Let's say that you're a Christian prisoner in a situation where someone says "convert to my religion (example, Islam) or die." So you "convert," basically telling them what they want to hear so that you can live, while believing and knowing in your heart that you are still a Christian. You pray 5 times a day, but they think you're praying to Allah/Mohammed when you're really praying to God/Jesus. You wear the headcovering, study the quran, etc. Is this wrong just to save your life until you can esacpe/get out, or is it better to die professing your faith? I'm talking morally, not based on what each religion thinks.
This is just a hypothetical situation, not meant to offend or demote anyone's religion.
2006-11-17 02:18:48 · 48 answers · asked by GLSigma3 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I mean, if you're still a believer in your heart are you really denouncing your faith?
Some really interesting answers all, it's pretty 50/50!
2006-11-17 02:35:01 · update #1
I wouldn't do it. If God didn't deliver me, then they can kill me. Nothing could make me renounce my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2006-11-17 02:26:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes it is wrong but, it is a forgiveable wrong. Totally understandable just ask any of the Apostles. The Books of the Maccabees has the part where the woman and her children are all put to death for their faith. The Bible says they will be talked about for all generations because of this but, of course this is a book the Protestants thought everyone could live without so they ejected it from their text. Catholics read this in their Bible.
2006-11-17 04:23:52 · answer #2 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only a coward would do that. Take a lesson from Jehovah's Witnesses in WWII Nazi Germany and in Poland. Because they refused to join the war effort, they were sent to concentration camps. They were given documents to sign renouncing their religion. If they signed them, they would have been released. But they didn't. As a result, thousands of them died in the camps. They followed the pattern of the early Christians who preferred death in Roman arenas than compromise their faith. Acts 5:29 says: "We must obey God as ruler rather than men."
2006-11-17 02:46:52 · answer #3 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Did Paul,or any of the followers in the bible,peter did but he later died for Our LORD. I know that is a touch subject,but he died 4 u and your should do the same 4 him,once it's over u will be with your God no worries. It is a scary situation but if it came down to it I would never Deny my Lord. He said if you deny me I will deny you before the Father
2006-11-17 02:54:37 · answer #4 · answered by sandy b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the bible is filled with marytars who died for their faith. Jesus died and rose for his willingness to die for us.
The book of Revelation says that thousands will die for their faith in the last days, during the tribulation.
Daniel of the old testament choice the lions den rather than denounce his faith. God rescued him, but doesn't always do that since life here is very tempoary anyway.
Since life really isn't about here (70 years or so vs. eternity) I suppose I would die for my faith in Jesus.
2006-11-17 02:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by Arthur E 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, in the book of Maccabees, there is a story about this, when the pagans made the Jews worship their Gods. The Jews did so, but they weren't doing it in their hearts. But it was a sin. Certain Jews went into the wilderness to hide to avoid this sin of apostasy--their leader was Judas Maccabeus.
As for me, I hope I would have enough courage through God's grace to die for my faith.
2006-11-17 02:28:07 · answer #6 · answered by bookworm29 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't have faith.
I have the strength of reason and resolve on my side.
And I would rather die a thousand deaths than tell such a lie even once.
More specifically... if someone said "Convert to my religion or die", I would reply: "Go sodomise yourself with a pinecone, you piece of human filth".
Alternatively.... I might just put in a near-futile effort to disarm them and kill them first... almost certainly at the expense of my own life. Chances are that they would probably beat me repeatedly and try to convert me several times if I merely retaliated verbally... whereas if I actually attacked them, they would likely try to kill me in self-defence.
Besides... theres always the possibility, however slim, that I could kill one of them and p!ss on the stupid f**ker's corpse before I got killed myself... and that would make it SO worthwhile.
Freedom is my all, and I will fight to the death against any who would seek to take it from me.
2006-11-17 02:41:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think anyone could really say what they would do unless they were in the situation. Additionally, I don't think any of us could say how we would be judged by God for, as you allude to, supperficially denouncing your faith. Thankfully, God judges us for both our actions and our thoughts/desires of our heart. It would be easier if you had no family of course, but if you were a provider, and a parent, and knew that if you superficially did this you could be back with your family, and back to your faith, I bet God would not hold it against you.
2006-11-17 02:46:23 · answer #8 · answered by straightup 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes it is wrong...ever hear of Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer who were held prisoners in Afghanistan? Or see the story of Daniel and the Lions Den...
2006-11-17 02:43:36 · answer #9 · answered by Sunspot Baby 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Live to fight another day."
When I was 7 my mom was embarrassed that she hadn't had my sister and I baptised yet. She traveled several states away to our great aunt, who set up a hush-hush baptism in the church with just us and the pastor. She made my mother promise that, in exchange for this favor, my mother would make sure we got "confirmed" in the Lutheran church.
At 15 years old, I didn't believe in Christianity, and didn't consider mysef a Christian or a Lutheran. My mother apologized for making that promise to her aunt, but once made she had to enforce it because she had given her word. She said that I HAD to get confirmed, and if I refused, I would have to go live with my father. My father was such an extreme child abuser that we both knew that this could be a death sentance, and my mom knew that as independent and headstrong as I was, that was the threat of last resort.
I "pretended" to "get confirmed" as a Lutheran. We were all on our knees in a line, and I left out certain promises to the Lutheran church that we were supposed to make, assuming no one would hear me if I knelt there and mouthed the words. According to the Lutheran church, I was confirmed that day as a Lutheran. According to God / The Universe / any higher power or spirits that might exist - I was not confirmed.
If there was a gun to my head, I'd say whatever oath they wanted me to say so that I could live to fight another day. You can be forced to say words out loud, but sometimes they don't mean anything if you can later escape the situation.
2006-11-17 02:33:50 · answer #10 · answered by steve d 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well the Bible says if you deny me ,then i will deny you before my father.So the answer to your queston would be YES it is a sin.as christians we should be willing to lay down our lives for what we believe,if they kill you,well you will go right into the arms of our Lord,and we would be a lot happier than we are here.He died on the cross for us,can we do any less?.
2006-11-17 04:13:31 · answer #11 · answered by slickcut 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋