There is a leader of a (hypothetical) country, who is appointed leader for life, and makes a law:
"15 years from now, all citizens must decide to agree with my government and it's policies, or else they will be sent to prison. They will be in this prison for the rest of their lives, and will be tortured every day."
This leader is actually a good one in most respects. He is good on the economy, foreign relations, crime, etc. He had a son who was in the military and died defending the country.
His justification for this law is that he is giving plenty of time for people to decide if they want to comply with the law, and is not forcing anyone to agree with his government... but there are definate consequences for not agreeing.
He says that, even though the citizens did not choose which country to be born in, and did not elect him as leader... they must agree with him or else be removed from society.
Would you be happy to defend this leader and his law?
2007-03-21 06:52:30 · 5 answers · asked by Eldritch 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is a Hypothetical situation.
It is a parallel to a prolific religious idea.
I don't mean this to be a question on politics,
I want to ask you to give consideration to the metaphor I've presented.
2007-03-21 06:52:50 · update #1
ALL4HIM:
Do you truly believe that morals originiated with the 10 commandments? Show me a society or culture that has ever thought outright murder, theft, lying, cheating, etc were ok.
And what is it I'm missing about hell? According to believers, it's a place that an "all-loving" god lets you go if you don't toe the line. Or do you believe that there is something beyond god's control?
2007-03-21 07:09:21 · update #2
no way would I defend this leader.
I understand the metaphor. It sounds exactly like tyranny. Tyrannical leaders do not leave their subjects alone to exercise free will. Think about that too - it is an insurmountable inconsistency in the entity to which you are alluding.
2007-03-21 06:57:29 · answer #1 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't understand Christianity at all. Even if this were a good comparison of Christian beliefs, what commandment do you have a problem with? Murder, envy, adultry? Maybe you would prefer those were not looked at as wrong?
Where do you derive your sense of right and wrong? Is it just some natural altruism that you inherited? No. There is a way things should be that we all agree on, no matter what our background or heritage. This moral code is a standard that God gave us.
You concept of Hell is strongly errored. You should read "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis. Heaven and Hell are not what you believe they are.
Also, keep in mind that we all break God's rules sometimes. That is where salvation comes in. I really don't see what you have a problem agreeing with. God's law is essentially for your benifit from His infinite wisdom.
2007-03-21 14:04:34 · answer #2 · answered by RedE1 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. A leader like this is called a dictator.
2007-03-21 13:56:47 · answer #3 · answered by Nightlight 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course not....that's communism
Pretty much equal to what Saddam Hussein did....minus the 15 year window.
2007-03-21 13:55:50 · answer #4 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is this leader my creator, to whom I owe everything including my existence?
next!
2007-03-21 13:57:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋