Seriously awesome question from a previous questions answers - is it morally right to kill if God commands it?

Question

Based on an answer from this question,

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjpBhlp70aGHGdIILoz9rnLd7BR.?qid=20070328062411AA5ABRI

its in there and the man ends his awesome answer asking is it moral to murder or rape if God commands it?

We have seen legal cases in America where "God commands" was used as a (unsuccessful) defense.

I think this is a fascinating topic, the overlap of religion, politics, law, morality.

This is a sort of Socrates question, is something holy because the gods says its so, or is it the gods that determine what is holy?

Great question.

Answer 1

First of all whoever told you that as an athiest why don't you just go kill people, because you are not accountable, is a jerkoff. Thats an insult, and I don't care whether you are of faith or not, its still insulting. We don't kill because life is precious and its simply wrong to do it.
Being Christian isn't what makes me not kill, its my respect for life that makes me not kill.
As for God requesting someone to kill someone else, it is written in Scripture that God had intervened in various wars, giving
wartime advice to Israel. However, when God has done that, it was because it was essential that his plan for this age come to pass exactly as its written, so when it is necessary to interfere, He will, so long as the free-will of some people is not tampered with. There are many examples, but they are individual circumstances that vary from each other.
If God appeared in front of me and told me to kill, I would have to question whether it was God who spoke to me, or something else, because unless the world was in a particularly strange circumstance, such as the Antichrist being present, then I know that it is not part of the plan of God as written, for certain people to be told by God to kill others. Christ said that he "foretold all things", and that one is not listed there, so it would have to be questioned.
There are alot of nuts in the world who have entities speaking to them, even one that had a dog tell him to kill his sister.
Weirdos....

Answer 2

I think, IF God commanded this action, God would be with you and take care of any reaction. You would be in His hands. He is not a convenient defense for a crazy person that needs an excuse to kill others. That is why previous defense antics have been unsuccessful. They were absolutely not genuine. Also, I do not believe for one minute that God is in the habit of commanding a rape. What would be the purpose? What would be gained from a rape? No wars would be won. I cannot think of a single instance where the Bible stated that God commanded a rape. I have serious concerns about the effects of war. Freedom always has a price. But God will take care of that in the end, too. If you hear THE voice and it tells you to do something that you know is morally wrong, I would suggest prayer and counseling---and quite possibly strong medication. In the meantime, pray for those that are fighting for our freedom. They are putting it all on the line for our future!

Answer 3

I guess coming from the Buddhist perspective I would say that the deities do not determine what is holy, the Buddha doesn't determine what is holy as we are all holy. The dharma gives us guidelines on our path so that we examine our intentions, recognize the divinity of everyone and everything around us and then seek to take action that is right and doesn't cause suffering for ourselves or others. That is our nature and our essence, it just gets lost unless we pay very close attention. 'God' could never condone violence. The Buddha says to practice nonviolence. I guess that would be an interesting case if someone said 'The Buddha commanded me...' It is an interesting question, Sean. Thanks.

Answer 4

Two different answers for this hard q.
1. If GOD appeared before me like in the Old Testament and said for me to kill, I would have no choice.
2. At this time I do not feel GOD would ask such a thing of us because JESUS Came Died and was Resurrected so we could be forgiven of sin; all we are taught in the New Testament is Love and tolerance. Again if GOD did appear as in my previous answer I would do it.

This is a great Question. Being an Evangelist and a Soldier it is a great quandary, the president said for us to kill and we did, so holding God higher than the pres, yes I would and yes it would be right and I would suffer what consequences this world had to offer for my actions.

Answer 5

Abraham and commanded: "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you" (Gen. 22:2)

God commanded Abraham to kill for him but Abraham still knew it was wrong and couldn't do it. If God's will prevails, then God can cause that person's death and not need you to murder them. He can cause an "act of God" and let nature do the dirty work. No need to put a sin on your soul for it. Abraham was willing to kill for God and therefore God didn't require it. It was the submission, the willingness that was required--not the act itself.

It is an unsuccessful defense b/c our laws--while loosely based on biblical morals--does not fluctuate. It is illegal to kill someone--regardless as to if God or your friend Bob told you to do it. Legally, a popular cliche is "your rights end where my rights become infringed"

I think people are capable of knowing right from wrong apart from religion, but for the definition of holy--I go with something is holy b/c the religion determines it to be.

Answer 6

IF there were this God that Christians describe, and IF what he says is great and wonderful and true, like they say about the Bible, then one would have to conclude that, IF God told you to kill for a certain reason it would also be great and wonderful and true.

I liken this to homosexuality in the Bible. People are against it because God says so. They cannot possibly use their own reasoning to think otherwise. But then I see people who say killing because God says so WOULDN'T be okay. They WOULD have to question that. I don't understand the double standard.

Let's be honest, Christians would do whatever God tells them to do and feel good about it. That is, if there were a God.

Answer 7

Killing is sometimes lawful and necessary. But in order to justify it on the theory that god had commanded it, it would be necessary to prove that such a command had been issued. Which, considering the complete lack of evidence for even the existence of god, would be a tall order indeed.

Answer 8

To do something in the name of someone makes yourself responsible for your deeds nevertheless! There is no way out!
To say it was a God command is in my eyes an excuse. It serves as an immoral justification for an immoral behavior.

Answer 9

Good luck making that call-

Nearly every schizophrenic I have ever met has said something on the lines of "I am a prophet of god" or "God is talking to me"... That's not saying that they all behave this way- but it is very common for them to believe they are witnessing something divine rather than a disorder. At which point is the line drawn between psychotic behavior and actual divine intervention...?

Answer 10

Absolutely not, I can prove it.

If a being appeared to you and told you that he is god and that he is angry with you because you have tried to live a righteous life. Instead, he wants you to kill, rape, steal, destroy property, and steal from old ladies. Would you? Or would you question whether this being is god or not. If you are sane, you would question this being. Why? Because first you know what good is, then you judge whether this being is god or not. There are 2 phrases here you can meditate on.

Is something good because god desires it to be?
or
Does god desire it because its good?

Basically it comes down to this, is believing in god more important than being a good person?