Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sensei Meela · 04-11-2004, 10:42 AM

What if they were 5 evil railroad workers?

spin · 04-11-2004, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sensei Meela

What if they were 5 evil railroad workers?

Isn't that still playing the rigged game?

spin

Sven · 04-11-2004, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GakuseiDon

These aren't biblical questions. They aren't even moral questions. It is a question of logic and courage. Once you introduce "you are assured it is God" then there can only be one logical answer, as if I'm convinced that it is God, and I'm convinced that God is omnibenevolent, then the logical alternative to not doing what God asks means that you are allowing something even worse to happen.

Given that you also think that he is omnipotent, this "argument" fails. For an omnipotent being, there are surely other ways to achieve good than killing humans (what is of course contradicted by your bible, but this doesn't make you right, but the bible wrong).

P.S.: When you talk about logic, you should perhaps include all characteristics of your god.

GakuseiDon · 04-11-2004, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sven

Given that you also think that he is omnipotent, this "argument" fails. For an omnipotent being, there are surely other ways to achieve good than killing humans (what is of course contradicted by your bible, but this doesn't make you right, but the bible wrong).

P.S.: When you talk about logic, you should perhaps include all characteristics of your god.

Please remember, I didn't set the premise! If you think that an omni-max God wouldn't need to ask that, then please take it up with the person who posted the OP.

Postcard73 · 04-11-2004, 06:22 PM

Given the nature of this discussion, I think this thread would be better off in GRD.

Scott (Postcard73)
BC&H Moderator

breathilizer · 04-11-2004, 06:35 PM

Suppose there was only one person on each path, but one of them was a Christian, and the other was an Atheist. Then what? Personally, I'd let the Christian die. Why, you ask? Because, of the very very very very very slim chance of a Christian deity, a Heaven, and a Hell. If I kill the Atheist, he has no chance at going Heaven. If I kill the Christian, he at least might go to Heaven, and the atheist would live to possibly convert and go to Heaven.

It's basically a 50/50 choice, but the extremely small chance of a Christian deity breaks the camel's back, and the atheist lives.

Besides, atheists are smarter and if I kill the Christian, it's one less Republican to worry about come election time

Mr_Stratovarius · 04-11-2004, 06:51 PM

No, killing people in the name of god is is completely unacceptable, the people that hijacked and flew the planes into the twin towers truly believed that they were doing what good comanded them to do.

and the question of the fat man and the five rail workers, how would you know before that pushing him would stop the trolly, if you knew hitler as a young man how would you know killing him could have prevented the holocaust. Hein sight is always 20/20

Mr_Stratovarius · 04-11-2004, 06:53 PM

god, not good

breathilizer · 04-11-2004, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Stratovarius

No, killing people in the name of god is is completely unacceptable, the people that hijacked and flew the planes into the twin towers truly believed that they were doing what good comanded them to do.

and the question of the fat man and the five rail workers, how would you know before that pushing him would stop the trolly, if you knew hitler as a young man how would you know killing him could have prevented the holocaust. Hein sight is always 20/20

Isn't it "Hind sight 20/20" as in "looking behind you towards the past?"

idk for sure. I'm usually pretty bad at common phrases

breathilizer · 04-11-2004, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Stratovarius

god, not good

Some dictionaries have 'god' as synomymous(sp?) with 'good' but they don't mean 'god' as in the deity form.

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04-11-2004, 10:42 AM	#11
Sensei Meela Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: AZ, u.s.a. Posts: 1,202	What if they were 5 evil railroad workers?

04-11-2004, 06:22 PM	#15
Postcard73 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Roanoke, VA. Posts: 2,198	Given the nature of this discussion, I think this thread would be better off in GRD. Scott (Postcard73) BC&H Moderator

04-11-2004, 06:35 PM	#16
breathilizer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,090	Suppose there was only one person on each path, but one of them was a Christian, and the other was an Atheist. Then what? Personally, I'd let the Christian die. Why, you ask? Because, of the very very very very very slim chance of a Christian deity, a Heaven, and a Hell. If I kill the Atheist, he has no chance at going Heaven. If I kill the Christian, he at least might go to Heaven, and the atheist would live to possibly convert and go to Heaven. It's basically a 50/50 choice, but the extremely small chance of a Christian deity breaks the camel's back, and the atheist lives. Besides, atheists are smarter and if I kill the Christian, it's one less Republican to worry about come election time

04-11-2004, 06:51 PM	#17
Mr_Stratovarius Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kamloops BC, Canada Posts: 18	No, killing people in the name of god is is completely unacceptable, the people that hijacked and flew the planes into the twin towers truly believed that they were doing what good comanded them to do. and the question of the fat man and the five rail workers, how would you know before that pushing him would stop the trolly, if you knew hitler as a young man how would you know killing him could have prevented the holocaust. Hein sight is always 20/20

04-11-2004, 06:53 PM	#18
Mr_Stratovarius Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kamloops BC, Canada Posts: 18	god, not good

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