If you had to choose between proving someone wrong and in the process making their life miserable, and leaving that same person alone in their ignorance to be happy, which would you choose? I think that the greatest love you can show your fellow man/woman is allowing them to believe as they will, so long as it makes them happy, and more than that supporting the thing that makes them happy even if you don't agree with it. Thoughts?
2006-07-14 16:41:48 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
so if you were friends with ted bundy would you be in prison now,or if someone wanted to run over a child would you be up for that, what about rape, robbery, alot of people are happy doing evil would you go with them to hell because you are so supportive.
2006-07-14 16:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by purpleaura1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I look at it this way: If they're happily believing as they will, and that path will certainly lead to their pain, suffering, or danger, interrupting their current happiness to protect them, and thus assure future happiness, is the greater love.
If there is a zero chance that the person will wake up from their ignorance, then leaving them there may not be a bad thing, but if coming to a knowledge of the truth too late is ever a possibility, then revealing the truth as early as possible is preferable to leaving them in their ignorant happiness.
Did that make sense?
2006-07-14 16:52:20 · answer #2 · answered by Aaron W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In so far as it is what they believe and the beliefs do not harme them or others than I can see how you might leave them to this. In fact I never try to get people to gove up what they believe unless harm is involved.
But if the person asks me what I think than I will answer them honestly as it is my opinion that I should be truthful in responding to a direct request.
I take no pleasure in destroying the belief system of another. But if it is riddled with racism, sexism and things which I believe hurt others, I would inform them about this.
I am not so arrogant as to believe that all other systems of beliefs and interpretations of reality are flawed and that mine is truth. I am happy to be wrong and learn and I like to keep my views open to change. But I don't mind what others believe and I am happy for devout and faithful people.
2006-07-14 23:29:09 · answer #3 · answered by Ouros 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you proving to them the truth about God? or just about something mundane? If its anything else, then of COURSE ITS NOT IMPORTANT, LET THEM BE IN PEACE. Compassion however is based on Love and thru Love you can bring them to a true understand of happiness about what life is all about, not something that will leave them with questions and more questions, but something that will answer ALL their questions. All of them.
So, it depends. But again, if its not truly important then leave them be, being "right" is never so important that you have to PROVE SOMEONE ELSE WRONG!
2006-07-14 16:47:26 · answer #4 · answered by AdamKadmon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that compassion is better than self-righteousness.
There are few reasons why anyone should make someone miserable just to prove a point.
One of them is eternity.
With such an important subject, truth really is more important than comfort.
The truth that Christians share will make an unbeliever very uncomfortable. But it can lead to immeasurable joy if accepted.
It is better to be temporarily uncomfortable and eternally joyful than to be temporarily comfortable and eternally suffering.
2006-07-14 17:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by Hyzakyt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on what it was! Compassion can be better than being right - but not in all circumstances and situations! I wouldn't want someone to go along with me if I was doing something that would harm me - allow me to be right out of compassion when I am definitely wrong and may hurt myself. Doesn't sound like much compassion! Again it depends on the situation and circumstance!
2006-07-14 16:53:15 · answer #6 · answered by twinklecomfort 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That should not even be a question. Compassion is the only thing that matters. You have to be smart enough to see the forest past the trees. Just because life does not come with a road map, you have to be smart enough to realize that life has a deeper meaning than just money and right and wrong!
2006-07-14 16:47:05 · answer #7 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it is more important to be compassionate. If the person causes no harm either to himself or others by his false belief, then I think it's best to leave him alone.
I think however, that a good deal of the time, false beliefs do cause some sort of harm to either the believer or those around him. It would just depend on the situation.
2006-07-14 17:14:48 · answer #8 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Truth is different, telling the truth frees a person. Which means that your refusal to mention the truth is to allow the other to live in a what seems to be true, and that is categorically outside of the truth.
To tell the truth in a compassionate way is another thing.
2006-07-14 16:47:51 · answer #9 · answered by ensky28 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are happy in their own ignorance ... what is the gain making their lifes miserable proving that they are wrong. Every mind is a world. Maybe 2 people look one item .. and they are looking different things in the same item ... you got it ?
2006-07-14 16:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by NA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say being compassionate is definitely more important. For some people to prove others wrong is a way to prove themselves right/correct, but it doesn't do anyone good.
2006-07-14 16:46:44 · answer #11 · answered by CRT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋