Religion: pros & cons (Religion)

by dhw, Saturday, October 18, 2014, 17:40 (3689 days ago) @ Balance_Maintained

dhw You ask: “So, a simple question, if you would not eat something, would you mainline it into your bloodstream?” Yes of course I would, if it meant saving my life, my wife's, or anyone else's. So too would the Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope.-TONY: (Mat 16:25; Luke 9:24, 17:33; Mark 8:35) You know, you are correct in that that is what most people would do. Most people would do anything to save their life, even disobey God's laws. And that is exactly why those 4 scriptures above were written. The challenge made to Jehovah by Satan in Job 2:4 was explicitly this: "“Skin for skin. A man will give everything that he has for his life." Gods request of us was to "Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, So that I can make a reply to him who taunts me." (Prov 27:11) If you break his law to save your skin, you are doing exactly what Satan said you would, if however, you remain faithful, you "make a reply to him who taunts" God. I don't expect you to agree, but it is all there for you to see, in clear black and white. -The clear black and white concerns some sort of loss of soul (needs to be clarified, since you don't believe in hell) if we disobey God. But that does not mean your interpretation of God's will is correct. Do you really believe the Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope are disobeying God's laws, blinding themselves and their followers, taunting God and risking whatever loss of soul means, to save their own skin? Is it not possible that they too have read the same texts as you and found a different meaning that is just as valid as yours? Are you not in danger of “losing” your own soul in trying to save it by your willingness, at least in theory, to sacrifice the lives of others? I can't argue the point with you in theological and biblical terms, and so I have googled to find someone who can. Please read this article. It's a long and detailed refutation of your arguments, and I don't think you will accuse the author of ignorance, malice or self-interest.
 
•	Blood Transfusions - Jehovah.net.au-http://www.jehovah.net.au/incorrect-doctrine/blood-transfusions-Why the Jehovah's Witness stance against blood transfusions is unbiblical and ... 
or fractional, one's own or someone else's, transfused or injected, it is wrong. -TONY: You may question my morals because of that, but consider this. If I do not believe in hell, and I do believe in a resurrection, and I believe that Jehovah will keep his promises, then why should I be afraid of death.-I do not question your morals, and I admire and appreciate the strength of your faith, your erudition, and your willingness to discuss these matters with sceptics like myself. But I am appalled by your apparent readiness to sacrifice the lives even of children on the strength of your interpretation of ancient texts which so many scholarly believers have interpreted differently. If I were a believer myself, I would assume that God would want us to enjoy, enrich and save life. Of course death must come, but just as he forbids murder, I would expect him to forbid the deliberate shortening of life when the means to prolong it are available.