally gets harmed (as they would restore the people back to life), but that's for you to get an idea of their tests.

Vishnu does not test his devotees this way (where they have to do things that are extremely stressful). His tests focus on whether or not you are humble, equipoised during shame and defeat (meaning you don't get angry), and whether you can recognize all living beings as equals and not discriminate. So the chances that Vishnu would ask his devotee to sacrifice himself (or others, going back to @Taylor Seraphim 's post) are pretty much 0, which is why I clicked "I do not believe in deities" because my perception of God does not classify a deity that encourages slaughter as a God. That being said, Vaishnava gurus have tried to stop animal slaughter in the regions it was prevalent, so I don't doubt that they would have tried to stop human slaughter as well.

 

[Mindmaster]

I could pitch in some ideas, if you don't mind.

In my religion (Hinduism), there are various sects, each worshiping their own god as supreme. Shaivas worship Shiva, Shaktas worship Kali or Lakshmi, and Vaishnavas worship Vishnu (there are tons of other sects). Now, according to some stories, Shiva and Kali have asked their followers to do multiple sacrifices, to others and to oneself. For example, Shiva once asked his follower to kill his son to prove his devotion. Of course, Shiva later on restored the son back to life. Another story is that when a particular warrior-devotee of Shiva was injured and wanted to attain Shiva's abode, he was asked to dance and sing to Shiva *while* he was in extreme pain. Kali's devotees have done similar acts. No one generally gets harmed (as they would restore the people back to life), but that's for you to get an idea of their tests.

Vishnu does not test his devotees this way (where they have to do things that are extremely stressful). His tests focus on whether or not you are humble, equipoised during shame and defeat (meaning you don't get angry), and whether you can recognize all living beings as equals and not discriminate. So the chances that Vishnu would ask his devotee to sacrifice himself (or others, going back to @Taylor Seraphim 's post) are pretty much 0, which is why I clicked "I do not believe in deities" because my perception of God does not classify a deity that encourages slaughter as a God. That being said, Vaishnava gurus have tried to stop animal slaughter in the regions it was prevalent, so I don't doubt that they would have tried to stop human slaughter as well.

I understand that Hindu religion is very complicated. I can see where it becomes questionable as to where you could lie on that question, so I guess the important thing is just to answer it with the best of your ability. Thanks!

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Nope...
But I could be convinced to self-sacrifice (if not neccessarily by a deity.
Imagine some hypothetical, blah, blah, where my death saved someone else? Then, dependant on circumstance and WHO the person was, I could be convinced to self-sacrifice.
And deity should be more convincing than Joe Bloggs up the road so...ya know...kinda. But not just 'Hey, Dave, how about you jump off that cliff there?'

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Why is it a sacrifice to simply move on to the next life?
Ever died in a dream?
Why should death be any different to this?

Hey if the next world is ready for me, I'm ready for it.
It may seem strange to you that I accept Christ and reincarnation, but they are both
as real as day and night.

Most of us will get reborn back into this world pretty soonish.
Have you made it better or worse?

If you go out causing mayhem and suffering, then you will likely be born straight
back into that same mayhem and suffering.

The difference between you and I is that I do not think something is true just because I was told it was.

 

[Scott C.]

I think morally it is easier to sacrifice a child than yourself. I'd view a self-sacrifice as a truly selfless act because it is unlikely you personally would gain from it. Conversely, to sacrifice a child you could just decide to have another. Nothing really has been given away in this context.

I guess it's a personal thing. It would be easier for me to kill myself than to kill one of my kids.

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

(or others, going back to @Taylor Seraphim 's post) are pretty much 0, which is why I clicked "I do not believe in deities" because my perception of God does not classify a deity that encourages slaughter as a God.

Okay this is a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

 

[Chakra]

Okay this is a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

You got my answer either way.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Yes, of course. She consumes us all in the end, anyway.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

An interesting way to frame it, though not a palatable framing for modern sentiments. Such things are quite taboo now.

Because modern society has been so permeated by Abrahamic thinking.

 

[Kapalika]

I voted yes because my deity is a personification of Brahman, which we all are, deep down.

I sacrifice myself all the time to become something new, or make self sacrifices for others... because we are all Brahman.

I think this is much more meaningful than any other kind of sacrifice one could make... to give up parts of yourself to become a better person or to help others. Granted not everyone will take that help, and you gotta be smart about it. But still.

Would I do for my religion? Probably if it was the best thing to do. Would I kill myself (literally, physically) at the request of a deity? That would effectively amount to suicide by using a proxy as an excuse.

 

[Shiranui117]

Mm, yeah, why not.

Bonus points if I have to sacrifice myself to save someone else.

 

[Mindmaster]

Because modern society has been so permeated by Abrahamic thinking.

Even in the case of supposed pagans who are living as Christians by proxy.

 

[Mindmaster]

You got my answer either way.

You can't flip the coin and say, "Edge."

Are your gods more important than human rules or not?

 

[Mindmaster]

Okay this is a HYPOTHETICAL situation.

No, it's a real one!

You non-believer have it easy... You don't have to do anything, but think you're always right!

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

No, it's a real one!

You non-believer have it easy... You don't have to do anything, but think you're always right!

Ok.....how is this a real one?

And how do I have it easy?

 

[Mindmaster]

Ok.....how is this a real one?

And how do I have it easy?

You could kill yourself for Dawkins or something...

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

You could kill yourself for Dawkins or something...

I do not agree with everything he says, let alone have faith in him.

 

[Chakra]

You can't flip the coin and say, "Edge."

Are your gods more important than human rules or not?

All I can say is that my God would never intentionally and unnecessarily contribute to the suffering of an individual.