As one Buddhist's perspective: While the whole of existence is suffering, and we are burning, so to speak, it is impossible to "save" someone from their suffering if they choose to remain with it. So really the better question might become, "Who am I?What gives me some right over the mind or soul or body of another?" How can one assume such a lofty position of authority if they themselves have no experience or insight into what they would govern?Have we experienced death and beyond?
Follow in God's benevelent footsteps and do what he does in these situations....nothing! The same moral arguement is used to question gods inaction in such situations, an omnipitent and omnicient god knowing its going to happen, and with the power to prevent it but doing nothing! So just spin it round on those door knocking bastards!
The decision a person makes to help / not help a person in a seemingly bad scenario depend largely upon subtle circumstantial ques acting upon the individual. Contemplation of "moral dilemmas" in the abstract rarely reflect actual behavior.
To say something which may be slightly controversial, I personally think the analogy of the burning building is a bit of a bad one in that if you say you choose to leave the people in there it allows people to say that you are a terrible person for letting those people burn to death in a fire. While I can see how it does work, I think something like knowing a person is going to vote for someone else in an election might be a slightly better analogy as it doesn;t have such violent overtones.
The problem is that to a true believer of most mainstream religions, non-belief has very violent consequences due to that whole "burning in hell for all eternity" thing.
I might just take this first spot on the comments just so no one else can be a retard and claim to be first (as if someone is handing out invisible trophies).
Glad to hear all the good stuff, Celsius.
And if I'm too late to fill the first part... Then I'm sorry.
Sorry. Those "first" people bug me and I rarely have the chance to cut them off before they start their shit.
But in response to your moral question, I think the concept of the burning building is flawed to begin with. As if atheists are oblivious to mortal danger of being in a house that's on fire. I am reminded of a part on Real Time where a female christian asked Bill Maher "If you saw hungry person, wouldn't you try to feed them" to which he replied "I'm not hungry!"
There is a difference between an actual visible danger that is there right before your very eyes and the idea of a burning building that you won't know for sure exists until after you're dead, aka Hell. It's like trying to stop someone from walking into a building that might explode...someday. Maybe.
But when trying to feed a person who might be hungry, they could say "No thanks, I just ate" And that is what it's like when Christians try to save people. Some are hungry, most are not.
Speaking literally, I would leave said person unless I thought they were in a very unstable state of mind, e.g. were grieving over someone who'd just died in the fire. Having said that, a religious person may claim in your analogy that non-believers are in an unstable mental state. Similarily many atheists may feel the same way and try to rid a person of their faith despite their reluctance and protest. It's a difficult call to make, at wht point should you stop trying...
I think that's what i'd do too. i'd never forgive myself I didn't try to help. However if they fought thier way back in then i'd say 'Fuck it, let them burn!'
Biblically we are only supposed to give you the word. What you do with it is of your own choosing.
BlaqueBass 2 months ago
I love your accent! Greetings from the U.S.A!
darmokandgalad 2 years ago
As one Buddhist's perspective: While the whole of existence is suffering, and we are burning, so to speak, it is impossible to "save" someone from their suffering if they choose to remain with it. So really the better question might become, "Who am I?What gives me some right over the mind or soul or body of another?" How can one assume such a lofty position of authority if they themselves have no experience or insight into what they would govern?Have we experienced death and beyond?
WidowsSon2009AL 2 years ago
Follow in God's benevelent footsteps and do what he does in these situations....nothing! The same moral arguement is used to question gods inaction in such situations, an omnipitent and omnicient god knowing its going to happen, and with the power to prevent it but doing nothing! So just spin it round on those door knocking bastards!
emeraldxpat 2 years ago
adult films u mean <.<
4d4mz 2 years ago
adult films?
celsius233 2 years ago
yea porn...guess ill try a better joke next time
4d4mz 2 years ago
I don't get what you were referring to.
celsius233 2 years ago
you said that you have been working on films..so as a joke i said yea adult films har har har.
dont give up on me dad.i will tried harder next time
4d4mz 2 years ago
Son... i am disappoint.
AtheistChase 2 years ago
The decision a person makes to help / not help a person in a seemingly bad scenario depend largely upon subtle circumstantial ques acting upon the individual. Contemplation of "moral dilemmas" in the abstract rarely reflect actual behavior.
Mattprole 2 years ago
I think you're taking the analogy a little too seriously.
celsius233 2 years ago
Not seriously, literally.
celsius233 2 years ago
perhaps ~_~
Mattprole 2 years ago
To say something which may be slightly controversial, I personally think the analogy of the burning building is a bit of a bad one in that if you say you choose to leave the people in there it allows people to say that you are a terrible person for letting those people burn to death in a fire. While I can see how it does work, I think something like knowing a person is going to vote for someone else in an election might be a slightly better analogy as it doesn;t have such violent overtones.
Pollock42 2 years ago 2
The problem is that to a true believer of most mainstream religions, non-belief has very violent consequences due to that whole "burning in hell for all eternity" thing.
celsius233 2 years ago
It's a good point. It just personally seems a bit silly that's all
Pollock42 2 years ago
It is silly, but that's the analogy they like to use.
Whoever "they" are....
celsius233 2 years ago
I would leave them in the building, hell I probably wouldn't even go in, in the first place
KingOfKings111 2 years ago
Wow, I'm surprised you'd even admit to that.
celsius233 2 years ago
I might just take this first spot on the comments just so no one else can be a retard and claim to be first (as if someone is handing out invisible trophies).
Glad to hear all the good stuff, Celsius.
And if I'm too late to fill the first part... Then I'm sorry.
EscpdFrmPsykward 2 years ago
Damn, off by a minute. Just glad saynman89 isn't a retard ;)
And no, I don't know what I'm trying to prove.
EscpdFrmPsykward 2 years ago
Tell you what, you can have this very special second place trophy I've just made up.
celsius233 2 years ago
Sorry. Those "first" people bug me and I rarely have the chance to cut them off before they start their shit.
But in response to your moral question, I think the concept of the burning building is flawed to begin with. As if atheists are oblivious to mortal danger of being in a house that's on fire. I am reminded of a part on Real Time where a female christian asked Bill Maher "If you saw hungry person, wouldn't you try to feed them" to which he replied "I'm not hungry!"
EscpdFrmPsykward 2 years ago 2
That's very well put.
celsius233 2 years ago
Thank you.
There is a difference between an actual visible danger that is there right before your very eyes and the idea of a burning building that you won't know for sure exists until after you're dead, aka Hell. It's like trying to stop someone from walking into a building that might explode...someday. Maybe.
But when trying to feed a person who might be hungry, they could say "No thanks, I just ate" And that is what it's like when Christians try to save people. Some are hungry, most are not.
EscpdFrmPsykward 2 years ago
Thank you for noticing my non-retardedness. I do try my hardest :p
saynman89 2 years ago 2
Speaking literally, I would leave said person unless I thought they were in a very unstable state of mind, e.g. were grieving over someone who'd just died in the fire. Having said that, a religious person may claim in your analogy that non-believers are in an unstable mental state. Similarily many atheists may feel the same way and try to rid a person of their faith despite their reluctance and protest. It's a difficult call to make, at wht point should you stop trying...
saynman89 2 years ago
To be honest, I think I would be compelled to drag them out of the building. The only way I'd let them stay is if they fought their way back in.
celsius233 2 years ago
I think that's what i'd do too. i'd never forgive myself I didn't try to help. However if they fought thier way back in then i'd say 'Fuck it, let them burn!'
FantabulousMKL 2 years ago