I'd like to propose a question...if you choose to respond you may reply in a comment. If you wish to keep your answer private, you can always log in as "anonymous" or, even better, send your answer to my facebook page. It is a very serious THEORETICAL question that will likely make many of you feel uneasy. You may well wish to ignore it for that very reason. I certainly would understand. But I would appreciate the input of anyone who chooses to answer, and much more so for those who would offer the reasons for their answers.
Straight up front, I am interested in the importance of the tenets of religion in a practical manner. Not necessarily the abandonment of faith (unless that is the conclusion that the person arrives to). And it's not necessarily about choosing one faith/belief system over another (once again, unless the individual decides that such action is required in his/her particular instance). That's really all the explanation I think is required, as the purpose of the question is fairly obvious.
Here is the question:
Theoretically, your son or daughter is diagnosed with terminal cancer and realistically has less than a year to live. If you don't have children, substitute with any other VERY close relative or friend. Now, suppose that you learn, in such a manner that absolutely NO doubt can be cast on the "relevator"'s authority, ability and reliability to do as promised, that your relative/friend would be completely healed to lead a very long and productive life...with one condition:
You have to give up/deny a central tenant of your belief system (or lack of belief, if you are an atheist). You may not be told which one, or then again, you might. But one thing is for sure, it will be a belief that would wreck your individual understanding of God. Not that you would completely lose your faith, but you'd definitely have to, more or less, "start over again from scratch, witholding the denied tenet". Example: it could be the Virgin Birth, if you're a Christian. Or even the resurrection. A Hare Krishna devotee might be asked to stop chanting. A Muslim might be required to stop praying towards Mecca daily. A Jew might be expected to halt the practice of infant circumcision.
This is what you're asked to do in order to save the life of your child. Or your mother. Or your father. Sister or brother, whoever and whichever has the strongest emotional attachment to you. If you don't accept the offer, he/she will surely, without a doubt, die within the year. You may live the rest of your life in grief and mourning, tied down to the knowledge that you could have saved his/her life if you'd accepted the terms. You could call it a sacrifice made for the sake of your religion, which you firmly believe to be the inspired revelation and truth of God. Your sacrifice to your faith would be literally the sacrifice OF your loved one.
But, on the other hand, if you DO abandon that certain tenet required of you, what then? If you're a Christian, will you go to hell when you die? If Hindu, will you remain stuck on the Karmic wheel indefinitely as a lower form of being? And how would you go through the rest of your life KNOWING that, according to the religion you've just torn down? Damned for all time, fully aware. Within this scenario there's no way you can gain back what you've given away. Which would be worse? Certain damnation or your remaining years filled with grief and despair at your own hands?
"We'll meet again in heaven", you might say if you'd stuck to your guns and watched your child die. Here's the deal: IS THAT ENOUGH? Is your faith so strong, the certainty of your sureness so infallible that you're willing to take that chance? Not for the sake of others, as this exchange would be between you and the "miracle worker" alone. But you alone will live with your decision. What if your child had not been baptized yet? What if he had never "accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior"? What happens to your idea of "seeing your boy in heaven"?
But is it fair to ask that?
I'm sure it's not "fair" to ask the question I'm asking now, anyway. But it gave me time to reflect on important things when it came to me, and maybe it will do the same for you.
Thanks all, for your consideration, even if you choose not to respond.
jc
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