What if?

[Peachestoo]

Hi Y'all,
I have a question that has been on my mind and in my heart for a long, L-O-N-G time. I've posted it on one other site and only got 4 replies and they were pretty bizarre.

My question is this... If a person was to offer up their soul as a sacrifice to bring about peace in the world, what would God do?

I've already been told to,"try it..." so no smart Alec answers please.

I would appreciate some thoughtful feedback.

Peachestoo

[billl]

When you say "offer up their soul," do you mean something different than "offer up their life"?

Also, to whom or what would the offer be made? (I think you mean the offering would be made to God, or at least the person would believe they were offering it to God--but I can't see for sure, from your description. Such "trading of one's soul" for something often would be an indication that the Devil or some other less-than-Godly character might be involved :) )

[Peachestoo]

Hi Billl,
I mean offering a persons soul to God. Yes, that means sacrificing life but if a person was willing to not only sacrifice their life but their soul as well. Taking on the load of all the ill will and misunderstanding in the world and accepting whatever price God asked in exchange for world peace.:)

[billl]

Hmm, OK, but only if you are sure that it is God. :)

In North Korea, some people still believe very sincerely that the leader of their nation is basically God--this was especially true of his now-deceased father. The messages and information that has gone into their heads is all pointing towards this. It might seem that they are simply operating according to fear, but for many (and I have heard from eyewitnesses) it is like the fear of God, and they mourned the death of their previous leader with the tears and sincerity one would expect at the death of a paternal, protecting, beloved Deity.

From our perspective, this cult-like society is obviously a tragic mistake, but it appears differently to the people who are under its influence.

Rather than accepting a simple "you are suffering for world peace", I think the mechanics or reasons for it (the sacrifice of one's soul) should be made clear. How would the sacrifice lead to world peace? The answer to that would reveal more about the messenger. And what kind of peaceful life would it be? (Some of the most extreme and controlling dictatorships have managed to accomplish extremely low crime rates, while demanding sacrifices by members of their population.) Some say that the Devil is the one that operates by convincing people to do things while hiding the details from them.

For many people on the planet, God is said to rely on our Faith, though, so if you are sure you know what's going on, and want to make such important decisions in that manner, well... I just suggest you be careful about it :)

[Lokasenna]

The soul engenders discord in many ways... that's human nature. In attempting to create world peace, all you're doing is throttling human creativity... it would go against our God-given free will!

Chaos and destruction, lamentably, are a part of what we are. To deny it is to deny the human as a construct.

[Scheherazade]

so no smart Alec answers please. I will sit this one out, then.

:rolleyes:

[papayahed]

My question is this... If a person was to offer up their soul as a sacrifice to bring about peace in the world, what would God do?


Presupposing that there is a God I don't think he would except the sacrifice since it messes with free will.

[Peachestoo]

Thanks for all the thoughtful answers. I like this site!

[papayahed]

Besides, What do you mean by world peace? I really don't think world peace is possible. Is it just between nations? neighbors? siblings? There is always going to be conflict when humans live together.

[Maximilianus]

(...)
My question is this... If a person was to offer up their soul as a sacrifice to bring about peace in the world, what would God do?

I've already been told to,"try it..." so no smart Alec answers please.
Okay, I will dare respond with two other questions: "How many changes have you seen after Mother Theresa's sacrifices and Mahatma Gandhi's sacrifices?" and "Considering what they resigned in the name of peace and good values, do you believe the effects were equivalent?"


Hmm, OK, but only if you are sure that it is God. :)

In North Korea, some people still believe very sincerely that the leader of their nation is basically God--this was especially true of his now-deceased father. The messages and information that has gone into their heads is all pointing towards this. It might seem that they are simply operating according to fear, but for many (and I have heard from eyewitnesses) it is like the fear of God, and they mourned the death of their previous leader with the tears and sincerity one would expect at the death of a paternal, protecting, beloved Deity.

From our perspective, this cult-like society is obviously a tragic mistake, but it appears differently to the people who are under its influence.
I've often believed they haven't put their brains in motion.


Some say that the Devil is the one that operates by convincing people to do things while hiding the details from them.
Pretty much what a religion does. Whenever someone asks a question that wasn't carefully scripted in any holy book, someone else says very conveniently "it's all part of His major plan". I don't mean to disrespect what others may believe. I'm just exposing my opinion in the most respectful way I can humbly conceive.


Presupposing that there is a God I don't think he would except the sacrifice since it messes with free will.

Religions seem a convenient mess... again, with all due respect for their followers.


I really don't think world peace is possible.
It's not. The world is unwilling to have such amount of peace. Smaller amounts maybe, but world peace sounds as an amount of peace the world is not yet prepared to hold... if it ever will.


There is always going to be conflict when humans live together.
True, we were made to be in conflict.

[billl]

True, we were made to be in conflict.

Maybe we can someday set it up so that we disagree about books, poems, etc. more and more than other things... I don't think we need to become of one mind about things--but I think we can look at the world around us, and do better about greed and fear, and make human rights and equality more commonly realized and respected.

[Peachestoo]

This is interesting. I understand and appreciate Mother Theresa's sacrifice and Gandhi's as well. But as much as they gave i wonder if offering their Soul was a part of it. I guess the human race would rather have free will and all the baggage that comes with it than peace in the world. Constructive disagreement is one thing but so many people suffer and die for others desire for power and greed. Just think what we could accomplish if all that thought and energy and money was directed towards something more constructive. I guess i have foolish dreams of how things could be if people only tried to get along. Makes me sad.

[Niamh]

So kind of like giving up your freedom and being Atlas carrying the weight of the world on your own shoulders? humm....

[Peachestoo]

That's it!

[Maximilianus]

Maybe we can someday set it up so that we disagree about books, poems, etc. more and more than other things... I don't think we need to become of one mind about things--but I think we can look at the world around us, and do better about greed and fear, and make human rights and equality more commonly realized and respected.
That day would be one worthy of commemoration.


This is interesting. I understand and appreciate Mother Theresa's sacrifice and Gandhi's as well. But as much as they gave i wonder if offering their Soul was a part of it. I guess the human race would rather have free will and all the baggage that comes with it than peace in the world. Constructive disagreement is one thing but so many people suffer and die for others desire for power and greed. Just think what we could accomplish if all that thought and energy and money was directed towards something more constructive. I guess i have foolish dreams of how things could be if people only tried to get along. Makes me sad.
Dreaming's never a foolish thing. It poses a different reality, but not because of it it's foolish.


So kind of like giving up your freedom and being Atlas carrying the weight of the world on your own shoulders? humm....
Don't tell... the only Atlas you've ever met is a collection of maps :p

[mtpspur]

I tend towards the good of the one outweighs the good of the whole which is why I liked Star Trek 3 a smidge better then 2. Unfortunately I'm a Calvinsitic Protestant who does NOT believe in the totality of free will--mostly becuase all IT ever got me into was MORE trouble. So to me your question has already been answered by the Lord Christ on the cross and I concede immediately the mystery of the three days before His ressurrection. It also puts conditions on God--which has always amused me. Most religious arguments are moot when faith is invoked and a proper perspective on WHO's really in charge is acknowledged. But no harm in asking.

[Peachestoo]

It's nice to know that there are thoughtful people out there. Thank you all for your input. I guess there is still hope for us, eh?:D