Are there any beliefs you would be willing to die for ?

Earnest

Usually our beliefs and convictions are not a choice of life and death but that can sometimes arise as it has done for many who have refused blood transfusions. Are there any beliefs that you would die for if you had to make a choice ?

Earnest

Gamaliel

Earnest,

Good question. There are beliefs I might die for, but I don't think I would be willing, necessarily, it just might have to work out that way. I'm thinking in terms of putting myself in harm's way if necessary to save a wife or child in the event of war, rape, attack, plague, famine, random violence, risky conditions caused by natural disasters, etc. Risking disease to be with them if that is the only way to help them through final moments if they are suffering from something highly communicable or perhaps risking health to donate a kidney -- things like that.

In each case, everything possible would be done to avoid dying, of course, but I can imagine cases where taking the risk might be/seem the only thing and/or the right thing to do.

Gamaliel

drwtsn32

That's a tough question. As a JW I would probably have sacrificed my life to stay loyal to the Watchtower... er, God.

But as it stands now I do not believe in any sort of afterlife. I think this life is all we have, so we better not waste it. I cannot think of a specific belief that I would be willing to die for. I'll get back to you if I'm ever faced with this decision for real...

onacruse

I wouldn't willingly die just for a belief, some cold and hard "principle." But I would willingly die for something that I believed was in the better interests of one or more of my fellow human beings. Several of Gamaliel's examples would fit that bill.

If there is a life after that death, then my "sacrifice" wouldn't be such a sacrifice after all. And if there isn't life after death...well, then I can't then of a better way to go: true to myself, and perhaps leaving a slightly improved world in my wake.

Craig

Gamaliel

onacruse,

If there is a life after that death, then my "sacrifice" wouldn't be such a sacrifice after all. And if there isn't life after death...well, then I can't then of a better way to go: true to myself, and perhaps leaving a slightly improved world in my wake.

If "Jesus Christ" were still posting here, I'm sure he'd say something like: "You are not far off from the Kingdom of God." Personally, I'd say you are ~~dead on~~ right on target.

Gamaliel

Dansk

I believe to die whilst helping destroy Watchtower would be a noble death!

blondie

I don't die for beliefs but I would for people.

Jesus died for people not to uphold a religious system.

Blondie

Earnest

There are certainly many worthy things to die for, most of them involving people in one way or another. Dr. Carlo Urbani comes to mind. He went to Hanoi to help identify what turned out to be SARS and stayed there despite the fact that he knew it was both lethal and contagious. When his wife begged him to return to Italy he said "If I can't work in such a situation what am I here [on earth] for?" He died from SARS on 29 March at the age of 46.

But in asking the question I had in mind the willingness of the early Christians to die rather than renounce what they believed or burn incense to the emperor. And, of course, such willingness to die for a cause was not limited to the Christians. Horace wrote of Romans who gave their lives in war : 'It is sweet and proper to die for one's country [and death pursues even the man who flees]'. (Odes, iii ii 13)

Is there any "principle" you might die for ?

Earnest

Mecurious?

I would lay down my life for freedom in a heartbeat. In fact I would rather be dead than alive and not free.

Brian'

czarofmischief

I believe I can fly... I believe I can touch the sky...

Aaaahhhhh! I changed my mind! Ahhhhh!

CZAR of the "Falling Rapidly" class

Are there any beliefs you would be willing to die for ?

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