RE: Alliance for Science

"Donald Perrett (E-mail)" <donperrett@theology-perspectives.net> wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: Pim van Meurs [mailto:pimvanmeurs@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 00:08
To: donperrett@interstrenuus.com
Subject: Re: Alliance for Science

Donald Perrett (E-mail) wrote:

>Pim wrote:
>
>
>
>The reason we put the Nazis on trial is because we won. You seldomly see
>the winner being dragged into court to defend its actions (point in case
>Iraq). Why should the majority impose their opinions on you? They don't
>they just have ways to punish you for not following laws and morality.
>
>
>
>Don P:
>Yes we won and winners of course usually do put the losers on trial.
> But the way you put it's as if you imply that the only reason killing
> Jews is wrong is if you lose the war.
>
Read carefully, I did say 'the only reason we put the Nazis on trial'.
So your objections are without merrit.

Don P: First of all this was not an objection as such. Though I do object to killing needlessly. It was an observation of the way in which you structured your reply. Second, you didn't said "only".

PvM: ok, my point was that I was responding to 'putting them on trial' which is different from 'the only reason killing jews is wrong if you lose the war'. These are different issues.

>What do you suggest would be examples of absolutes?

>Don P:
>Suicide. The punish for which is death.

Death is not always a punishment for many death is a release from suffering. Which brings me to the concept of assisted suicide. Is this a
moral or amoral concept?

Things are hardly that black and white.

Don P: Suffering is relative. I could say that I am suffering due to poverty. Is suicide ok in this case? In a society without Christ suicide is neither moral or amoral. In one with Christ it is immoral. Anything which can prevent you from reaching a greater relationship with Christ and God is immoral.

PvM: In other words we are sinners but does this make it immoral? I find the idea that suicide is immoral has no logical support. It all depends. While I agree that we should not accept suicide as a solution for despair or poverty, we have to understand that depression can be a strong motivator. Neither case makes suicide immoral perse but it helps us understand that suicide is a concept of many flavors. For instance let's take the other extreme of suffering and pain, beyond the control of medication. Is suicide or assisted suicide immoral under such circumstances?

This is why I do not believe in capital punishment. Most
conservatives do, but I consider it no better than abortion. If I kill a
man who is sentenced to death, then I not only kill him physically but most likely spiritually. I have taken away his chance for redemption. If on the other hand I allow him to live in prison for life, I give him a chance to find Christ and salvation for the sin he committed. As Christians we should afford every opportunity to reach salvation, even in the greatest sinners.

PvM: At the expense of any other consideration? Does this mean that once salvation is reached, suicide is somehow more acceptable?
Received on Sun Mar 12 14:56:41 2006