Killing in the name of...

[_honorentheos]

If you're not a believer, assume for the sake of answering the questions that God exists and that he's good.

I'm not sure what the difference would be between 1-2 and 3-4 given the above, but I'm assuming in the first instance we are saying there is no doubt that God commanded it while in the second there is.

But if I assume there is a God and "he is good", and I'll add in s/he/its also omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient, then the answer should be yes to 1-2, and no to 3-4 on the grounds that I am intepreting 3-4 as leaving the door open for the person being wrong even if God is real with the qualities outlined above. Given the consequences of being wrong, it only seems reasonable a person needs to have more than sincere belief. Yet, I can't square my own thinking with the proposition that a God who would command this is also good.

(1) If God commands you to kill your own child, then you should do it.

(2) If God commands somebody to kill their own child, then they should do it.

(3) If you sincerely believe that God has commanded you to kill your own child, then you should do it.

(4) If somebody sincerely believes that God has commanded them to kill their own child, then they should do it.

[_brade]

brade,

Swear. I spent 15 minutes looking at and thinking about these questions. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "false" to all of them.

I'm glad you took the time to think about them. I hope you recognized the significant difference between the first two and the second two.

[_The Dude]

Now if only The Dude and a dozen others would realize we can't see their avatars either.

Fixed it. I had to find another picture of me, but this'll do.

[_brade]

If you're not a believer, assume for the sake of answering the questions that God exists and that he's good.

I'm not sure what the difference would be between 1-2 and 3-4 given the above, but I'm assuming in the first instance we are saying there is no doubt that God commanded it while in the second there is.

But if I assume there is a God and "he is good", and I'll add in s/he/its also omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient, then the answer should be yes to 1-2, and no to 3-4 on the grounds that I am intepreting 3-4 as leaving the door open for the person being wrong even if God is real with the qualities outlined above. Given the consequences of being wrong, it only seems reasonable a person needs to have more than sincere belief. Yet, I can't square my own thinking with the proposition that a God who would command this is also good.

(1) If God commands you to kill your own child, then you should do it.

(2) If God commands somebody to kill their own child, then they should do it.

(3) If you sincerely believe that God has commanded you to kill your own child, then you should do it.

(4) If somebody sincerely believes that God has commanded them to kill their own child, then they should do it.

Thanks for the response. You're moving toward something I intend to explore in this thread, but I'm tired so I'll have to post on it tomorrow.

[_Jersey Girl]

brade,

Swear. I spent 15 minutes looking at and thinking about these questions. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "false" to all of them.

I'm glad you took the time to think about them. I hope you recognized the significant difference between the first two and the second two.

I think I noted the difference. I'll stick with "false" or "no" to all of them. If you have a challenge to present, perhaps I'd be persuaded otherwise.

[Guest]

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[_Jersey Girl]

Here, just briefly, brade. It doesn't make sense to me that God would command a person to kill their child under any circumstance.

[_Jersey Girl]

brade,

Will you be challenging our answers? If so, do you plan to do it right away or let the thread marinate until, say, tomorrow?

[Guest]

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[_Jersey Girl]

Hasa,

How do you distinguish between God commanding and you sincerely believing God has commanded? What's your reasoning?