A serious question for xians: What about Phineas Gage?

Question

What does the ordeal of Phineas Gage tell us about human behavior? The soul? Accountability? I'm curious as to what you really think about what this shows about human nature. What if someone has a brain imbalance for some other reason? What is a "balanced" brain anyway? If Phineas Gage had been BORN with this brain problem, should he go to hell for his actions? What if every sinner has a similar problem? Help me out here.

If you don't know who he is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage

Disclaimer: I'm atheist. I'm not trying to slam anyone's beliefs or ancestry. Please don't read anything into the question that isn't actually stated (if possible). Don't bother giving me ANY atheist line, I already know it. This is for xians.

Lookn2cjc, I never said he wasn't a sinner before. But if he was saved before and suddenly became a lunatic afterwards, is he still saved? I don't think you're getting my point.

Answer 1

He wasn't born in that condition; there was a time in his life that he KNOWINGLY and WILLFULLY sinned. What if he didn't suffer a permanent injury that day, but died? Same accountability required. He was a sinner that needed to repent of his sins. I hope he repented in time.

EDIT:
Yes, if he was saved before of course he's still saved. One cannot lose their salvation. We are given ETERNAL life. that is forever!

Answer 2

First, you are presupposing Gage has negative behavior after the accident. There is no mention of this in the article you provided.

Second, frontal lobotomies were once done on purpose to control violent behvior, not induce it. Gage's accident did not induce anything comparable to anti-social behavior found in people with "normal" brains".

Third, sin is a matter of choice, not a matter of biology, genetics, environment, or any other excuse. Poeple sin because they choose to, and if influencing factors overwhelm a person, then they don't have a free choice and so it can't be a sin. That is why it is so dangerous to judge other poeple. A person with a damaged brain, for instance, may or may not be responsible for their actions, and its not up to anyone, Christian or whatever, to pass judgements on the sate of anyones soul.

Your question is not a problem for the Christian, its a problem for the atheist. The atheist can only see the value of a human person according to the total sum of their parts.

The Christian sees the value of a human person transcending the total sum of their parts.

One will elevate human dignity, the other will eventually destroy it, as we have already seen time and time again, with empty philosophies of state sponsored atheism.

Answer 3

There are people like Phineas Gage who for some reason never reach what is called the age of accountability, approximately age 5, and those people cannot tell right from wrong and therefore will not be held accountable in Gods eyes.

Answer 4

The first xians actually came along before Jesus. They were a fanatic splinter group of Jews. I'm trying to remember what they were called. I can find it my mess of records if I need to. Before the Essenes. Before Jesus.

Answer 5

Splinter, it's time to learn a little bit about your own (supposed) religion. In Greek, Christ is Χριστός. You'll note that starts with an x. Is there some special reason why you may be known by your intials but Jesus may not? Fact of the matter is that Christ has been referred to as 'x' for a few millennia now.

Ronin, the answer to your question is easy. A soul is immaterial, so its interface with a material body is susceptible to damage. As to whether that's fair... I can't find anywhere in my Bible where God says that life is fair. His game, His rules.

Answer 6

What pray tellis an xian?

Answer 7

Please show respect to those of us who believe in Christ by calling us Christians and not xians. That is very offensive. Best wishes.

Answer 8

I do not know what a xian is.